AIBU about oven-cleaning service?

[thatdamnwoman]

I've had a bad back and knee for the last few months and haven't been able to clean the oven properly – by which I mean getting down on my hands and knees with my head torch on and doing it thoroughly.

I was recommended a cleaning company and the owner came round and brought with her a young guy who seemed slightly out of his depth. She left him here for two hours, scrubbing away with scrubbies and cloths and he used what seemed to me like fairly bog-standard oven-cleaning kit. He certainly put in a lot of elbow grease and made quite a mess of the sink and the floor around the oven. He cleaned up before he went but I suppose I'd expected something a bit more professional. Years ago one of the neighbours had a guy turn up with a tank of acid in the back of his van and dip her oven shelves and other metal bits and they came up like new and I suppose that was more what I was expecting.

The end result wasn't noticeably much better than I could have got it and the oven shelves still have patches of baked-on brown grease. I've never managed to get them completely clean but I suppose I'd expected a professional to do better than me.

Their leaflet says they'll leave the oven looking like new. It definitely looks better than it was but nowhere near new. I paid £40 and he worked hard so I'm not going to quibble – but is this par for the course?

Three of my friends have asked for the number but I'm not sure whether I could really recommend the service based on outcome or not. AIBU and expecting too much?

Doesn't sound good at all. I have my oven done every so often and it really does look brand new. The chap takes off the doors, the sides, cleans the fan, the grill pan and the shelving. The chap also carries spare light bulbs so can change those if necessary. I pay about £60-65 for main oven, top oven / grill plus hob and extractor hood. I have used both Ovenu and Cookerburra - both good enough to recommend.

Reminds me to book another clean......

I have never had my oven cleaned for me, but Oven Pride is the thing for racks. They provide a bag into which you pour the cleaner after putting your racks in. Gets every bit of grime off, but read the instructions - it's vicious stuff.
I once has a carpet cleaning man come round who did a shit job with a cheap domestic carpet cleaner. Sounds like your chap is similar and has set up without knowing much about the job. I would expect my oven to be spotless if I paid for a professional clean. No, don't recommend him, he doesn't sound very good.

This page seems to concur with the "vat in the van" approach.

Oops, forgot the link! Here.

Thanks for the link. Mine wasn't nearly as dirty as the pictures on that site and so the change is far less dramatic. Even so, the oven doesn't have that just-cleaned sparkle. And I've just realised he used my teatowels to mop up. I asked him if he needed any equipment when I saw him looking under the sink but he said no...

The mention in the kink that a proper oven-cleaning company soaks racks etc in a bath outside the house so that your kitchen doesn't end up dirty has confirmed my suspicions that this wasn't the real deal.

The guy who did the work was an employee: it wasn't his own business, he was just doing what he was told. Hmmm. Will try another company out in a few months and see what the difference is.

I have had ovenu and they are brilliant

How strange. This happened to me the other day too. We have previously had oven done and he took it apart and dipped it all in the tank outside. It looked brand new!

This time, same company but different man. Said it wasn't dirty enough to warrant using the tank so did it all with sprays and scourers. Hasn't come up half as well and it was £75 although we do have a double oven. Will probably use someone else next time who can be bothered to set the tank up!

Should add, I could have done a better job myself I think.

I had mine done before we put the flat on the market and it was perfect once they had done. They took the doors off and separated all the door sections and it literally looked like a brand new oven even though it was about 8 years old. It wasnt really dirty before (as in not disgusting) but there are little crumbs and things get in tiny spaces that you'll never reach.

Oven Sheen are the dogs bollocks. Oven literally as new after. Never leave any mess anywhere.

He certainly didn't take the oven apart and he didn't clean the hob (it's a smeg cooker with a large oven, an oven/grill and hob).

I think they're just a cleaning company that cleans ovens, not a specialist oven-cleaning company. He hasn't done any more than I would have done. It's things like the fan that get greasy but are impossible to clean without taking the oven apart that I had expected them to do.

Only £40 so I'm not going to make a fuss, but it's annoying.

When I clean my oven it looks like new so no way would I be happy with the service you've paid for.

My two holy grails tools for cleaning my oven are : Oven Pride for the racks and Mr Muscle oven cleaner.

I've also discovered oven liners these will significantly cut down on the cleaning required.

Only £40 so I'm not going to make a fuss, but it's annoying
I would make a fuss, but in a constructive criticism sort of way. Not all guns blazing and asking for a refund but more like "I noticed that X used my teatowels to mop up, perhaps in future he should remember to bring towels or ask before using customer items as they are now stained and will need replacing" (or whatever irked you)

I pay £35 per oven clean and it really does end up looking brand new. If they claim this and dont deliver I would say they should have advised me that they wouldnt be able to stick to their promise.

Yeah, that sounds wrong. I’ve had our oven cleaned twice by a specialist company and there was no sign of mess in the wake of it - total immaculate professionalism. I am sure the bloke would have been horrified at the idea of using our tea towels.

I have mine cleaned twice a year...they are actually coming tomorrow! The guy turns up with a container of some sort in his van (acid dip), takes out all of the metal bits and bobs and puts them in to soak, whilst he cleans the rest with an acid solution (he wears a mask and elbow length industrial gloves). The soaking stuff then gets a good scrub once it's out of the dip. Doesn't take that long actually, and it looks like new...my oven is 14 years old, but you'd never know 🤷‍♀️

I'd definitely not be recommending your cleaner OP!

You need the guy with the tank in his van. Some sort of hot acid. Takes the oven apart, including the fan and lights etc. Dips it all in the cat and it’s new again.

I got a second hand oven for £50 - it works and I can’t afford another one. But it is grim! Is it worth using one of these companies?

Astonish oven cleaner brings my oven up to look brand new.

I find it hard to clean our low level oven these days, so I use a local oven cleaning company. They do an excellent job for around £40. We have a ceramic hob which I keep sparkling with Pink Stuff.

You've been ripped off op. I paid £50 and it was done professionally with stuff you couldn't buy in shops and specialist equipment. Literally looked like new. Don't use the guy you used again.

This isn't right at all. My oven guy costs £40 and it genuinely looks brand new everytime. He's wonderful. Shelves too, and he has the tanks in his van.

I've only had ours cleaned once, but the guy took everything out and dipped it in his own stuff and it looked really shiny when he had finished. Using your tea towels to tidy up is really unprofessional.