If your oven hasn't been cleaned in a zillion years...........................

[Aero]

......where do you start?

Btw - this is the oven which has recently packed up and we've decided to repair it rather than buy new. Am so ashamed of it, I have to take drastic cleaning action before the man comes to fix it. Help please........and it really is bad - no exaggeration - oh the shame!!

In fact I really should have changed my name for this, I'm so embarrassed.

Lakeland Plastics do some excellent stuff, or there are companies who will come & clean your oven...

Can't find the original thread, but \link{http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=1012&threadid=172785&stamp=060513213705\here's one} that was around earlier on people who clean ovens. I'll try to find the one it's referring to...

Ah, \link{http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=9&threadid=171303#3566492\here it is!}

Thanks JN, although I think I need to at least attempt it myself - I'd be ashamed to let even the most professional oven cleaning company see it! Also, don't think I can really afford the service after I pay £150 to fix it. The parts are sooooooo expensive and it's only door hinges and seals!

I've bought the stuff from \link{http://www.lakelandlimited.co.uk/product.aspx/solutions/kitchencleanup!4972\Lakeland}, but it's still in the cupboard under the sink, and the oven's still filthy . supposed to be good, though. good luck with it

Oooh - that looks good - it'd have to stay on for the full three hours though!! Might give that a go - is expensive though. Can anyone who has actually used theirs recommend it?

Think I used Mr Muscle once before fio and can only remember the very strong smell. Have no recollection of whether it cleaned my (previous) oven well or not - it was that long ago!

get a man in

Buy a new one!

we take calls for an oven man at work.. he's always v busy, but charges £68 per clean

I got a man in - £50 for about 2 1/2 hours - bargain I say

more reasonable

So if I get a man in, should I get it fixed first, or let the man clean it first despite the door hanging off. lol.

Honestly, I have so much to fix in the house - (bog packed up last week too and TV on it's way out and some outside pipes need replacing), we just can't afford a new one which will be as good as the double oven with programmable timer which we've got, and I really think getting a man in just to clean it is beyond our budget right now, though I love the idea.

Tommy - who did you use - was it a company or an independant chap? £50 sounds more reasonable.

Use Mr Muscle and some elbow grease.
My oven was utterly filthy a few week ago.
Used Mr Muscle and spent about 3 hours cleaning it all in the sink but it came up spotless.
I'd rather spend £3.50 and a few hours of my time!
You have to be prepared to unscrew the side panels and use lots of very hot water too.
Save your money lady!

Pop a cloth soaked in ammonia in the oven overnight. It will be really easy to clean afterwards.

Not advisable if you suffer from asthma/are pg or similar as the fumes are quite strong. I usually dismantle everything, put in bin liners and then put the ammonia cloth in a sealed bin liner with the parts.

Dishwasher is good for a first blast too if you've got one. :)

Oooh - unscrewing side panels sounds scary. mind you, if I could do that successfully, then I might be able to unscrew the door and fit the new hinges myself, saving myself a small fortune. Wonder how easy it is to fit seals?

Seals on the oven door you mean?
Have a look at them now and see how they work - the ones on mine just ping in and out. Easy.

Have you got a screwdriver?

Lakeland stuff is called oven mate and it really does work and involves little elbow grease - my kind of product.

Rowlers - lol - yes, I do have a screwdriver. Will go now (if I can face it) and inspect the seals to see how they work.

gow - I assume you've used this lakeland stuff. Think I might give it a go and consider it worth the dosh if I can fit he new seals myself. I mean, how much worse can I make it if I try it myself? I uess I can then ring the fix-it man if things become impossible.

Yes have used Oven Mate, when we moved on the oven we were leaving, which was v bad and then on the oven in new house, which had been left yuk. You leave in on for a couple of hours and wipe off - honestly I don't have shares in it and it really does work.