Self-Cleaning Cycles

• The self-cleaning cycle on most conventional ovens runs between three and five hours depending on the amount of food matter in your oven. In most cases the time is set for approximately four hours; however you can change it either up or down. Extremely dirty ovens will need to be set for a longer cycle to ensure that they get clean.
  
  

Cool Down Time

• Once the self-clean cycle has finished, the oven will need to cool down completely before you can use it again. The oven door will stay locked until the temperature of the oven has cooled down to the point that you can open it safely. Cool-down time takes approximately 30 minutes to one hour depending on how hot the oven got during the cleaning cycle.
  
  

After Cleaning Cycle

• After the oven door unlocks, you will notice an ashlike substance on the racks and floor of the oven. Wipe the areas covered with the ash using a damp cloth. If this doesn't get all of it, use a piece of steel wool that you soaked in dish soap on those sections before rinsing the areas using 1 part vinegar to 1 part water.
  
  

Considerations

• When running the self-cleaning cycle, keep all doors and windows open to allow for ventilation. The oven will get very hot and sometimes will emit an unpleasant smell. While not hazardous, the smell can make the kitchen an uncomfortable place to be while the cycle is running. Some animals and birds are sensitive to the fumes emitted by an oven's self-cleaning cycle, so remove them from the kitchen during the duration of the cycle.