Do you use the self-cleaning feature on your oven?

[Sarah8914]

If you have one that is. we've been in our house 2 1/2 years and I want to use ours. It's not horribly dirty or anything, but I know it needs a good cleaning. I know it takes awhile and stinks--is it safe while I'm pregnant? The smells won't do anything will they?

And, if you use yours, how often do you do it? Can you tell you did it by your electricity bill?

[Darcy Baldwin]

Sarah - we do but never use it because it's so hot. Even on cool days, the heat is bad the way our house is situated, and we just prefer not to do it (you know.;.the oven is in the very middle of the living area LOLOL)

[juliemarie]

I probably do it once a year. I don't like the smell, so I try to do it on a spring or fall day when I can be outside for a couple hours.

[DawnMarch]

We use our, when it's cool outside because it does get hot! I don't know one way or another about whether it's safe when you're pregnant -- it only works through high temperatures, not chemicals, so it sounds like it'd be ok?

[Sarah8914]

Yeah, I think it would be fine--I guess the only thing is the smell could make me sick or something. It's definitely cool enough right now to do ours! I've been waiting for cool weather to do it. We actually have a perfect little passage way if we open front and back windows to circulate the air. Maybe we'll try it out tomorrow or Monday.

[iJenny]

There is nothing toxic about the self-cleaning oven (DON'T use any chemicals!!). Its just a strong burning smell because the oven heats up super high to burn away all the gunk in the oven. It'll just turn it to ash in the bottom of the oven and then you can just toss is or vacuum it up once its cooled. As for the smell, its nothing too terrible, but I do recommend light ventilation. It takes usually at least three hours to clean my oven and I just usually crack a window.

[Winter Ivy]

I think it would be fine to do during pregnancy, since it is just using the heat and not any cleaners. I had a major exposure to propane fumes when I was 4 months pregnant (freak construction accident in our basement, yikes, thankfully we are all ok) and I called the exposure hotline and they said it was fine, so I am guessing that a simple oven cleaning would be ok.

As far as the ceaning itself, I try to only do it like once or twice a year because we we use propane and it uses up so much gas. I try to remember to put baking sheets under anything I know has a potential to drip over, but I sometimes forget and and have to do the cleaning anyway, lol.

-Diana

[lizzyfizzy]

i do it every so often, but only if i know we will be out of the house for most of the day, cause it smells so terrible or we do it on a day that the house can be completely ventilated. i would say as long as you do it chemical free there shouldn't be a problem associated with pregnancy.

[tuneskids]

we have used it once, the smell was vicious. Normally my hubby just uses fume-free easy off in it when I am not home. Yes, my hubby is the one to clean the oven. lol Smells of any kind, especially a chemical, give me an instant migraine. And if it's a really, really bad chemical smell (paint, harsh cleaners, etc), I can actually feel my lungs contract and then I have difficulties breathing.

But anyways, the self-cleaning should be ok to do while preggo, just make sure to ventilate.

[Amy Carey]

stuff always seems to catch on fire when I try it... no joke!! .. so nope...don't do it anymore! LOL