How often should I self clean my oven?
Mon Jul 13 2026
by Randy Lockard
At Allen & Petersen, we know that the holiday season is a time for celebration, gathering, and making lists - in more ways than one! You'll be busily preparing for a wonderful season of hosting, holiday baking, and cooking massive feasts for your friends and family. Naturally, you want your kitchen looking absolutely spick-and-span before your guests arrive—including the inside of your oven.
But we are here to look out for you and keep you out of trouble with one very strict, very serious piece of advice: Please, please, please do not use your oven's self-clean cycle right before a major holiday.
While a sparkling oven interior sounds nice, running that high-heat cycle the week before Thanksgiving, the day before Christmas, or even early in the morning on the holiday itself is setting yourself up for failure. Statistically speaking, if a range or stove is going to break down, it happens during the intense stress of the self-cleaning cycle. The extreme heat can blow fuses, fry control boards, or lock your oven door shut.
Imagine being stuck without a working oven the night before a major cooking holiday. If your stove dies right before the big feast, it will be nearly impossible to secure a last-minute repair technician or buy and install a replacement in time. Do not risk your holiday dinner on a clean oven interior. Let’s be honest: your guests are going to eat your delicious food, not look inside your oven anyway!
Save the deep cleaning for after the holidays. Better yet, make it your New Year's resolution project.
Manufacturers generally build their appliances for no more than 2 self cleaning cycles per year. If your oven is already acting up, or if you want to upgrade safely before your guests arrive, do not wait until it's too late. Come see the team at Allen & Petersen Appliances before the big day. With many ranges and wall ovens in stock every day, we can remove that worry from your list. In fact, we are your one-stop shop for all your cooking needs.
So step away from the self-clean button, stay safe, and have a wonderful holiday season!
Experience Better at Allen & Petersen.
Allen & Petersen
ANCHORAGE MIDTOWN
3002 Seward Highway, Anchorage, Alaska 99503
(907)276-0111
Normal Hours: Monday - Saturday 9AM - 6PM
Closed Sunday
Allen & Petersen
WASILLA
990 S. Hermon Rd, Wasilla, Alaska 99654
(907)206-4100
Normal Hours: Monday - Saturday 9AM - 6PM
Closed Sunday
Allen & Petersen
FAIRBANKS
250 3rd Street, Suite 1A, Fairbanks, Alaska 99701
(907)418-2100
Normal Hours: Monday - Saturday 9AM - 6PM
Closed Sunday