DID YOU KNOW? Carbon Monoxide And Your Electric Oven

The North Iowa Municipal Electric Cooperative Association revealed that the self-cleaning function on your oven has the potential to create carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is a hard-to-detect gas that is extremely toxic to humans and animals.

Specifically, it’s the baked-on and charred foods commonly found on the bottom of the oven that can lead to the creation of carbon monoxide. This reaction happens as these leftover foods start to heat up and burn during the cleaning cycle.

To avoid the production of carbon monoxide, it is best that you clean without heating up the charred food. You can use a wire scrubber and soap, but avoid using chemicals. Cleaning products can create hazardous chemicals when exposed to high temperatures.

If you insist on using your self-cleaning feature, know that there is no way to ensure zero-percent carbon monoxide emissions. However, to reduce the amount of carbon monoxide produced during cleaning, you take care of spills inside of your oven as soon as they occur.

For those especially stubborn spills and baked-on foods, it’s best that you ensure the kitchen is well ventilated and that you turn on the exhaust fan or range hood while you’re running the self-cleaning function.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, you’ll also want to check to see that any carbon monoxide detectors you have are in working order with fresh batteries.

You should place a CO detector in each major area of your home: in the kitchen, in your living/dining room, in your bedrooms, and the office… If your furnace is located in the basement, be sure to place a CO detector there, as well. Likewise, if you have a gas clothes dryer, put an alarm in the laundry room.