domestic
Oven cleaning
Oven cleaning costs £60 to £90 for a single oven and £75 to £120 for a double, and takes two to three hours. Most specialists take the shelves and trays away to a heated tank in the van, which is the part a general clean cannot reproduce and the reason the job is priced separately.
What this covers
What it costs. Oven cleaning costs £60 to £90 for a single oven, £75 to £120 for a double and £110 to £180 for a range cooker. Full cost breakdown.
What the job covers
- Single and double ovens, including the door glass
- Shelves, trays and racks taken out and soaked in a heated tank
- Hobs, gas burners and ceramic tops
- Extractor hoods, filters and grease traps
- Range cookers and cast iron stoves, which take considerably longer
What is involved
The method is what separates a specialist from a deep clean that includes the oven. Racks, shelves and trays come out and go into a heated tank of detergent in the van, where they soak while the cabinet, the door and the glass are done by hand. Most double-glazed doors come apart so the inside faces of the glass can be reached, which is the surface customers notice and the one a surface clean never touches.
Products used in the house should be non-caustic, and reputable specialists say so without being asked. Caustic soda cleans quickly, and it also damages aluminium trim and some enamel, and it is not something to have fuming in a kitchen.
An oven is usually cleanable back to close to new. Two things are not: enamel that has pitted or crazed from heat, and glass that has been scratched by a blade. Both are permanent, and a specialist should tell you which before starting rather than after.
Choosing someone for the job
Ask whether the shelves go to a tank in the van, because that is the difference between a specialist and somebody doing it at the sink.
Ask whether the products are caustic, and whether the door comes apart to reach the inner glass. Both answers tell you how the job will actually be done.
Ask how long it will take. Two to three hours for a double oven is normal. Forty-five minutes is a wipe, and it will look fine for a fortnight.
Common questions
How long does it take?
Around two hours for a single oven, two to three for a double, and three to four for a range cooker with multiple cavities.
Can I use the oven straight afterwards?
Yes, immediately with non-caustic products. Some cleaners suggest running it empty for ten minutes first, which is a reasonable precaution rather than a requirement.