How can I clean melted plastic out of a gas oven?
by
Carrie
+9
I have a gas oven. While I was preheating the oven, I accidentally preheated a plastic measuring cup as well. (Forgot to remove from oven). I smelled something burning and saw the cup melted and started to fall between the gas slit on the bottom of the oven. I turned off the oven, unplugged the oven, and then turned the gas off. However my oven is now making noises.... Any assistance on what else to do would be appreciated! Thank you!!!
Yikes! I would look up the make and model of your oven on google and see if you can find any info specifically on this oven.
You should be able to just remove it try a metel spachula get under it if it won’t come up heat the oven slightly
You can use a putty knife to scrape up the plastic. Warming the oven on very low heat will soften the plastic. Those slits are open to the bottom of the stove. The plastic that slipped thru is on the bottom. The oven tray with the slits is removable. There are two screws towards the back. One in each corner. Unscrew those. Tilt the tray up in the back and the front will slip out of a channel. This will give you access to the plastic on the bottom. And make cleaning the tray more simpler.
Just to be safe, get it serviced.
Sadly, in my case it was a plastic bag with bread in it and a bag of chips. The suggestions about low heat and scraping do work. Some of it will lift better cold and some will resist until you warm it slightly. I also had to get it off the rack. That took a razor. Run the exhaust fan, because the plastic smell is unpleasant. Any parts you can take outside, like the rack, to scrape will help with the mess. It takes time, patience, and some effort, but, you will end up getting it all. Thoroughly clean your oven afterwards to remove any residue, or the oven will stink the next time it is turned on. Good luck!
It looks like the bottom of the oven has the bulk of the plastic, the bottoms are removable, see if you can lift it out. You may have to soften it with a little heat to remove it. As soon as it can be freed, take it outside and scrape with a what ever works, metal would probably scratch the enamel.
This link suggests freezing the plastic with a bag of ice, see what you think:
https://www.reference.com/world-view/remove-melted-plastic-oven-floor-42b63a96b95a103b
If it is freezing outside, it may be cold enough to just chip off.
Inspect the inside to see if any of the components are affected.
I would try to chip it off
The noises may be the gas burners themselves, burning the plastic.
Yes, take the bottom out and chip away what you can.
I'd start by picking off what you can with a putty knife. What's left you might be able to clean off with one of these cool chain scrubbers for cast iron. I used it to get melted bread bag off my stock pot.
https://www.hunker.com/13419608/how-to-clean-melted-plastic-out-of-an-oven
Try to pry off what you can. I’d try preheating the oven on the lowest temp for a few minutes then try to free up the rest.
Warm up the oven and use a plastic scraper (don't want to scratch the oven surface) to scrape off the plastic.