Cleaning the cooker

Deedaa a person after my own heart. I have never read an instruction book in my life. I bought a new microwave a month ago, put the instruction book down somewhere, never to be found again. Like your house, this one is probably full of instruction books. Yours at least appear to be in one place, in pristine condition, never touched.

Oh yes! I have still, after almost 7 years, not quite fathomed the programming of my oven, and setting the clock on the microwave is very hit or miss. The dishwasher is straightforward, but my new washing machine is still very much 'chuck it in and see what happens.' So far, so good.

This is so reassuring on the reading instructions front. I use the old try it, if it works, you must be doing something right approach. I'm finding this approach works less well with newer electrical stuff, it's all so complicated.

I thought it was only men who didn't read instruction books so I'm [shocked] at you all!
I always read them [halo] but instantly forget and wing it anyway!

My father's mantra was 'if in doubt, read the instructions.' Did I learn nothing from him?

If all else fails, read the instructions!

Have you discovered wonderful 'How To' videos on YouTube? You can get the answer to nearly everything there - just as long as you ask the right question

I looked on YouTube to find out how to replace a bulb in a fitting which is recessed into the ceiling. Very clear video showing how to get the spring thingy out (technical term!) which holds the bulb in place. Problem is no matter how hard I try the spring won't shift - so have had to place a call to brother in law and asked him to drop in when he is in the area to do it for me! (Hate being the helpless female but sometimes you just need a strong man).

On the oven cleaning front - put in a call to Ovenu as it was so highly recommended, the man actually came to have a look at the oven so he knew the extent of the job before giving a quote - have booked him for next week so will report back.

sunseeker

I have my oven cleaned by a specialist firm once a year, as I find it too difficult, and then just wipe it down after use. It costs £40 but it's like a new oven afterwards, so worth it.They do everything, including taking the door 'to bit's' and re-assembling, even the grill pan and the shelves.

I've got a brand new cooker, having given up on myBelling after 5.5 years. I will not be buying another from them. Their attitude is that if it lasts a year it conforms to industry standards and can't have an inherent problem - even though there is a website out there specifically warning that Belling electric hobs have a habit of failing almost as soon as the warranty runs out!

That aside, I have to admit that I came close to ruining the brand new hob in under a week when I took a microwavable plastic lid off something and plonked said plastic lid on still-hot hob. Oops!

My oven cleans itself. Every so often it beeps at me, I turn it onto the Pyro setting, which means it heats up to an extremely high temperature, thereby burning off anything that has burnt onto the oven, and then cools down, leaving a covering of ash which just needs wiping off with a damp cloth. This all takes a couple of hours. It's the best oven I've ever had, it's wonderful not to have to get down on my hands and knees to scrape at the thing!

i had a very frightening experience last week,,, wandered upstairs for my fruit tea with DD, to find her cleaning silver !!!! come on !!!!!! This is a DD who was a Goth, Gay and the ultimate Feminist,,, now she critisises my dusting,,, umm whats that....

Be careful what you wish for, felice

I also get Ovenu to do the job every 2-3 years and it is a new oven afterwards. I think that it is worth every penny.

Merlot, she can come down and dust and clean the silver here whenever she wants !!

felice please join the orderly queue!

Does she do brasses as well felice ? Mine are desperate for a clean but can stay desperate for some time to come - I don't have much.
Could you send your DD round when she's finished your silver ?

I use Ovenu too Charleygirl. I think they are really good.

Had dear GS last night, he is a wee!! bit messy, DD went through the place like a high wind,Tidying up after him, now cooking dinner for my dear friend in my Schemmertopfh before we go to the brussels Choral Society Christmas concert, cooking Hare, have a good evening everyone.

I used to have a Neff oven which did that Pyro thingy - I only ever used it once as it terrified me! This is why: We had just moved into our house in this village 2 weeks after Christmas and heard the tragic story of 2 little boys who died in a fire in their house on Boxing Day. The effects in the village were tangible as they were a very well known local family and as we had acquired our first open fire and a huge inglenook fireplace I was very twitchy about the risk of a fire.
I decided I wanted to clean the oven properly not long after moving in - so turned the switch etc and went to bed for it to do its business overnight. Woke up about midnight to a house full of smoke! Got the DDs up and down by the back door and went to investigate - yes, it was the oven, not on fire but apparently there must have been some fat on the floor of the oven . So sent DDs back to bed and opened every window in the house to clear the smoke . Tried to rouse DH but he was having none of it. When I challenged him the next morning for his lack of response he just said "Oh you seemed to have everything under control"

PS on advice I tried Oven Pride and was very pleased - doing it again before Christmas!

I'd leave it until after Soutra, it'll only go and get dirty again.

I take your point kitty but with all my elves in the kitchen I don't want to be ashamed of my slovenly habits, whereas after Christmas, there's only me to see it so it can wait another 11 months.

One of my friends only ever cleaned her oven on Christmas Eve because her mother always came for lunch on Christmas Day and she knew she would have a look inside it.

For a very lazy kitchen floor clean, I drop a floor wipe on the floor and push it around with my foot! I said it was lazy!

We are of one mind on that, inishowen!