Do you need to know how to get melted plastic from an oven? It happens to the best of us. You forgot about storing our plastic containers in the oven, and you have a gooey mess. Learn how to remove plastic from the inside of an oven, heating elements, stovetop, and more.
How to Get Melted Plastic From Oven
Ovens and plastic typically don't mix. And if they do happen to cross paths, then you have a panic-inducing gooey mess on your hands. Not only is the plastic explosion one to mark down in the record books, but the smell is disgusting. However, if you melted plastic in your oven, all is not lost. And the method you use to get rid of that gooey mess depends on the type of range you have. For a gas oven, use the cold process. If you have a self-cleaning oven, opt for the hot method.
Cleaning Plastic From an Electric or Gas Oven
When you have an electric or gas oven, you can use ice to help you out of your plastic predicament. Therefore, you're going to need ice and a lot of it.
Materials
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Ice bags
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Dish detergent
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Scrubbing pad
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Razor scraper
Steps for Removing Plastic From Oven
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Pull out the racks and use a razor scraper to chip off the cooled plastic.
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Put the ice bags in the oven over the plastic.
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Shut the door and allow them to sit until the ice melts, getting the plastic good and hard.
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Use the scraper to help you pry the brittle hardened plastic off the inside of your oven.
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Use the detergent and the scrubbing pad to clean out the inside of your oven, looking for any other plastic.
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Give the oven a test run on high to make sure all the plastic is gone.
Cleaning Plastic From a Self-Cleaning Oven
When you have a self-cleaning oven, such as a Kenmore self-cleaning oven, the cold method isn't an option. Therefore, you need to throw open all your windows and use the hot method. That means you are going to get all that plastic nice and gooey so you can remove it.
What You Need
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Wooden spoon
Steps for Removing Plastic From Self-Cleaning Oven
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Open the windows and turn on the fan; it's going to smell awful.
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Remove the racks. You can use a scraper to get the plastic off there.
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Turn the oven on to the lowest heat setting.
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Carefully check the plastic.
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When it's pliable, shut off the oven to ensure you don't get burnt.
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Carefully use a wooden spoon to scrap us as much plastic as you can.
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Once you've removed all the plastic, run the cleaning cycle.
Will Self-Cleaning Oven Remove Melted Plastic?
A self-cleaning oven will burn off the resin left from plastic, but large pieces or puddles of plastic need to be removed. Therefore, you need to remove as much plastic as possible before running it through a cleaning cycle.
How to Remove Melted Plastic From Oven Glass Door
If you have melted plastic on your glass door, how you clean it up will depend on how much there is.
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For small strings of plastic, make a paste of baking soda and water. Scrub it away.
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For large chunks of plastic, use a razor blade to scrape it off.
How to Get Melted Plastic off Oven Heating Element
When plastic melts in your oven, it's not particular about where it goes. Therefore, you have it all over the floor, the elements, and the racks, making a gooey nightmare. But to get it off your heating elements, grab:
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Wooden spoon
Steps for Removing Plastic From Heating Elements
Then you need to follow these steps, according to GE appliances.
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Turn on the element.
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Allow it to warm slightly.
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Turn off the element.
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Use a spoon to scrape the plastic off.
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Turn on the element and allow the residue to burn off.
How to Get Melted Plastic Off Stovetop
The way you get melted plastic off your stovetop will vary based on the quantity of plastic you are dealing with.
Baking Soda and Vinegar
For small plastic mishaps on a stovetop oven, reach for the baking soda and vinegar.
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Create a paste of baking soda and vinegar.
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Turn the burner on low to add a smidge of heat.
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Put the paste on the plastic.
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Scrub with a scrubber in circular motions.
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Rinse and dry.
Just Add Ice
When you have a massive plastic catastrophe, you reach for the ice.
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Put a bag of ice on the plastic.
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Allow it to get hard.
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Use a scraper safe for your stovetop to peel up the plastic.
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Use a paste of baking soda and water to remove any remaining plastic residue.
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Rinse and dry.
Is Melted Plastic in Oven Dangerous?
You might be wondering, "If I melted plastic in the oven, can I still eat the food?" And that is a great question! The short answer is probably not. While the jury is still out on this one, some organizations do point out the potential dangers of fumes from burning plastics. The USDA points out that any food permeated by any toxic fumes should be thrown out.
Cleaning Plastic Out of Your Oven
A plastic catastrophe or "plastrophe," as you will, can leave your oven in a mess and your house smelling awful. However, all is not lost. There are simple and effective methods to remove plastic from your oven.
