What do you use to clean your oven? Many years ago, I used those oven cleaning sprays, but they seem so toxic . . .
Current oven is "self-cleaning" but appliance guy recommended not to use the self-clean feature as it was clear that mice had eaten at least some of the insulation around the oven and since it gets SO hot using the self-clean, he said it could possibly start a fire or scorch/burn the surrounding cabinets if there is a big breach somewhere in the insulation (this post was inspired by mention in the Mouse Holocaust thread of mice eating oven insulation). It seems fine for normal baking, never a problem.
The only time oven was ever on self-clean it was this entirely weird incident where I was not home, but it was summer and french doors and windows were open. I came home, and the "self-clean" was on and the smoke alarm was going off. The only explanation I could figure was that the cats somehow turned it on, as the controls are a flat keypad type deal and I have heard the pads beeping when cats walked over it, but they had never actually succeeded in turning anything on before to best of my knowledge. I turned off the self-clean and the smoke alarm eventually stopped going off and oven has been fine since then but this experience all the more reason not to use the self-clean. I developed a cover I sometimes put over the keypad when I was out which prevented kitty feet from activating the keys.
Cats belonged to a friend and used to do a fairly good job keeping mice under control but this was after the mice had already eaten the insulation, and also now the cats don't live here anymore.
Anyway, cleaning is long overdue so any suggestions on effective non-toxic cleaner and/or advice on cleaning techniques for oven much appreciated (for example, it seems like it will be really hard to get baked-on stuff cleaned up without the foaming toxic cleaner; maybe soak with wet paper towels for a while or something??). Thank you!