Never leave the racks in the oven during a self-clean cycle because the immense heat will damage the racks. To clean racks separately, soak them in hot water and dish detergent, or use a special oven rack cleaning product (ventilate your house well if you clean them inside, or opt to clean racks outside instead.)

What happens if you leave your oven racks in self-cleaning?

Leaving the racks in place during self-cleaning can discolor the metal, take the shine off its finish, and damage the coating that helps racks slide in and out with ease. So whether your oven is self-cleaning or not, you're best advised to remove the racks and clean them the old fashioned way.

Are you supposed to remove oven racks when self-cleaning?

We do not recommend leaving the oven racks in the oven during the self-clean cycle. The racks may warp and discolor due to the extreme heat created during this cycle. The racks can also damage the rack guides of the porcelain oven cavity due to expansion and contraction.