How does auto self-cleaning oven work?

Question

I've already posted this in the cleaning section, but I thought maybe I'd get some good answers from parents so I've posted it here as well. I hope no one minds that this is a little off topic:

In my apartment, I have an older GE oven. It has an auto self-cleaning setting and door lock. I have no manual and the landlord takes a week or more to return phone calls. Can someone tell me how it works? Does it produce smoke or fumes that would be bad for my son to breathe? I would like to use it, but don't want to if it does more harm than good.

Answer 1

The fumes shouldnt be harmful...but veryyyy stinky.  The best way to decribe it was that it burns everything off the over so it just smells like really intense burning. It seems to  be pretty easy to use, all you  need to do is lock it and turn the cleaner on and it should start working on its own. You shouldnt need to put any cleaner on it or anything before you start the process, it should just push the clean button and it will go. I would plan on being out of the house while you do it.

Answer 2

it will produce odors, I'm not sure if it would be harmful but you would likely want to get out of the house for a few hours just to avoid the smell... technically you aren't supposed to leave (fire hazard) but we will turn our on and then go out for a day trip or something, we also have used it overnight, with the bedrooms upstairs no odor made it to us