The invention relates to a method for cleaning an incubator and to an incubator designed for carrying out the method. The method involves disinfecting the incubator, or at any rate the climatic chamber and/or removable parts present in it during the incubation process, by means of a disinfecting heat treatment. Said heat treatment can comprise a step in which the incubator, or at any rate the climatic chamber, is heated to a temperature of at least 50° C., in particular a temperature of approximately 58° to 65° C. for at least 25 minutes. The invention further relates to an incubator, in which the temperature relating means used for the incubation process are further designed for carrying out a disinfecting heat treatment in the climatic chamber.