Cleaning a toaster may not be at the top of your to-do list, but it’s not as hard as it may seem. If you use your toaster daily or weekly, then it’s best to get rid of the crumbs and burnt residue that can change the taste of your toast. It may be a good idea to learn how to clean and descale your Nespresso machine when learning how to clean a kitchen, so that the pair of appliances serving up delicious coffee and toast are both taken care of. If you have a toaster oven, it needs to be cleaned more frequently depending on how often you use it and if it’s used for other foods. This article will equip you with the cleaning tips and tricks you need to clean your toaster, so it can keep on producing the best toast.
You Will Need:
- Dishwashing liquid
- Baking soda
- White vinegar
- Pastry brush
- Dishcloth
- Microfiber cloth
- Spatula
- Wooden spoon
How To Clean Inside A Toaster
To remove burnt crumbs and residue from your toaster, follow the 7 steps below when cleaning the inside of your toaster:
- Start by unplugging the toaster. Always make sure that the toaster is off and cooled down before cleaning.
- Pick up the toaster and hold it upside down over the bin or take it outside and flip it over, then shake out the crumbs.
- Next, fill your sink with water and a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid.
- Pull the tray out from the bottom of the toaster and shake off any crumbs that may remain in the bin.
- Place the tray in the water to soak.
- With a large, flat, clean pastry brush or paintbrush, brush out the crumbs and residue from inside the taster. Start from the top and work your way down.
- Use a microfiber cloth to wash the tray, then leave it to dry. If your toaster doesn’t have a crumb tray, simply shake your toaster upside down a few more times.
How To Clean The Outside Of A Toaster
Follow these steps to clean the jammy fingerprints or stains on the outside of your toaster:
- Wet a microfiber cloth with soapy water and wring it out so that it’s not sopping wet.
- Wipe down the entire outside of the toaster and let it sit for about 5 minutes.
- Use a damp cloth to wipe off the soapy water.
- For stains still left on the outside of the toaster, grab an extra toothbrush and dip it into baking soda.
- Use the toothbrush to scrub the stains until they’re gone.
- Wipe down with a clean damp cloth.
- Use a microfiber cloth to dry the entire outside of the toaster.
- Put the dry crumb tray back in once everything is dry.
Don’t forget about the dials, they probably need a clean too.
How To Clean A Toaster Oven
A toaster oven is used for reheating and cooking certain foods, in addition to toasting bread, which means the interior needs more extensive cleaning. Here are the 8 steps you should follow to clean your toaster oven:
- Always remember to unplug your toaster oven and leave it to cool down before starting the cleaning process.
- Remove the oven cooking tray and rack and wash these components in warm soapy water or in the dishwasher. If there is food residue stuck to the tray or rack, allow them to soak overnight in soapy water to make the job easier.
- Shake the crumbs out of your toaster oven over the sink, bin, or outdoors. If you can, open the bottom and shake to remove crumbs and food particles. Then with a pastry brush, brush out all the crumbs still stuck to the surfaces.
- Create a cleaning solution by mixing 2 cups of warm water, a few drops of dishwashing liquid, and ½ a cup of white vinegar.
Warning: Do not use a commercial oven cleaner for the interior of your toaster oven. Most interiors are made from aluminium and a commercial cleaner can damage it.
- To clean the interior, dip a sponge into the solution made in the previous step. Wring the sponge so that it’s damp, not soaking. Wipe all the interior surfaces, the walls, floor, and ceiling. If there is burnt food that is not scrubbing away, make a paste from baking soda and a few spoons of water. Dip the sponge into the paste then scrub the interior gently.
Never use steel wool or any abrasive scraper and do not clean the heating elements. Try to avoid getting them wet while cleaning.
- Toaster ovens usually have a glass window as the door. Clean the grease off the glass by using white vinegar to spray or wipe onto the glass, and let it sit for a few minutes. Then, wipe the vinegar away with a microfiber cloth for a streak-free shine. For older baked-on food or grease, use a sponge to scrub the glass, then finish by wiping with a microfiber cloth.
- When cleaning the outside of your toaster oven, use the same solution used for the interior. Use a soft sponge that will not scratch the finish. Finish off with a final wipe down using a microfiber cloth dampened with vinegar only, to make the exterior sparkle. Don’t forget to also clean the control dials. If they can be removed, wash them in warm soapy water, rinse, and dry thoroughly before reassembling.
- Once everything is clean and completely dry, reassemble the components of your toaster oven. Plug the oven in so it’s ready for use.
If you have a big family that uses the toaster daily, you should clean your toaster at least once a week, if not more. If you don’t use the toaster so often then clean it every few weeks to a month. Cleaning your toaster will assure that it keeps making delicious toast and looks good in your kitchen. Remember that your toaster should always be off before cleaning it and completely dry before plugging it in.
