If your toast comes out more and more burnt each time you use your toaster, it may not be the heating elements, but your toaster that's on the fritz! Due to their nature, pop up toasters collect a lot of crumbs from toasting bread and other pastries. When these crumbs stick to the appliance, they harbor bacteria and mold, and burn as you use the toaster as well.
In this article, we'll walk you through cleaning both a pop-up toaster, and a toaster oven so you can enjoy a slice of your morning toast without worrying about the grime that may be slathered on it! Here's how to do it:
What You'll Need
Because the pop-up kind of toaster cannot be cleaned with any kind of cleaning solution or moisture, you'll only need to clean the crumb tray. You can use dish soap and water for this, but the inside can be scrubbed clean with some dry salt as an abrasive.
- Mild dishwashing soap
- Salt mixture - 1 part rock salt, 1 part fine salt
- A long brush or Pastry brush
- Kitchen towel
For toaster ovens, you can clean these similar to how you can clean a baking oven. You may use a mixture of baking soda and vinegar to spot clean stains out, and clean the baking dish and rack separately with some warm soapy water.
- Warm soapy water - dish soap and warm water
- Baking soda
- White vinegar
- Scrub brush
- Damp cloth
How to Clean a Toaster: A Step-by-Step Guide
How to Clean Pop Up Toasters
Step 1: Unplug and Clean Out the Crumbs
The first step in the cleaning process is always to unplug the toaster to avoid electric shock. Flip the toaster upside down over the sink or a trash can, and tap the sides to remove any crumbs in the toaster. Make sure your toaster is cool to the touch before you attempt to do this.
Step 2: Dismantle the Toaster
Take the crumb tray out. You will be cleaning this separately. Dismantle any removable parts, and clean those parts with soap and water if possible. Some toasters have removable grills that can be washed by hand.
Step 3: Clean the Removable Crumb Tray
Clean the removable parts with soap and water to remove the remaining crumbs. Any stuck on food particles can be softened with some hot water and soap, soaking these components until the food stains lift out.
Step 4: Brush Out the Toaster
For the inside of the toaster, take your salt mix, and sprinkle your brush with it. Make sure everything is dry before brushing out your toaster. Gently brush the inside of the toaster, using the salt as an abrasive to clean hard to reach areas. Tap out the salt, and let all components dry before assembling back together.
How to Clean a Toaster Oven
Step 1: Unplug, and Remove the Tray and Rack
Unplug your appliance, and remove the catch tray, removable tray, and rack. You can clean these separately as you normally would wash dishes. Use hot water to lift the food stains and melted cheese out of your toaster oven.
Step 2: Shake Out Loose Crumbs
Flip your toaster oven to its side, and tap out the crumbs. Use a dry brush to brush away any remaining crumbs from your toaster. Brush the heating elements as well to loosen the crumbs that may be hidden in the nooks of your toaster.
Step 3: Spot Clean Stains
Mix baking soda and vinegar until you form a thick paste, and place them directly on stained spots. Spot clean the stains that you see on your toaster - both inside and out. Let the paste sit for 15 minutes to work at removing the stains.
Step 4: Wipe Away Residue
Take a damp sponge or cloth, and wipe away the residue. The stains should come out as well. Take a clean cloth and wipe the outside of your toaster with a few drops of vinegar or soapy water to get rid of any oils.
Step 5: Wipe Everything Dry
Take a soft cloth and wipe all the components completely dry before piecing the toaster oven back together. Keeping the oven wet is a fire hazard, as water and electric appliances don't mix well. Always keep your toaster dry.
Keeping Your Toaster Clean
Here are a few tips to keep your toaster clean for a longer period of time. By doing these, you won't have to constantly deep clean your toaster, but you'll still have crisp, clean toast for your morning breakfasts!
- Use toaster pockets to keep your pop-up models clean. These non stick toaster bags are made from silicone or baking paper, and will catch any crumbs for an easy cleanup. They prevent food from sticking into your toaster too!
- Refrain overloading your toaster. Cheese, mayonnaise, and other fixins can smear on the toaster, leaving traces of food inside to harden.
- Cover your toaster when not in use. This will prevent dust and pests from settling inside your toaster.
- Clean the crumb tray or baking tray after every use. This will prevent a buildup of crumbs, and will deter ants, mice, and cockroaches from your kitchen.
Toasty Mornings
Nothing's better than getting up to a clean home and kitchen each day! With Luce, convenient, hassle-free cleaning is made possible as our expert cleaners are well-versed in home maintenance, including a deep clean of your kitchen appliances!
Contact us today to schedule a home cleaning service, and feel the difference of a dust-free kitchen!
