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How To Clean a Toaster

Published: Mar 21, 2023 5 min read
Photo of female hand cleaning bottom of kitchen toaster tray with green microfiber rag with stone counter top in background

Toasters are wonderful kitchen appliances that can greatly simplify your morning routine, but they can also be a source of frustration if they’re not properly maintained. Neglecting to keep your toaster clean can result in a smelly, noisy and inefficient appliance that’s not only an eyesore but could also be a health and safety hazard.

Fortunately, learning how to clean a toaster doesn’t have to be a difficult task. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the steps needed to keep your toaster running smoothly. We’ll cover everything from the basic cleaning process to more thorough cleaning like descaling and emptying the crumb tray. Armed with this knowledge, you’ll be able to keep your toaster in tip-top shape and enjoy delicious toast without issue.

What you will need

When it comes to cleaning your toaster, you’ll only need a few items for the job: a vacuum, a spatula and a soft cloth. The vacuum should have different attachments that will allow you to easily get into the hard-to-reach crevices of the toaster. The spatula should be made of plastic or rubber in order to avoid scratching any surfaces of the toaster. A soft cloth should be used when wiping down the visible areas of the toaster and should be dampened with warm, soapy water.

Unplug your toaster

Before you begin cleaning your toaster, it’s essential to make sure the appliance is unplugged from its power source. To unplug a toaster, first, locate the plug near the bottom of the unit and then pull it out of the wall socket. It’s important for safety reasons that you wait at least 10 minutes after unplugging your toaster before beginning the cleaning process.

Remove crumbs

Once your toaster has been unplugged, start by removing any crumbs that may have accumulated inside the unit. Use one of the vacuum attachments provided and run it through the interior of the toaster to remove as much loose debris as possible. Use a rubber or silicone spatula afterward to scrape out excess crumbs that may still remain in tight crevices inside your toaster. Dispose of any debris into the garbage disposal or trash can.

Clean visible areas

Next, take a damp cloth dipped in warm, soapy water and wipe down all visible areas of your toaster such as its exterior surface, knobs and handles. Make sure you wipe it dry afterward with a clean cloth to remove any soap residue and moisture from its surface.

Cleaning the interior of your toaster

To properly clean your toaster’s interior, start by removing its crumb tray located at the bottom and then vacuum out any crumbs or food particles that may have collected inside it. Wipe down or scrub the tray with a damp cloth to remove any particularly stubborn pieces of food.

Once this is complete, do another pass with the vacuum to clean out any remaining debris from the toaster’s interior. After all these steps have been completed, make sure you rinse and dry off the crumb tray before reinstalling it back into your toaster. Finally, plug your now clean toaster back into its power source and enjoy having a fresh appliance ready for use!

Conclusion

Cleaning your toaster is a fairly simple and straightforward process, but it’s important to get into the habit of regularly cleaning it if you want your appliance to last for years to come. Although it may not be the most exciting chore, taking the necessary steps to deep clean your toaster every once in a while will ensure that you can continue to enjoy delicious, toasted bread. With the tips and techniques outlined in this comprehensive guide, you’ll be a pro at cleaning toasters in no time!