Kitchen, Tips & How To’s

How To Clean A Toaster And Remove Crumbs

Tim Parry

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how to clean a toaster

Do you have a dirty toaster that requires cleaning? There is no need to postpone this task any longer. A toaster is one of the kitchen appliances used on a daily basis, thus you should clean it at least once a week. Go through this article to know how to clean a toaster effectively at home.

With just a few tools in hand, you will have brought down the dirt and leave your toaster sparkling clean.

What You Will Need

Equipments/Tools

  • Sponge or dishcloth
  • Trash Can
  • Sink Or Dishcloth
  • Pastry Brush

Materials

  • Baking Soda
  • Dish Soap
  • Melamine Sponge
  • Distilled White Vinegar
  • Warm water

How Often Should You Clean A Toaster?

Cleaning your toaster depends on how frequently you use it. For example, if you use your toaster for popping bread daily, it is best to clean it at least once a week to remove any food residue or crumbs that could lead to a fire or cause a burnt taste.

Moreover, you can use toasters for other activities than toasting bread; thus, you need to clean a toaster more often than you think. However, if you use the oven to toast bread, weekly cleaning of the toaster is sufficient. However, if you use your toaster to heat foods or broil other foods, you should clean the crumb tray after every use.

How To Clean The Interior Of A Toaster

Before you start cleaning the inside of a toaster:

  1. Ensure you have unplugged the toaster.
  2. Give the toaster time to cool if you had used it previously.
  3. Avoid putting your hands inside the toaster or anything metal before unplugging the toaster to minimize the risk of electrocution.

Shake The Crumbs Loose

Take your toaster to a trash can or hold it over a sink to remove the loose bread crumbs. If your toaster has a removable crumb tray in the bottom or a bottom that opens up, then open it and use a pastry brush to remove the crumbs from the toaster. Next, turn the toaster upside down and shake out the crumbs from the toaster slots.

After shaking the crumbs off the tray, wipe the crumb tray using a sponge or dish soap and warm water. Leave the crumb tray to air dry before haking the toaster upside down to dislodge any remaining crumbs.

Make A Cleaning Solution

Mix warm water and dish soap in a sink. If your toaster has a removable tray, you can submerge the crumb tray in the soapy and clean it with a damp cloth or sponge. Next, rinse the crumb tray with clear water and dry it with an absorbent cloth.

Once you are sure that all the crumbs are out of the toaster, you can prepare a cleaning solution to clean your toaster. Mix two cups of warm water with a few drops of dish soap and a 1/2 cup of white vinegar.

However tempting it may be, do not grab an oven cleaner to clean the interior of a toaster oven. It is bad to use an oven cleaner in the toaster oven's interior since most parts of the interior are made of aluminum, and the cleaner may damage it.

It is worth noting that you should use a dishwashing liquid that has a degreaser if you want to attain the best results. The degreaser cuts through any build-up more quickly and with less elbow grease than regular dish soap.

Brush Away Crumbs From The Interior

Removing bread crumps from a crumb tray

After removing the crumb tray:

  1. Use a pastry brush to reach for the crumbs clinging to the interior o the toaster.
  2. Avoid using your fingers to reach inside the slots of the toaster, or you risk damaging your fingers and the interior parts of the toaster.
  3. If possible, work from both the bottom and the top of the appliance.

Clean The Interior Of A Toaster

Dip a damp cloth or a sponge in your cleaning solution and clean the inside of your toaster oven. Ensure you have wrung out the sponge or the cloth so that it does not drip but is a little damp.

Wipe down every part of the interior surface- walls, floors and the ceiling as you rinse out the sponge after every cleaning procedure. If there is burned-on food that is hard to remove, you can make a paste of baking soda and some drops of water and try to remove it. Use a plastic scrubber or a melamine sponge to scrub the areas slightly.

Please do not use a ball of steel wool or an abrasive scrubber to scrub the insides of the toaster oven, as you may damage it. Also, please do not attempt to clean the heating elements since you can get them wet during cleaning and damage their functioning.

Clean The Glass Door

Most toaster ovens have a glass window for a door. They may also get dirty with food crumbs after preparing them, requiring cleaning. To cut through any grease and clean the glass door, you can use a full-strength distilled white vinegar. First, spray white vinegar on the glass surface and let it sit for a few minutes.

Then, use a soft cloth to wipe away the solution to achieve a streak-free shine. If your toaster has old bake on food or grease that is tough to remove, you can use a melamine sponge to cut through the layers of grunge on the glass, then wipe it with a clean damp cloth.

Clean The Exterior Of Your Toaster

Using the warm soapy water solution that you cleaned with the interior, clean and wipe down your toaster oven's outside. Ensure you use a soft sponge or a soft cloth so that you do not mar down the exterior finish of your oven. Wipe down with a soft cloth with some vinegar solution to make the stainless steel shine.

During your cleaning process, remember to clean the controls. If you can remove the dials, do so and wash them in the warm soapy water solution. Rinse them thoroughly and dry them before reassembling them.

Reassemble Your Toaster Oven

When all the parts of your toaster oven removed are completely dry, you can reassemble them. Push the crumb tray back into place and wipe down the kitchen counter to ensure no more crumbs are present. Plugin the toaster oven, and it should be ready for use.

Future Tips To Maintain The Cleanliness Of Your Toaster

  • Look for a reusable oven liner and rim it to fit the size of the taste oven's crumb tray. The liner will make cleaning easier by catching spills from the crumb tray.
  • If you are using pop-up toasters, Remove any crumbs that may hinder bread from popping up. It would help if you also cleaned toasters or toasters ovens frequently to avoid residue formation, which may interfere with the internal functioning of the toaster.
  • Avoid placing plastic bags or bagels near the toaster as the heat from the toaster can quickly melt the plastic.

How To Get Brown Stains Off Toaster

If your toaster has some brown hard t remove stains, you can try using some baking soda paste. Make a paste using baking soda and add a few drops of water. Apply the paste to the brown parts using a clean cloth or a toothbrush, then let it sit for about five minutes or more, depending on how stubborn the stains are. Use a toothbrush to scrub off the dirt- it should easily come off.

Do not use a scraper or a knife to remove the stubborn stains, as you can scratch and damage the toaster's exterior.

How To Remove Melted Plastic Bags From Your Toaster

If you have accidentally melted a plastic bag onto the finish of your toaster, you can remove it using a wooden or a plastic scraper, but first, you need to unplug the toaster.

Allow the toaster to cool, then start removing the plastic bag. Sprinkle some baking soda on a damp sponge, then scrub the area. Wipe away the residue using a clean damp cloth and repeat the cleaning process until there is no more plastic coming off.

Dip a cotton ball in an acetone-based nail polish remover to remove discoloration. Rub the area with the cotton ball until all the plastic is transferred. Finish by wiping down the area with a water-dampened oft cloth and rinse the area.

Frequently Asked Questions On How To Clean A Toaster

1. Can You Put A Toaster In A Dishwasher?

It is dangerous to put a toaster in the dishwasher. Sine a toaster s an electric appliance, throwing it in a dishwasher could damage the heating element, and it may fail to dry completely.

2. How Can You Deep Clean A Toaster

To deep clean a toaster, you need to clean both the inside and outside. To deep clean a toaster, you can follow the steps outlined above. However, deep cleaning the outside of a toaster may require you to have a different cleaning solution, plus it depends on your toaster's exterior materials.

It would e best to use a small toothbrush to clean around small parts such as the knob to remove any build-up residue. To avoid damaging your toaster, ensure you follow the manufacturer's instructions to choose the best cleaning solution.

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Tim Parry

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