Cleaning Toasters

Toasters are crumb catchers and smudge collectors. They need regular attention to keep them clean, shiny, and crumb-free. Here's what you should do:

  • Remember to unplug the toaster and let it cool before cleaning it. Never immerse the toaster in water.

  • Wipe the exterior of the toaster regularly. Remove the crumb tray at the base of the toaster and shake out accumulated crumbs; wash the tray in warm soapy water.

    Get rid of crumbs by cleaning the crumb tray at the base of the toaster.

    Get rid of crumbs by cleaning the crumb tray at the base of the toaster.

  • If your toaster does not have a crumb tray, turn the toaster upside down and shake it over the sink or a large garbage can.

  • Use a thin soft brush to remove crumbs from the interior.

  • Metal utensils should not be used to clean the inside of the toaster.

In the final section of this article, we'll find out what it takes to clean a waffle iron.

Guidelines for Cleaning a Toaster Oven
Cleaning your toaster oven after you use it prevents a squalid buildup of food spatters and crumbs.
  • Wipe the exterior of the oven and the crumb tray regularly; wipe the interior of the oven with a warm dishwashing solution after cooking greasy foods. A synthetic scouring pad will remove stubborn soil from the tray and racks. The plastic parts are best cleaned with a warm detergent solution.

  • Clean a toaster oven only when it is cool and has been disconnected.

  • Never immerse the oven in water, and don't use harsh abrasives, steel wool, or a commercial oven cleaner to clean a toaster oven.