Toasters are no longer just heating toast. Soiling like grease does not fail to appear from some toasted items. We’ll show you how to clean a toaster correctly.
Toasters are used almost every day. Grain rolls, mini schnitzel and cheese toast leave their mark. Brown, charred breadcrumbs quickly make the use of the popular kitchen appliance unsavory. Since the toaster is no longer only used to prepare toast and bread rolls, regular cleaning has once again become a priority and you need to clean a toaster correctly. We explain how to do this in the following guide.
Find more clever cleaning tips and guides
Toaster as a multifunction device
Innovative household appliances make life easy. The classic toaster has also long since been overhauled and misused. While bread and bread rolls hardly leave any deposits, fatty toasties and cheese biscuits can contaminate the toaster and cause stubborn fat deposits.
The cleaning of the toaster should not be neglected in order not to endanger its operation. The complexity of the cleaning is not least due to the material of the toaster and the built-in heating system, which you need to keep in mind to clean a toaster correctly.
Clean a toaster correctly: the steps
Toasters are sensitive electrical devices. Before you start cleaning, the toaster must be cooled down and disconnected from the power supply. If you accidentally get a heating button while cleaning, burns and injuries cannot be excluded.
The interior of the toaster must not come into contact with liquids. Sharp knives and other pointed objects should also be avoided.
Clean the outside of the toaster
Once the interior cleaning has been completed, the first step is to clean the crumb tray. The brushed crumbs have accumulated there. The drawer can simply be pulled out. Then clean the shelf with warm water and a mild detergent.
The same applies to the roll attachment, which usually has significantly less dirt, but should also be cleaned regularly for reasons of hygiene alone.
To remove stubborn stains on the toaster housing, you do not have to look for suitable cleaning agents in the trade. You will have everything you need at home. A paste of lemon and salt is a suitable home remedy for cleaning your toaster.
How to make the paste:
- Squeeze lemon
- Catch the juice
- Mix the lemon juice with two tablespoons of salt
- Rub stains with the paste
- let it work briefly
- Wash off the paste
Warning: This home remedy is not suitable for cleaning the inside of the toaster! Stubborn stains on the crumb drawer can be treated with this self-made scouring milk.
The paste is suitable for toasters whose housing is made of plastic. Alternatively, a commercially available dirt eraser can be used. Light dirt can usually be easily removed with warm water and detergent.
Scouring milk is not suitable for stainless steel toasters. Cleaning sponges with steel wool can also scratch the housing. Fine dust can be removed with a soft microfiber cloth. If you don’t want to use a special stainless steel cleaner , you can also use water with vinegar to clean the outside of the toaster.
Clean inside of toaster
Most toasters are equipped with a heating wire system. This sensitive construction requires careful cleaning. It is often recommended to remove the crumbs by turning the toaster and shaking the device. We do not recommend this, since the crumbs get caught between the heating wires, the mechanics of the toaster are impaired, which can damage the device.
Instead, the interior of the toaster should be cleaned with a soft toothbrush or a fine brush. The crumbs are loosened and fall into the crumb tray.
Tip: Stubborn crumbs can also be blown out of the toaster with a hair dryer set to the lowest setting.
Cleaning mufflers can now find toasters with quartz tubes on the market. While in the heating wire system the wires stick to the food waste and toxic formaldehyde vapors escape, this can be excluded in models with quartz tubes.
The quartz tubes are coated with ceramic, are easier to clean and less crumbs and fat are deposited inside these toasters.
Remove fat from the toaster
If the toaster is only used to toast bread or to uncover bread rolls, cleaning is quite simple as described. However, if miniature schnitzel, grated cake or fish fingers end up in the slots, stubborn dirt and grease stains become a problem.
If you want to remove fat from the interior of the toaster, you should refrain from dismantling the device in order to access the glued heating coils. First, take a look at the operating instructions. Some devices have special devices to make it easier to clean the interior. Side flaps can often be opened at the push of a button.
To free the interior of fat, the toaster is not completely cooled. The heating coils may still be lukewarm so that the fat can be better absorbed. Use a brush or toothbrush and move them along the heating coils.
Tip: If a cloth is wrapped around a toothbrush or brush, not only are crumbs removed, but also fat deposits are better absorbed.
Cleaning the toaster – short summary
The best tips for cleaning the toaster at a glance
| Cleaning interior | Cleaning housing |
|---|---|
| • Disconnect the toaster from the power supply • Do not work with liquids • Do not tilt and shake the toaster • Remove crumbs with a brush or toothbrush • Remove greasy residue while warm with a brush or toothbrush • Empty the crumb sieve | • Clean the plastic housing with water and soapy water. • Remove stains with a paste of lemon juice and salt. • Clean the stainless steel housing with a soft cloth |
