Cleaning Small Kitchen Appliances

Silver toaster with bread slices inside.

You keep a nice clean house. Your cabinets sparkle. The laundry's always done. You could eat off your floors. OK, most of the time anyway.

But how long has it been since you cleaned your coffee maker? That's what I thought.

Let's face it: It's hard enough to get through your regular cleaning routine without worrying about toasters, waffle irons, and electric can openers. So small kitchen appliances are often overlooked. 

Most of us would clean the silly things - if we just knew how. Here's how to clean small kitchen appliances.

Cleaning Small Kitchen Appliances: The Toaster

To clean the toaster, unplug it, and shake out the crumbs over the trash can. Wipe down the toaster exterior with a damp sponge.

Cleaning a Coffeemaker

After each use, clean the pot and filter in warm, soapy water. Wipe the exterior of your coffeemaker with a damp cloth.

Once a month, mix a cup of water and a cup of white vinegar and run it through the coffeemaker. Follow with a pot of plain water to rinse it clean. You could also buy commercial cleaners that do the same thing. But why?

Cleaning a Waffle Iron

Never wash the grids of the non-stick waffle iron with soap and water. Instead, wipe them clean after each use with a paper towel. If waffles stick to the iron, it probably needs to be seasoned again with vegetable oil.

Toaster Oven Cleaning

Clean a toaster oven crumb tray after each use. Scrub racks as needed. Clean the toaster oven exterior with a damp sponge.

Cleaning an Electric Can Opener

Remove the cutting wheels of the electric can opener, and soak them in warm soapy water for a few minutes. Then scrub with an old toothbrush. Wipe the rest of the electric can opener clean with a damp sponge.

For best results, clean after each use. Wait for it to cool, then unplug it and wipe it with a damp cloth or sponge. If it's greasy, wipe it with a sponge dipped in warm, soapy water, then wipe with a wet sponge to remove any soapy residue.

Be sure not to immerse any electrical units in water. Use baking soda in water to clean exterior metal surfaces and window washing solution for plastic or enamel ones.






You Might Like These:

  • To get the most out of your kitchen, create a place for all the activities your family does there. It can be done - these kitchen organizing tips can help.

    Kitchen Organizing Tips

    To get the most out of your kitchen, create a place for all the activities your family does there. It can be done - these kitchen organizing tips can help.

  • The kitchen is the heart of the home. Yet all too often, its arteries get clogged with kid stuff. These kitchen cleaning rules can help clear things up.

    10 Kitchen Cleaning Rules

    The kitchen is the heart of the home. Yet all too often, its arteries get clogged with kid stuff. These kitchen cleaning rules can help clear things up.

  • No pantry? No problem. Kitchen food storage is as simple as organizing a few large cabinets close to your refrigerator and stove.

    Kitchen Food Storage Tips

    No pantry? No problem. Kitchen food storage is as simple as organizing a few large cabinets close to your refrigerator and stove.

  • The immediate benefit once you organize kitchen cooking: Two people can work at once without tripping over each other.

    How to Organize Kitchen Cooking

    The immediate benefit once you organize kitchen cooking: Two people can work at once without tripping over each other.

  • Used correctly, your refrigerator provides safe food storage. Used incorrectly, it could cause big trouble. These refrigerator storage tips can help.

    Food Storage Tips for the Fridge and Freezer

    Used correctly, your refrigerator provides safe food storage. Used incorrectly, it could cause big trouble. These refrigerator storage tips can help.

  • Amid the congestion of the fridge and the stove, table and chairs, kitchens usually have little space for decorative touches. These decorating ideas can help.

    Kitchen Decorating Ideas

    Amid the congestion of the fridge and the stove, table and chairs, kitchens usually have little space for decorative touches. These decorating ideas can help.

  • Contaminated food is the worst. These kitchen food safety tips can help ensure your family is safe at mealtime,

    Kitchen Food Safety Tips

    Contaminated food is the worst. These kitchen food safety tips can help ensure your family is safe at mealtime,

  • What does the "sell by"  date on a food label really mean? How long is it good after that date? Here's help for deciphering the labels.

    Deciphering A Food Label

    What does the "sell by" date on a food label really mean? How long is it good after that date? Here's help for deciphering the labels.



Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.