Toasters are popular kitchen appliances for a number of reasons. These things are known as convenience ovens for a reason: they serve as miniature
ovens that can cook smaller meals, reheat food, toast our breakfast meals, and even bake bread. After all, they’re “toasters” for a reason! Just like a regular oven, a toaster oven accumulates plenty of debris or dirt over time. And, just like a regular oven, you’re going to need a targeted cleaning routine in order to keep your toaster clean and your food healthy while it’s getting cooked.
Cleaning out a toaster oven will require some patience and elbow grease, but it’s very possible to do! Our team has researched the most effective and best way to clean a toaster oven and put together this guide to help you get your toaster oven spic and span in no time. Next time your toaster oven needs a good scrub, turn here for the best commercial and all-natural toaster cleaning solutions!
Cleaning Your Toaster Oven Racks
Materials Needed:
- Carbona Oven Rack Cleaner
- Dishwashing Detergent
- Dryer Sheets
- Wet Rag
- Scrub Brush/Old Toothbrush
To clean your toaster oven rack, begin by removing your toaster oven rack. Depending on the dirt that’s caked on it, you may want to start by soaking it to try to remove some build up over time. Fill your sink with hot water and put Carbona Oven Rack liquid cleaner inside. Mix and set your rack inside, making sure it’s thoroughly covered by the water. Soak for about two hours. After said time, scrub off burnt food and other oven grease with a wet rag. Use a scrub brush/ old toothbrush when you need some extra pressure. You can also run them through the dishwasher or let them soak in your bathtub on top of a dryer sheet to further dislodge any build up.
For seriously dirty toaster oven racks, soak your toaster oven racks overnight in warm and soapy water and then scrub and rinse the following morning. Or spray them with an oven cleaner such as Easy Off Fume Free Oven Cleaner and let it sit for a good few hours or overnight before scrubbing and rinsing clean.
Cleaning the Inside of Your Toaster Oven
Materials Needed:
- Easy Off Fume Free Oven Cleaner
- Microfiber Cloth
- Sponge
A good toaster oven cleaning starts with an interior scrub. Make sure your toaster oven is cold and turned off before spraying the inside with a fume free cleaner, such as the Easy Off Fume Free Oven cleaner. Let sit for around two hours and allow the foam to spread over all surfaces, beginning to dissolve any further residue.
Once the foam has spread everywhere, wipe clean using a sponge or microfiber cloth. Rinse well with warm water in order to clean out all residue before you begin using your toaster again and allow the interior to completely dry before you heat it up again.
If your toaster oven has a self-cleaning cycle, you can also run that a few times to help incinerate any remaining food debris or dirt. Once that cycle has completed and fully cooled, you can then apply a round of oven cleaner for best results.
Cleaning the Outside of Your Toaster Oven
Materials Needed:
- Dawn Dishwashing Soap
- Cleaning Sponge
- Windex
Cleaning the outside of your toaster oven is a delicate but equally important task. Your toaster oven can accumulate a fair amount of dirt just from being used, and if that dirt accumulates in vents or other areas it can reduce the efficiency and effectiveness of your toaster oven.
Cleaning the outside of your toaster oven is important to do regularly, but luckily the solution to exterior cleaning is relatively simple. A simple solution of Dawn dish washing soap will allow you to cut through grease, build up, and other dirt in moments. Just reach for a cleaning sponge and soap up, being careful to avoid electrical outlets or the heating elements on your toaster. Scrub completely and towel dry in order to keep your toaster sparkling clean! You can also use a routine disinfecting wipe to scrub down the outer surface. If you have a glass door, treat with regular Windex to keep the glass clean and streak free.
Naturally Cleaning Your Toaster Oven
Materials Needed:
- Vinegar
- Baking Soda
- Spray Bottle
- Microfiber ClothsIf you’re not ready to use a chemical oven cleaner, there are a few natural solutions that can help you keep dirt and debris out of your toaster oven quickly and easily.Vinegar and baking soda make a handy, scum-busting paste that can penetrate long-lasting stains as easily as an oven cleaner can. Mix up two parts of baking soda to one part vinegar until it forms a wet paste, then spread over the interior of your toaster oven, avoiding heating elements or electrical outlets. Allow to rest for several hours before scrubbing out with microfiber cloths dampened in water.You can also create a distilled vinegar spray to clean the interior and exterior of your toaster if you’re looking for a quicker and more routine regular fix.
Maintaining Your Toaster Oven
In order to keep your toaster oven clean for a longer period of time, you’re going to want to implement regular maintenance cleanings to keep everything fresh and shiny.
Put your toaster oven racks in the dishwasher once a week depending on how often you use your toaster to help keep them from building up black grime or food debris.
Run a self-cleaning cycle once every two weeks to prevent food build up from caking to the bottom of your toaster.
Apply an oven cleaning solution, natural or commercial, once every month or so, though you can always wipe it down after especially messy meal preparations.
Cleaning your toaster oven is an important step in maintaining a clean and overall well-organized kitchen. Whether you’re cleaning with commercial products or natural solutions, these handy suggestions from our expert cleaning team will help keep your toaster oven fresh and meal-ready every day!
