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Good Housekeeping’s Home Care & Cleaning Lab shared steps for cleaning toasters and toaster ovens, starting with unplugging each appliance and letting it cool. The guidance focuses on removing crumbs and grease without wetting or damaging heating elements, and drying parts before use.
Good Housekeeping has published cleaning instructions from its Home Care & Cleaning Lab for toasters and toaster ovens, with safety guidance to unplug appliances and let them cool before cleaning. The steps focus on clearing crumbs and grease while keeping water and sharp tools away from heating elements.
For a standard toaster, the report recommends holding the unplugged appliance over a trash can, removing its crumb tray and emptying it, then shaking out loose debris. A small pastry brush can dislodge crumbs that remain inside; the source also says to turn the toaster upside down and shake it to remove larger pieces.
Clean the tray with a damp cloth or sponge, or wash a removable tray in warm, soapy water. Rinse and dry it before putting it back. For the exterior, apply all-purpose cleaner to a damp cloth or sponge rather than spraying into the toaster. Wipe around the knobs, lever and top-slot crevices, then wipe again with a damp cloth and dry. Stainless-steel cleaner can be used on stainless-steel surfaces.
For a toaster oven, first unplug it and remove crumbs and other food particles. Wash removable racks, pans and the crumb tray in warm, soapy water, using a non-abrasive sponge for stuck-on residue. The report advises wiping the interior with all-purpose cleaner applied to a sponge, while avoiding the heating elements. Clean the exterior according to its surface: stainless-steel cleaner for stainless steel and glass cleaner for glass doors. Let the appliance dry completely — the report specifies at least five minutes — before plugging it back in.
Keeping Crumbs and Grease in Check
Crumbs and grease are ordinary leftovers from frequent cooking, but cleaning around an appliance’s electrical and heating components calls for care. The advice gives readers a practical order of operations: disconnect power, remove loose food, clean detachable parts and wipe surfaces without applying cleaner directly to the heating elements.
That distinction matters because a toaster oven has more removable parts and interior surfaces than a basic toaster, and the report points to reheated pizza and other oily foods as sources of grease buildup. The instructions also give readers a way to clean without using abrasive tools on removable parts or poking sharp objects inside the toaster.
Products Worth Considering
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Two Appliances, Different Cleaning Steps
The report treats a pop-up toaster and a toaster oven separately. A toaster’s main tasks are emptying its crumb tray, shaking out loose crumbs and cleaning its exterior. A toaster oven requires cleaning its rack, pans and tray, as well as wiping its interior while avoiding the heating elements.
Good Housekeeping names examples of all-purpose, glass and stainless-steel cleaners, but the core directions do not depend on those specific brands: use cleaner on a cloth or sponge, not directly on the appliance’s internal heating components. The source also cautions against water and sharp tools near those elements.
“You should always unplug the toaster or toaster oven before cleaning it.”
— Good Housekeeping report, citing its Home Care & Cleaning Lab
Model-Specific Instructions Still Matter
The source offers general cleaning steps, but it does not provide instructions for every make or model. It does not say whether all removable trays and accessories are dishwasher-safe, or whether particular manufacturers restrict which cleaners can be used on their finishes. Readers should check their appliance manual for model-specific directions.
The report also does not provide testing results comparing cleaners or quantify how often each appliance should be cleaned. Its advice is practical guidance, not a claim that one product or schedule suits every household. The key safety limits it does state are to unplug and cool the appliance and avoid damaging heating elements with water or sharp tools.
Check the Manual Before Cleaning
Before starting, confirm that the toaster or toaster oven is unplugged and completely cool. Check the manual for instructions on washing removable parts and cleaning the appliance’s interior or finish. After cleaning, let parts dry before reassembly and allow the toaster oven to dry completely for at least five minutes before plugging it in, as the report directs.
Cleaning can then follow the appliance-specific steps: empty crumbs from a toaster, or wash a toaster oven’s removable parts and wipe its interior without touching the heating elements. If residue remains in an area that cannot be safely reached with a brush or cloth, the source does not advise probing with a sharp tool.
Key Questions
Should I unplug a toaster before cleaning it?
Yes. The Good Housekeeping report says to unplug the toaster or toaster oven and let it cool completely before cleaning.
Can I wash a toaster crumb tray?
The report says to clean the tray with a damp sponge or cloth, or wash it in warm, soapy water if it is removable. Rinse and dry it before reinserting it.
How do I clean inside a toaster oven?
Remove loose crumbs and washable parts first. Apply all-purpose cleaner to a sponge and wipe the interior, taking care to avoid the heating elements.
When can I plug a toaster oven back in?
Let it dry completely. The report specifies at least five minutes before plugging it back in; check the appliance manual for any additional model-specific directions.
Source: goodhousekeeping.com
