You Probably Touch This Kitchen Staple Every Day. But When's the Last Time You Cleaned It?

CNET

08-06-2025

Now that it's summer, my toaster is working overtime-cranking out slices for avocado toast, breakfast sandwiches and late-night snacks. But as much as I rely on it, I used to forget one important thing: cleaning it. After enough use, I started noticing weird smells and uneven browning, and that's when I realized the culprit wasn't the bread -- it was the mess hiding inside the toaster.
Crumbs pile up fast, and if you don't clean them out regularly, they can burn, stink and even turn into a fire risk. Worse? Leftover food bits can attract bugs, especially in hot weather. Luckily, giving your toaster a deep clean is easier than you think. It takes just a few minutes, doesn't require any fancy tools and can save your breakfast (and your kitchen) from disaster.
For more cleaning tips, learn how to wash your bedding the right way and how to clean your kitchen in under 15 minutes.
How to clean out your toaster
If you use your toaster as often as I do (daily), you'll need to clean it at least once a week. If you use it sporadically, you can get away with cleaning it every few weeks or so, or when you notice food remnants building up. Here's the best way to clean your toaster:
CNET
1. Unplug your toaster and do the usual upside-down shake thing over the sink. No, just shaking the appliance over the sink isn't entirely effective.
2. Pull out the crumb tray, if it has one, and then wash it with warm water and dish soap.
3. While you let the crumb tray dry, dampen a cotton cloth with a little white vinegar and wipe out the slots where the bread, pop tarts or other treats sit.
4. If there's stuck-on food residue left over from breakfast pastries on the heating elements, gently brush them with an old toothbrush dampened with white vinegar.
5. Wipe the insides down with a water-dampened cloth to remove any vinegar residue.
6. Give the toaster one last good upside-down shake.
7. Wipe down the outside of the toaster with another dampened cloth. Let the toaster dry inside and out completely before plugging it back in. It should only take a couple of hours to dry.
For more household tips, check out how to kill mold in your washer and keep it away and how to clean cat pee from your couch.
Frequently asked questions
Can you submerge a toaster in water to clean it?
No, you should never submerge any electrical appliance in water, as it can damage the internal components.
How do I get burn marks off the toaster?
If you've gone a long time without cleaning your toaster, you may have some burn marks on the top of it leaving an unsightly brown mark. To fix this you can make a paste of equal parts water and baking soda and while the toaster is still unplugged, scrub with a toothbrush or non-abrasive sponge. Afterward, wipe it clean with a soft, damp cloth to remove the paste.
More home cleaning tips