When was the last time you cleaned out your toaster? The small kitchen appliances in your home may often be overlooked but they need regular upkeep to maintain the cleanliness of your kitchen.

We take these appliances for granted but if maintained well, they can last for years. Let’s explore the most simple and effective ways to clean off our everyday small appliances.

Remember, the first step to cleaning any of these appliances is to unplug them first!

Toaster

The toaster is the unsung workhorse of our small kitchen appliances. We forget to clean it off for months despite using it daily.

Show your toaster some appreciation by giving it a thorough cleaning. No need to worry, this only takes 10 minutes and is super simple.

Make sure to unplug and fully cool your toaster before you clean it. Start by pulling out the crumb tray on the bottom of the appliance. It’s probably super gross so thoroughly clean it off before setting it aside.

If you haven’t done this in a long time, the crumbs may have crusted onto the tray. Break up the sediment by soaking the tray in soapy water for 10 minutes and then wiping it down. Make sure you dry it thoroughly afterward.

Then, hold your toaster over your kitchen sink, turn it upside down, and then tap its side a few times to shake the debris out of the toaster’s inner workings. Don’t be surprised if so many crumbs fall out, you can make another loaf of bread with it.

Now, you can use a clean toothbrush or basting brush to get into the toaster’s corners and hard-to-reach areas. Give the inner workings a dry dusting and hold it upside down over your sink again to get rid of the last bits of crumbs.

Finish off by inserting the dried crumb tray. If your toaster has a stainless steel cover, give it a clean and shine by rubbing vinegar to clean it and a small bit of oil to mineral oil to shine it.

Microwave

Cleaning your microwave is a simple process but you can maintain it easily by covering any food you cook inside of it every time. Placing a paper towel over your plate will save you hours of cleanup. When it is time to clean it, just use these time-saving hacks that the professionals at King of Maids recommend.

Fill up a large microwave-safe bowl with one cup of water mixed in with 3-4 tablespoons of vinegar or lemon slices. Turn on the microwave on High for about 2-4 minutes, or until the window is steamy with condensation.

This will work to saturate the dirt and grime on the walls and dirt. Now you can pass your sponge across the surfaces of the microwave with ease.

Finally, use a clean rag to wipe down the exterior surface of the microwave oven.

Blender and Juicer

These two small kitchen appliances can be the most tricky to clean. Particularly the juicer; even though the juice is designed to go through a specific route in the machine, the juice and pulp will find its way everywhere. The remaining juice turns into gunk that collects in the corners of the machine and presents a health hazard.

Begin the process of cleaning these small kitchen appliances by disassembling them as much as allowed. Clean off the pit that catches the pulp and scrape off any gunk with a spatula or butter knife. Then, rinse off every part of the appliance with warm running water.

For the trickier corners, you’ll need to use a small brush like a clean toothbrush or basting brush. Pay special attention to the mesh strainer because it can become clogged with juice pulp.

When you clean off your blender, the process is very similar. Disassemble it, clean the inner workings, and then assemble it. To clean the pitcher, fill it up halfway with water and a couple drops of dish soap.

Turn on the blender and let the water work its magic. Turn off the blender, pour out the water, and rinse it off. Now just rinse off the blades and the rubber ring (or gasket) that seals the pitcher’s bottom. Finally, rinse off the lid and your blender is good as new.

Coffee Maker: The Champion of Small Kitchen Appliances

This is my favorite appliance because it helps me to wake up every morning. I return the favor by cleaning the machine and coffee pot regularly. This helps to keep my coffee tasting fresh and delicious while maximizing the lifespan of my coffee machine.

Using your coffee pot, fill up 2/3rd of warm water and 1/3rd part white vinegar. Pour this cleaning solution into the water reservoir and fill it up about 75%. Empty out the rest. Then place your coffee pot back into the machine and turn the maker on. Once the machine finishes, allow it to cool down and dump the pot into your sink.

Run another cycle with water only to rinse out the cleaning solution. Use a clean rag to wipe down the exterior of your machine. Finish off by cleaning the coffee pot with a sponge and soapy water.

If you’d like an in-depth, green cleaning method of cleaning your coffee carafe using lemons and salt, check out BookingKoala’s article on How to clean your coffee maker.

Rice Cooker

As my brilliant co-worker once said, “God bless rice cookers.” A rice cooker is an electric appliance that uses steam and pressure to cook rice exactly how you want. Because of its delicate parts, the cooker needs to be cleaned with care.

A couple of things to keep in mind: never let the base of the cooker come into contact with water. The electrical components and the hot plate can be damaged if submerged. Remove the lid and pot to clean them separately.

Make sure that the plate is completely cooled off before cleaning it. Use a moist cloth to wipe down the plate and follow through with a dry cloth to remove excess moisture.

Do not use any chemical cleaner when you are wiping down the base and the plate. If you have any bits of food caked onto the plate itself, carefully scrape off with sandpaper. Be careful not to scratch the plate itself.

While you are cleaning the rest of the parts, the removed inner pot should be left in your sink and filled with soapy water. Continue by cleaning the utensils, lid, and cord.

Clean all of these parts with soapy water as well. Finish by cleaning the inner pot and thoroughly drying each part before assembling it again.

If you follow all of these steps, you will have a kitchen with clean appliances that work great. Do you have any tips on how to clean your small kitchen appliances or an experience to share? We’d love to hear it. Join in on the conversation below.