How to Clean
a Toaster Oven

July 28, 2024

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If you’re a toaster oven enthusiast, you know how convenient these countertop cookers can be. You can cook bacon for breakfast, reheat last night’s dinner, and even roast a chicken in these versatile small appliances. Learning how to clean a toaster oven keeps your appliance churning out tasty treats and quick meals day after day. Cleaning a toaster oven isn’t as involved as cleaning an oven, but it is just as important.

Why Is Cleaning a Toaster Oven Important?

Clean kitchen appliances do more than give your kitchen a sparkling, fresh look and feel. Most kitchen appliances are food-related, so keeping them clean minimizes cross-contamination and other health hazards. Plus, routine cleaning ensures your toaster oven operates efficiently and can increase its lifespan.

A toaster oven that needs cleaning is inefficient, unhealthy, and potentially unsafe. Food and grease buildup on the cooking elements can cause a fire. Crumbs and other debris can attract unwelcome and unhealthy pests like mice and roaches. Knowing how to clean a toaster oven prevents the accumulation of grease, food crumbs, and other cooking byproducts. Here are the items you need to make it happen:

Liquid dish soap
Distilled white vinegar
Baking soda
Water
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser
Cleaning cloths
Non-abrasive sponge
Toothbrush

Why no oven cleaner? Because The Maids® is one of the only residential cleaning services to clean for health, we promote eco-friendly alternatives. When you skip commercial cleaners and use common household ingredients instead, you can still get a superior clean. DIY natural cleaners are less expensive, easy to make, and better for your family’s health.

How to Deep Clean a Toaster Oven

If it’s been a while (if ever) since you’ve cleaned your toaster oven, you’ll need elbow grease and proven toaster oven cleaning tips. As with cleaning any electric appliance, always unplug your toaster oven before you clean it. Once you’re done, add toaster oven cleaning to your routine kitchen cleaning checklist. You’ll feel more confident in maintaining your appliances when it’s a regular thing. Now, let’s learn how to clean a toaster oven from the inside out.

How to Clean the Inside Of A Toaster Oven

Slide some newspaper or a paper grocery bag under your toaster oven to catch crumbs and debris as you clean. Remove the cooking platform, racks, and crumb tray and head to the kitchen sink. Use warm water and dish soap to scrub the parts and remove the buildup. If it’s been a while since you’ve cleaned the appliance, let the parts soak while you tackle the inside.

Dip a non-abrasive sponge in the bowl and scrub the inside of your toaster oven. Be careful not to get things too wet, especially the heating elements.
Scrub the ceiling of your toaster interior. You might have to squat down or turn it over to clean it thoroughly.
Wipe the interior with a clean, damp cloth to remove residue.

How to Clean Toaster Oven Heating Elements

When cleaning a toaster oven, removing buildup on the heating element reduces the chance of a fire and unsavory snacks. This quick cleaning tip lets you stay safe and keep your taste buds happy.

Grab a damp cloth, some baking soda, and a toothbrush.
Wipe the heating elements with a damp cloth.
Use the baking soda and toothbrush to scrub off the buildup gently.
Rinse your cloth and wipe away any residue left on the heating elements.

How to Clean the Toaster Oven Glass

The glass gets dirty on the inside from splatters, and the outside has to contend with messy hands. To make your toaster oven glass sparkle, you’ll need baking soda, water, a cleaning cloth, and a Mr. Clean®’s Magic Eraser.

Mix a few teaspoons of baking soda with water to make a thick paste.
Dampen a cleaning cloth, dip it into the cleaning paste, and coat the glass.
Wait two hours to let the baking soda work on the grime.
Rinse your cleaning cloth and wipe away the baking soda paste.
Dampen a magic eraser and scrub away stubborn stains and buildup gently.
Finish up with a clean, damp cloth to wipe away the residue.

How to Clean The Exterior Of A Toaster Oven

Now that the inside of the toaster oven is sparkling clean, it’s time to make the outside shine from top to bottom. You’ll need your toothbrush, soap, water, vinegar, and paper towels. If the exterior of your toaster oven is stainless steel, check out this helpful cleaning guide.

Wipe down the top, sides, front, and door edges with a cloth dampened with dish soap and water.
Use a toothbrush dipped in your cleaning solution to get into nooks and crannies.
Dampen a clean cloth with water and wipe away the soapy residue.
Dry the exterior, knobs, and buttons with paper towels.
Finish the job by wiping down high-touch areas with vinegar to minimize the spread of germs.

How to Clean Your Toaster Oven Fast

Have you ever had unexpected guests and been embarrassed by unclean appliances? We get it. When you’re short on time, here’s the best way to clean a toaster oven fast.

Fill the largest bowl that will fit with equal parts water and white vinegar.
Pour the mixture into a pot and bring it to a rapid boil on your stovetop.
Put on heat-resistant gloves and transfer the cleaning solution back to the bowl.
Place the bowl in the toaster oven, close the door, and wait 10 minutes.
When time is up, wipe down the inside of the toaster oven with a damp cloth.
Use a separate cloth dipped in the warm vinegar and water to shine the outside.

How to Keep a Toaster Oven Cleaner Longer

Knowing how to clean your appliances like a pro is a valuable skill that saves time and money. Keeping them that way is next-level housekeeping. If you want to make cleaning a toaster oven easier, a bit of preventive maintenance and daily care go a long way.

A weekly cleaning should be done if you use your toaster oven infrequently or only for bagels and toast. However, if you use it daily for reheating, cooking, and broiling, cleaning it after every use is recommended. Daily cleaning should include removing crumbs and residue and wiping down the exterior to minimize germs.

Using aluminum foil beneath food can help keep debris and drips contained, making cleaning your toaster oven a breeze. Be sure the foil doesn’t touch the cooking elements. You can also use aluminum, metal, and non-stick bakeware to keep splatters and buildup under control. To protect your counter from heat and food debris, put a tray or wooden cutting board beneath the toaster oven.