A toaster oven is very versatile, and sooner or later some food spatters, crumbs, or drips will get stuck to the interior. The outside can also get a bit grimy over time, and needs to be cleaned. In this article, I will explain what can be used to clean a toaster oven efficiently and effectively.
Generally, vinegar, lemon, baking soda, cream and tartar, dish soap, water, and ammonia can be used to clean a toaster oven. The cleaner that works the best for the interior of a toaster oven is baking soda or cream of tartar mixed with an acidic liquid. Either vinegar or lemon juice.
There are a few guidelines for how to clean a toaster oven. Following these will ensure that you don’t damage your toaster oven. Below, I will cover how well each of these cleaners work to clean your toaster oven, and the best practice for cleaning it easily.
What Can You Use to Clean Toaster Oven?
A toaster oven is interestingly different to clean than a regular oven. The materials used to make it aren’t the same, and it requires a special approach so as not to damage it. So, here’s what to clean your oven toaster with.
Overall, baking soda, cream of tartar, lemon juice, vinegar, ammonia, and dish soap can be used to clean a toaster oven. The best cleaner to use is a mix of cream of tartar or baking soda with vinegar or lemon juice. Make it into a paste and spread it on the interior of your toaster oven.
For the exterior, dish soap or ammonia work well. Different types of vinegar are stronger than others. Sherry vinegar is the strongest. It will remove the caked on food remnants more easily. But, any type of vinegar will do the job.
Often the plastic from a bread bag can melt and get stuck to the exterior. A cleaner that works very easily to remove this is nail polish remover (acetone).
Food remnants, and grime on the interior are generally baked on. Making them very difficult to remove. Therefore, letting the paste you make sit on it for 30 minutes or more will break it down. And make it easier to remove.
According to the owner’s manual of the top toaster oven manufacturers, do not clean the heating elements. Also, always ensure your toaster oven is unplugged at the wall before cleaning it. It’s best to only use the minimum amount of water.
[This article and its contents are owned by Wabi Sabi Group and was first published on 05/13/2022.]
Can You Use Oven Cleaner to Clean Toaster Oven?
Oven cleaner works very well to clean an oven, and oven glass. The food spatters, and oil that forms into steam get removed very easily with oven cleaner. However, is oven cleaner safe to use on a toaster oven?
As a general rule, oven cleaners should not be used to clean a toaster oven. According to the owners manuals of many toaster ovens they specifically say not to use aerosol or spray oven cleaners. These are too harsh for a toaster oven. A mix of vinegar, baking soda, and water is best.
The other things not to do are:
- Use a metal brush – dish sponge scourers can be made of metal
- Apply too much water – don’t use so much it pools or leaks into the cracks in your toaster oven
- Clean the heating element
Can You Use Vinegar to Clean Toaster Oven?
Vinegar is a common liquid to have around the home, and is used in a bunch of different recipes. Through experimentation it’s been found that vinegar is also a strong cleaner. But, does vinegar work to clean a toaster oven?
In general, vinegar can be used to clean a toaster oven. A cleaning solution that works very well is a paste made of baking soda and vinegar. Leave this solution to sit on the area for 30 minutes or more. The trays and rack should be removed and cleaned in a sink of warm soapy water.
To make the paste, put some baking soda in a bowl or container. Then apply a very small amount of vinegar. Then mix it all together. Add a little bit at a time until it becomes the consistency of a paste. A paste is easier to apply to the sides and the top of your toaster oven. That way it sticks without dripping off. This allows it to be left on the area for as long as you like.
Generally, for hardened grease and grime you need to scrub it quite a lot. The best thing to use is an old toothbrush or a small plastic brush. They’re the easiest to maneuver inside a toaster oven.
Can You Use Baking Soda to Clean Toaster Oven?
Baking soda is used primarily in baked goods to make baked goods rise. But, it’s also known to be a very effective cleaner. Here’s how well it works to clean a toaster oven.
Overall, you can use baking soda to clean a toaster oven. A cleaning solution that works excellent is a paste made from baking soda, and vinegar. Put some baking soda in a bowl, and add just enough vinegar to turn it into a paste. Apply the paste and let it sit for 30 minutes or more.
After that scrub the area using a plastic brush, or plastic scouring pad. Many scouring pads that you find on the back of a dish sponge are made of metal. It’s not recommended to use any scouring pads made of metal. These are too harsh and will scratch the surfaces on an oven cleaner.
At the very end of this article, is a full method for how to clean a toaster oven from start to finish.
Can You Use Water to Clean Toaster Oven?
Water works well to clean surfaces, and naturally dissolves many different types of food debris from appliances. Water isn’t the strongest cleaner out there, and it can also damage electrical appliances. So, here’s the rundown on whether it can be used to clean a toaster oven.
Overall, it’s fine to use water to clean a toaster oven. However, in virtually all cases you will need a stronger cleaner to remove built up grime on the inside and outside of your toaster oven. Do not clean the heating elements, but everything else can be cleaned with a cleaner and water.
It’s a good idea to use only as much water as you need. As water can get into the cracks of your toaster oven. This can cause electrical problems or lead to rust. Using water to clean a toaster oven is best used to clean off the cleaning solution used. For example, after using a baking soda and vinegar solution. Water on its own removes virtually none of the grease and grime.
Can You Use Easy Off to Clean Toaster Oven?
Easy Off is very effective for cleaning a regular oven. And it’s a specially formulated oven cleaner. Certain cleaners can damage surfaces, and so it’s important to know if Easy Off is safe to use on your toaster oven, here’s a summary of if you can or not.
As a general rule, you can not use Easy Off to clean a toaster oven. The owner’s manual of the most popular toaster oven brands explicitly says to not use spray on aerosol cleaners and oven cleaners like Easy Off. Use a home made solution explained below.
Easy off will strip away some of the finish from the interior and exterior of a toaster oven. A better option is to use a baking soda solution. Or, a cream of tartar solution. It’s been found that baking soda and cream of tartar work very well when mixed with vinegar or lemon juice to turn it into a paste.
Apply the paste to the interior of a toaster oven, and let it sit for about 30 minutes. This will break down food debris and grease making it far easier to remove.
[This article and its contents are owned by Wabi Sabi Group and was first published on 05/13/2022.]
Can You Use Ammonia to Clean Toaster Oven?
Ammonia is a very strong smelling chemical that is regularly used as a cleaner. Ammonia has a range of applications. But, can you use it to clean a toaster oven?
In general, you can use ammonia to clean a toaster oven. Ammonia is degreaser and will cut through grease. A good rule of thumb is to mix ammonia with water. Then dab it onto the greasy areas. After that let it sit for 30 minutes or so, then scrub it off using an old toothbrush or similar soft brush.
Do not use a dish scourer. Dish scourers – the green pads on the back of dish sponges – are commonly made of metal. Top toaster oven brands like Black and Decker recommend not using metal scouring pads or brushes to clean a toaster oven.However, some are made from plastic. Always use a plastic brush, or scourer to clean your oven toaster.
Can You Use Lemon to Clean Toaster Oven?
Lemons are naturally very acidic. Acidic liquids will break down other substances such as food. So, here’s how well lemon works to clean a toaster oven, and if it can be used to clean one.
Overall, you can use lemon to clean a toaster oven. However, lemon works best on the exterior of a toaster oven. Mixing it with baking soda to make a paste works a lot better. Baking soda and an acidic liquid like vinegar or lemon juice works very well to clean the interior of a toaster oven.
Generally, you should let the paste soak on the areas that have grease and food remnants for about half an hour. Doing so will break them down making it much easier to remove.
Can You Use Cream of Tartar to Clean Toaster Oven?
Cream of tartar is a byproduct of winemaking, and has a range of uses. It’s used as a cleaning product, in baking to make doughs and batters rise, to stop sugar from crystallizing, and keeps whipped egg whites fluffy. A toaster oven typically has quite hardened food debris, so here’s a summary of if cream of tartar can be used to clean a toaster.
In general, you can use cream of tartar to clean a toaster oven. Cream of tartar works best when mixed with a bit of vinegar to turn it into a paste. For areas that have a thick layer of food residue leave this paste on them for 30 minutes or more, before scrubbing it using a soft brush.
Another common powder that has a similar function to cream of tartar is baking soda. When used as a cleaner it works in very much the same way. And it works very well for cleaning a toaster oven.
[This article and its contents are owned by Wabi Sabi Group and was first published on 05/13/2022.]
How to Clean Toaster Oven Properly
Now you’re aware of all the different cleaning products that can be used to clean a toaster oven. Let’s now take a look at how exactly to clean a toaster oven properly. That way you can be sure you’re cleaning it the easiest way possible.
In general, unplug it at the wall. After that remove the trays, and soak them in the sink filled with hot soapy water. Use a paste made of baking soda and vinegar on the inside of your toaster oven and the door. Use a damp non abrasive cloth and dish soap on the exterior.
Be careful not to get lots of water into the button or knobs on the outside of your toaster oven. A damp cloth is fine. But, if water gets inside the cracks and spaces in between the buttons or knobs it can stay there for a very long time. Which can cause rusting or damage to the electrical components.
This content is owned by Wabi Sabi Group and was first published on May 13, 2022..
The steps involved are:
- Unplug your toaster oven and let it cool
- Removing the trays
- Soak the trays in hot soapy water
- Scrub the trays
- Make the baking soda and vinegar paste
- Apply the baking soda and vinegar paste to the interior
- Let it sit for 30 minutes or more
- Scrub the interior of your toaster oven
- Wipe away all the residue created by scrubbing
- Thoroughly dry everything
- Put the trays back into your toaster oven
- Wipe down the outside using a damp dish cloth and a little bit of dish soap
- Remove any melted plastic on the exterior using acetone (nail polish remover)
When you apply the baking soda and vinegar paste leave it on for about 30 minutes. This will give it time to soak in. And begin to break down the grease and grime.
After 30 minutes or more use a plastic brush, or a plastic dish scourer to scrub areas where there is grease and grime. Be careful here, as some dish scourers are made of metal. If you’re unsure don’t use a dish scourer. It can take A LOT of scrubbing. There is no way around this regardless of what type of cleaner you use.
After enough scrubbing all of it will come off. Next take a paper towel or a damp dish cloth and wipe out all the gunk you’ve removed. Washing out the dish cloth in the sink when it gets full. Repeat this until the entire interior is completely clean.
Next, take a new dish cloth, and wipe the exterior. Apply a bit of dish soap to the cloth. Wipe it until it’s completely clean. If there is any melted-on plastic, then use nail polish remover (acetone). Dab a bit onto some paper towels, and then wipe it on to it. It will come off very easily.
This article was first published on May 13, 2022 by Wabi Sabi Group..
Overall, vinegar, baking soda, cream of tartar, dish soap, ammonia, and lemon can be used to clean a toaster oven. On the exterior you typically only need a damp dish cloth, with a few drops of dish soap. On the interior a paste made from baking soda and vinegar works best.
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WabiSabi Group is the owner of this article and was published on May 13, 2022 and last modified on .