Beautiful morning. I want to stretch, smile at the sun, feel the unique taste of coffee, and crunch on fresh toast. But what is it? Instead of golden pieces of bread, the toaster spat out two black crackers, and smoke wafted through the house. Don’t despair, it’s not difficult to fix the situation: you just need to clean the inside of the toaster from crumbs and carbon deposits.
Morning Trouble
Why clean your toaster?
Household appliances require careful handling. Dust, drops of grease, and bread crumbs slowly but surely render it unusable. What happens inside a dirty device?
- Bread crumbs stick to the heating elements and burn, filling the house with a burning smell.
- Tiny particles are excellent food for bacteria and domestic insects (cockroaches and ants).
- Sticky bread crumbs do not allow the coil to heat up evenly, which can lead to its burnout.
Regular cleaning will help extend the life of your toaster. But before you start saving your kitchen appliance, read the safety rules.
Frequency of cleaning and its necessity
Like all household appliances, the toaster needs proper cleaning. The outer surface gets dirty from splashes of water, fingerprints remain on it, and the inner side accumulates bread crumbs, grease, and carbon deposits appear on the heating elements. To ensure maximum performance of the toaster, it is possible only with regular cleaning, which should be carried out at least one or two procedures per month.
Features of internal cleaning
Initially, you should rid the toaster of bread crumbs. If they remain inside the device for a long time, they can act as a source of bad odor due to the growth of bacteria, and also lead to uneven heating of the coil. To do this, you will need a special brush designed for internal cleaning of the toaster. It has a long handle and soft bristles at the end. You can replace it with a toothbrush or other thin brush.
Next should be cleaning the crumb tray or tray. In the case of a removable tray, remove it, shake it off and wipe it with a sponge moistened with an aqueous solution of detergent. After such manipulations, the tray must be wiped dry. With stationary options, the device is simply turned over over a spread newspaper or paper to shake out any leftover food.
Using a brush to clean dirt from your toaster
There are several ways to clean the inside of a toaster from dirt and carbon deposits. Below are the most effective:
- Using large salt particles. Salt is loaded inside through the top slots. The entrance to the slots is covered with a layer of parchment or office paper, which is secured along the edge with adhesive tape or tape. Now you need to shake the device for a few seconds. Table salt will rid the inner surface of carbon deposits and greasy and oily contaminants. After cleaning, thoroughly remove the salt inside the toaster. Its residues in contact with moisture from food products can contribute to the appearance of rust and corrosion.
- Using soda. Soda is mixed with water until a paste-like consistency is formed. The resulting paste is used to clean off baked-on grease and dirt stains. Baking soda is a mild abrasive, so it is quite gentle on the surfaces of the toaster.
Final stage: cleaning the outer surface
Wiping the outer surface of the body is carried out at the final stage, after the internal cleaning of the toaster.
It's nice to make crispy bread in a clean machine
If the body is made of plastic, then wipe it with a damp sponge and a few drops of dishwashing detergent. Wipe off any remaining soap solution with a clean damp cloth. Grease stains and other difficult stains can be cleaned with soda paste, which is gentle on the surface and does not scratch it. After all actions, the toaster is wiped dry.
After cleaning, the toaster should be given time to dry completely. Do not connect the device to the network if it is not completely dry.
The performance of the toaster directly depends on compliance with the rules and regularity of its cleaning. A clean and tidy device not only has a neat appearance, but is also not susceptible to breakdown or fire. The proposed measures will help keep equipment in working condition quickly and efficiently.
Another useful article on housekeeping: How to iron bed linen.
Do no harm
Before starting the process, be sure to disconnect the device from the power supply. Remove the plug from the socket only with dry hands. Allow the toaster to cool to avoid getting burned.
Cleaning work is carried out on a wide, flat surface, having previously covered it with paper. A kitchen table or bar counter works great.
It is forbidden to use metal pointed objects because they can easily damage the inside of the device.
Prohibited use
General rules
Since a toaster can become a rather dangerous appliance, it is necessary to follow some safety rules :
- The very first thing to do is unplug the cord from the outlet with dry hands. If this rule is not followed, you may receive an electric shock or break the device.
- You should start cleaning only after the equipment has cooled down. If you try to wash a hot appliance, you may get burned.
- To avoid damaging the coating, do not use sharp or metal objects.
- Do not immerse in water or wash under running water.
- Do not use a dishwasher or steam cleaner for cleaning.
- Before cleaning, cover the table to make it easier for you to clean up crumbs in the future.
Necessity and frequency of cleaning
Both the inside and outside of the toaster need to be cleaned. On the outside there are traces of drops of water, fat, fingerprints, and crumbs, soot and sometimes grease appear on the inside if you are in the habit of making toast with cheese or sausage directly in the toaster.
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External pollution is not as dangerous as internal pollution, since, as such, they cannot cause harm to equipment. If you do not deal with cleaning issues for a long time, there may be unpleasant consequences:
- accumulation and combustion of crumbs;
- the formation of soot, which will smell unpleasant and can lead to breakdown;
- spreading bacteria and attracting cockroaches or ants;
- overheating of the coil.
For proper operation of the equipment, it is necessary to carry out 1-2 procedures per month. This must be done as carefully as possible so as not to damage the device.
How to properly clean the inside of a toaster from bread crumbs
Crumbs that have not had time to dry are removed with a hairdryer. A jet of air directed into the slots will easily remove dirt.
Modern toasters have removable trays that can be easily removed. The tray is washed with water and detergent added, and then wiped dry with a soft cloth. If the tray is stationary, then the device must be turned over and shake off the crumbs onto the spread paper.
Removable tray
Cleaning inside is carried out in two stages:
- Coarse table salt is poured through the slots inside the electrical appliance. The internal space must be filled to the very top. The body is tightly wrapped in paper, which is secured in a circle with tape. Make sure all holes are closed.
Gently shake the toaster for a few minutes to allow the grains of salt to clean the walls and heating elements of any dirt. Do not overdo it, as vigorous shaking may damage the device.
Remove the protective paper and pour in the salt. Use a toothbrush to brush off any remaining crystals from the walls and spiral. Wipe metal surfaces with a damp cloth to prevent salt residue from causing corrosion.
Salt
- Mix baking soda and water to form a thick paste. Apply the paste to the dirty parts with a brush and rub gently. Soda acts as an abrasive that does not damage metal surfaces. It perfectly cleanses burnt fat.
After cleaning, wipe the inside of the toaster with a rag. Leave the device to dry.
Preventive measures
Sooner or later you will have to clean the toaster from crumbs and carbon deposits even with careful use. But following a few rules will allow you to carry out the procedure less often and make it simpler:
- When making toast, place bread slices in the slots of the device exactly in the center. They should not touch metal walls with heating elements.
- When turning on the toaster, it is not recommended to set the maximum roasting temperature. It is better to use average settings and, if necessary, leave the slices for a second heating cycle.
- When frying bread, you need to control the device and prevent burning. If the automatic toast feed has not yet worked, but you can already see that the slices are ready, it is better to interrupt the cycle ahead of time using a special button or lever.
It is recommended to shake out the special tray for collecting crumbs as often as possible so that too much bread residue does not accumulate in it.
Remove the bread pieces from the toaster carefully so that they do not crumble inward.
Important! It is recommended to carry out preventative complete cleaning of the toaster once every 2-3 months or as needed, for example, after visible dirt appears.
Washing the body
The plastic case is wiped with a damp sponge soaked in a cleaning solution. Grease stains are cleaned with soda slurry. Do not use abrasive cleaning pastes to avoid scratching the body. After cleaning, wipe the plastic dry.
The metal case requires more attention because it is necessary not only to remove stains from its surface, but also to polish it. The metal is cleaned with a vinegar solution, after which the body is carefully wiped.
Breakfast is ready
The cleaning is finished. All you have to do is wait until the device is completely dry. Do not plug in a wet device to avoid a short circuit.
Household appliances make the life of a modern person easier. But, in turn, it requires care and careful handling. Dust particles and grease significantly shorten the life of electrical appliances. But simple cleaning steps will help solve the problem. After all, what could be better than crispy toast!
Cleaning
You need to periodically wipe the outer surface of the toaster with a slightly damp cloth and vinegar to remove dust, splashes, and fingerprints. At least once a month you need to clean it inside too. Cleaning the toaster should be done in a well-lit area. Be sure to lay out a sheet of paper to catch the crumbs later. Prepare the necessary equipment: brush, toothbrush, tape, parchment paper, coarse salt.
Step-by-step instruction
First you need to remove the bottom, unscrew all the screws. Remove the top cover, side panels, bottom. Then you need to pour a little coarse salt into the upper slots for loading fresh toast. Cover the top with paper and secure with tape
Gently shake the toaster several times. Salt will cleanse the internal surfaces of dirt and carbon deposits.
Then salt, crumbs and adhered dirt should be carefully removed with a brush. Remove any accumulated crumbs from the tray and wash it with detergent and water under the tap.
Dry with a towel. If the toaster does not have a tray, then you need to partially disassemble it and gently shake it over the paper. External surfaces can be washed with a cloth soaked in vinegar. Use baking soda: it effectively removes tough stains.
There are many toaster models available. Manufacturers go to all sorts of tricks to please the whims of discerning customers. They come up with fancy external shapes, sophisticated designs, and combinations with other household items. The most popular brands: Bosch, Tefal, BORK, Moulinex, Philips, Roventa, Vitek and other brands. When using a toaster, do not forget to take care of the device if you want it to serve you for many years.
Should I fix it myself or call a professional?
If the problem is not crumbs stuck inside the device, you should definitely not tamper with electrical equipment. Firstly, you can unknowingly cause even greater harm to the equipment. Secondly, if you break the device, there is a high risk of causing a short circuit. Electrical appliances should be handled by professionals with appropriate education. True, repairs in service workshops are expensive, and private craftsmen are not responsible for the work performed. The issue of the feasibility of repairs is doubly acute if the toaster has been in use for many years. It is possible that breakdown will follow breakdown, so it is easier and cheaper to buy new equipment.
Cleaning
Cleaning a toaster is not a difficult procedure. To do this, you need to fill it with coarse salt, seal the top holes with thick paper and tape, and then shake it thoroughly. Salt will remove scale and soot and disinfect the insides.
All that remains is to peel off the tape or adhesive film and paper, rinse the inside of the toaster with running water and look at the results of the efforts expended. If scale and soot remain, you will have to use baking soda powder diluted with water .
Apply soda with a toothbrush or a special brush and rub thoroughly until the desired effect is achieved. After cleaning, wash off the dirt with water and thoroughly dry the inside of the toaster.
Which brand of fat remover is better to choose?
Among the companies that produce high-quality and effective products for cleaning the house, there are both Russian and foreign manufacturers. The rating includes budget, mid-price and premium products.
This is the list of leading companies in the field of household chemicals production:
- Synergetic is a Russian brand of household chemicals created on the basis of German developments in the field of environmentally friendly and biodegradable products. It produces products in the mid-price category with highly active substances: a complex of plant H-tensides, soda, water and some others. All this is produced in translucent packaging with a dispenser for ease of use and economical consumption.
- Sanita – this brand sells household chemicals for delicate washing of dishes, ovens, stoves, and hoods. It is popular because of its fast action, gentle care, and cleaning of almost any surface (metal, plastic, ceramic). The main advantages of the products of this brand are the absence of a pungent odor, concentration, and the content of highly active substances. They remove soot, fresh and old fat, and yellow plaque.
- Bagi - the company's history began in 1988 in Israel. Today it produces liquid and powdered kitchen cleaning products that remove grease, eliminate yellow deposits, remove unpleasant odors, and destroy bacteria. They are quite in demand due to the optimal combination of price and quality, gentle effect on contaminated surfaces, safety for humans and economical consumption.
- OfficeClean is a brand under which household chemicals and household goods are offered. We are talking about universal products that effectively cope with old fat deposits, soot, carbon deposits, and water deposits. They are actively used in the care of both external and internal surfaces in contact with food. Among the advantages of its offerings are convenient packaging with a dispenser, large volume (from 400 ml), and a pleasant smell.
- Frosch is a German manufacturer of environmentally friendly household chemicals based on natural ingredients of natural origin, including the best grease removers. He received a certificate confirming the “purity” of his products back in 2003. He has more than 20 organic products for cleaning pipes, countertops, sinks, and hoods from fresh and old grease, carbon deposits, and scale. They are in demand due to the removal of stubborn dirt, disinfecting effect, and economical consumption.
- Clean Home - the brand's philosophy is to create environmentally friendly, effective and universal care products for tiles, stoves, ovens and many other types of surfaces. Its grease removers are available in large packages of 400-500 ml, which are equipped with a convenient dispenser. They fight oily stains, yellow deposits, and unpleasant odors without significant mechanical effort.
- Nevskaya Cosmetics - it produces a wide selection of home care products, including grease removers. This series includes Sarma household chemicals, which are presented in the form of powders and liquids. They are distinguished by their concentration, the ability to be diluted with water without losing their cleaning properties, and safety for almost any surface, humans and the environment.
- Biolan - this brand belongs to a large manufacturer of household chemicals, Nefis Cosmetics. This line includes washing powders, detergents, products for removing grease, soot, carbon deposits and other contaminants on the external and internal surfaces of microwaves, ovens, hoods, etc. They are characterized by slow consumption, absence of marks on the coating, safety for humans and various materials.
- Kao is a Japanese manufacturer of household chemicals at affordable prices; it produces products for the care of countertops, hoods, ovens, stoves, and microwave ovens. The products are sold in the form of powders, gels, creams, sprays in volumes of 250, 400, 500, 900 ml. With their help, unpleasant odors, grease, and limescale are removed.
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Household appliances for washing batteries
If the housewife is interested in how best to wash the battery from dust and dirt, then the answer will be as follows: with household devices. After all, cleaning will go much faster if you use a vacuum cleaner or steam generator.
What home “helpers” are effective:
- Hair dryer. Everything is logical - dust particles are well blown away by the air flow. And to prevent them from scattering around the room, you should hang a damp cloth behind the heating device. Then all the rubbish will settle on her.
- Vacuum cleaner. Quite a useful device. Just a few minutes and the result is ready: the batteries inside are clean. And for convenience, you can use a small attachment, which almost every manufacturer adds to the package of a vacuum cleaner, or make one from improvised means, for example, toilet paper rolls.
- Steam cleaner. Surely every neat person dreams of him. In this device, steam is injected due to high pressure. The result is a powerful and very hot jet. Therefore, if you are wondering how to wash an accordion battery, then a steam cleaner will definitely help you in this difficult task. However, you should remember safety when working with it. It is necessary to avoid contact of the jet with the skin, otherwise burns cannot be avoided.
- Electric kettle. If you pour boiling water from a kettle onto a cast iron radiator, most of the debris will be washed away. But at the same time, it is worth placing a tray under the heating device to collect water - a baking sheet or a large basin.
Preparation for the procedure
The toaster must first be disconnected from the power supply - your hands must be dry. The cleaning process begins only after the device has completely cooled down. Otherwise, you may get severe burns. It is recommended to cover the working surface with thick cloth or newspaper - in the future this will make it easier to remove all the bread crumbs.
It would be a good idea to read the instructions for the device, which contain safety rules and recommendations for caring for the equipment.
We use folk remedies
Folk recipes contain components that can be found in every home. They are safe and inexpensive.
Vinegar solution
Vinegar removes dirty stains of any complexity, disinfects the surface and removes odors:
- Vinegar is diluted with water. The components are taken in equal quantities.
- Treat the surface with the resulting composition using a sponge.
- In heavily contaminated areas, leave the composition for 6 minutes.
Soda
Soda solution copes well with stains:
- Dissolve soda in warm water.
- Soak a sponge in the solution and wipe all the walls of the refrigerator.
A positive property of this product is the ability to destroy pathogenic microorganisms.
Ammonia
A composition based on ammonia is effective. The component copes well with dirt, disinfects surfaces and removes odors:
- 35 ml of ammonia is dissolved in 350 ml of water.
- The composition is applied to the walls of the refrigerator with a sponge or clean cloth.
- In case of heavy contamination, leave the mixture for 14 minutes.
Lemon juice or citric acid
Lemon juice or essence can quickly remove dirty stains and unpleasant odors in a short period of time. Lemon juice should be dissolved in water and the walls of the unit should be treated with the solution.
Citric acid is often chosen to clean the refrigerator:
- the component is diluted with water;
- use a sponge soaked in the composition to wipe all parts;
- if necessary, leave the composition for 8 minutes;
- then rinse the walls with clean water.
Toothpaste
Toothpaste can easily clean even the dirtiest areas. Apply a small amount of paste to the sponge. It is advisable to choose a paste without abrasive components. The composition is applied to the stains and after 3 minutes wiped with a damp cloth.