X
CNET logo Why You Can Trust CNET

Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement

Give Your Toaster a Deep Clean (Without the Risk of Fire or Electrocution)

Even our toasters need to be cleaned every now and then.

Headshot of Macy Meyer
Headshot of Macy Meyer
Macy Meyer Writer II
Macy is a writer on the AI Team. She covers how AI is changing daily life and how to make the most of it. This includes writing about consumer AI products and their real-world impact, from breakthrough tools reshaping daily life to the intimate ways people interact with AI technology day-to-day. Macy is a North Carolina native who graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a BA in English and a second BA in Journalism. You can reach her at mmeyer@cnet.com.
Expertise Macy covers consumer AI products and their real-world impact Credentials
  • Macy has been working for CNET for coming on 2 years. Prior to CNET, Macy received a North Carolina College Media Association award in sports writing.
Macy Meyer
2 min read
hand cleaning toaster

Crumb build-up inside of a toaster can attract bugs or worse, create a fire hazard.

 Getty Images

You may regularly clean your air fryer or coffee maker, but all your kitchen appliances need some TLC every now and then. Specifically, you need to clean that toaster on your counter -- and you need to clean it more often than you may think.

Crumbs pile up fast, and if you don't clean them out regularly, they can burn, stink and even turn into a fire risk. Giving your toaster a deep clean is easier than you might think. It takes just a few minutes, doesn't require any fancy tools and can save your breakfast (and your kitchen) from disaster.

Here's everything to know.

Best Toaster Ovens of 2025 See at CNET

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 Home Tips logo
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.

Dirty toaster with burnt crumbs on the kitchen table against the background of light tiles

Toasters need to be cleaned regularly.

 Akintevs/Getty Images

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