The little useful machines lined up along the kitchen counter save us precious time and effort. Most of them were designed to be easy to clean but they still require some work. If you are fed up having to constantly clean your small electrical kitchen appliances after every use, we offer you some great tips to help you save time:
Blenders
While most of the blender jars are dishwasher safe, some are not.
- Make sure to always follow the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions.
- Wipe the base of the blender after each use so you will not have to scrub it later.
- To clean the blender jar thoroughly, fill it with a warm detergent solution and run the blender at high speed for 20 seconds. Rinse it good and leave it to dry.
Coffeemakers
Auto drip coffee makers are relatively easy to clean. All you have to do is wash the pot, lid, change the filter, put in a detergent and quickly wipe the base with a cloth. Percolators, on the other hand, need an occasional, thorough cleaning to get rid of the oil buildup which can affect the taste of the coffee.
- You can remove coffee and mineral stains from the glass pot of an automatic drip coffeemaker by simply adding a cup of crushed ice, one tablespoon water and four tablespoons salt to the carafe. Swirl the mixture gently, rinse and wash it.
Toasters
Toasters are the greatest crumb and grease collectors. You need to pay attention regularly to these small electrical kitchen appliances to keep them shiny, clean and crumb-free. Here is what you should do:
- Firstly and most importantly, unplug the toaster and let it cool before cleaning it;
- Never, ever immerse a toaster into water;
- Wipe the toaster’s exterior regularly;
- Remove the crumb tray underneath the toaster and throw away the accumulated crumbs. Wash the tray in a warm, soapy water. If your toaster does not come with a crumb tray, turn the toaster upside down and shake it over a garbage can;
- Use a thin brush to remove crumbs from the interior.
Waffle Irons
These small electrical kitchen appliances need little care. Their grids are made from seasoned cast iron or a nonstick surface which generally does not require washing after a regular use. Still, there are a few rules to keep in mind:
- Never clean a waffle iron before you unplug it and it cools down;
- Wipe the exterior of the waffle iron and clean batter spills after each use;
- Wipe the grids with a paper towel which has been dampened with vegetable oil.
