Updated on March 29, 2022
Welcome to day 9 of the ‘31 Days of Deep Cleaning Your Home‘ series!
Today’s task is to clean your small kitchen appliances. For you, this could mean a microwave, coffee pot, toaster, stand mixer, food processor, blender, or slow cooker. For me the three dirtiest, most used appliances are the microwave, coffee pot, and toaster. These are the three that I will share tips on today. The great news is, it only took me about 30 minutes to clean all three!
To clean your microwave:
Start by placing 2 cups of water in a microwave safe bowl or container.
Microwave the water on high for 5 minutes.
Allow the water to sit in the microwave with the door closed for an additional 5 minutes. Remove the water from the microwave. All the of gunk should be nice and softened up! Wipe the inside out with a damp cloth. (Mine was greasy from a butter explosion, so I had to use a warm soapy rag to get it all wiped out.)
Wash the glass tray and any other removable parts with warm, soapy water in the sink. Dry and replace. Don’t forget to wipe the outside of your microwave as well. It can get pretty dusty and dirty!
Tip: To keep your microwave clean longer – use a damp coffee filter to cover your food when you microwave. They are inexpensive and it really cuts down on splatters!
To clean your coffeepot:
Pour white vinegar into the water reservoir to the halfway mark for your coffeepot. (Mine is an 8 cup coffeepot, so I filled mine to the 4 cup mark.)
Use half as much cold water to vinegar and pour this into the reservoir as well. (For me, this meant filling mine to the 6 cup mark.) This solution helps to remove any mineral deposits and clogging.
Run a normal cycle until the solution runs down to the lowest marked water level on your coffee pot. (For me this means the 3 cup mark.) Turn off the coffee pot and allow it to sit for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, turn the coffee pot back on and allow it to run for the rest of the cycle. Pour this water out.
Refill the water reservoir to the highest spot with cold water and run another full cycle. This helps to rinse out any remaining vinegar solution.
After you have completed this second brew cycle, take off any removable parts from your coffee pot and wash them in warm, soapy water. Rinse and dry.
Unplug the coffee pot. Wipe down the outside of your coffee pot with a damp cloth.
 |
| My coffee pot is over 7 years old and this is as clean as it gets! |
Replace all the removable parts and enjoy some fresh coffee!
To clean your toaster:
Unplug the toaster. Start by shaking your toaster a little to get all the crumbs down into the bottom tray. Remove the toaster tray(s). Mine pull out from the back, but you might have one that unhooks from the bottom.
Wash the tray(s) out, dry and replace it/them.
Wipe down the outside of your toaster with a damp cloth.
I start by getting the coffee pot going with the vinegar solution, then I heat my water in the microwave, and keep going from there until each step gets done. I clean the toaster last. I am able to clean all three appliances in under 30 minutes.
Be sure to follow any specific manufacturer care instructions for your particular appliances. If you don’t use one (or any) of the above mentioned small appliances, choose whatever three you use the most in your home. And if you don’t have much time to complete this task, choose your dirtiest or most used small appliance and clean it!
See you back here tomorrow for day 10 of 31 Days of Deep Cleaning Your Home.
© copyright 2013 – All rights reserved
Leave a Reply