You keep a nice clean house. Your cabinets sparkle. The laundry’s always done. You could eat off your floor. (OK, you could eat off your floor most of the time anyway.)

 

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But how long has it been since you cleaned your coffee maker? That’s what I thought.

Let’s face it: It’s hard enough to get through our regular cleaning routine without worrying about toasters, microwaves and blenders. So small appliances — like the all-important coffee-maker — are often overlooked.

Actually, most of us would clean the little things — if we just knew how. While I cannot give you more time, I can provide the know-how. Print and save this cheat sheet for cleaning your home’s small appliances.

Coffeemaker: After each use, clean the pot and filter in warm soapy water. Wipe the exterior with a damp cloth. About once a month, mix a cup of water and a cup of white vinegar and run it through the coffeemaker. Follow with a pot of plain water to rinse it clean. You can also buy commercial cleansers that do the same thing. But why?

Toaster: Unplug and shake out the crumbs occasionally. Wipe down exterior.

Waffle iron: Never wash the grids of a non-stick waffle iron. Instead, wipe them clean after each use with a paper towel. If waffles stick to the iron, it probably needs to be seasoned again with vegetable oil.

Toaster oven: Clean the crumb tray after each use. Scrub racks as needed. Clean the exterior with a sponge.

Electric can opener: Remove the cutting wheels and soak them in warm soapy water for a few minutes. Then scrub with an old toothbrush. Wipe the rest of the unit clean with a sponge.

For best results, clean your appliances after each use. Simply wait for it to cool, then unplug it and wipe it with a damp cloth. If it’s really greasy, wipe it with a sponge dipped in soapy water, then wipe with a wet sponge. Be sure not to immerse any electrical units in water.

Use baking soda in water to clean non-glossy exterior metal surfaces and glass cleaner for shiny metal, plastic or enamel ones.