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.)

 

article continues below ↓

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.