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Cleaning Small Appliances

TIPical Mary Ellen : Episode TIP-462 -- More Projects »
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Grind up a cup or so of rice in a coffee grinder to simultaneously clean the grinder and sharpen its blades.
Mary Ellen provides tips on how to clean small kitchen appliances.
  • If a blender cannot be taken apart for cleaning, pour in a few drops of liquid dishwashing soap, fill the blender pitcher about halfway full with warm water and run the blender on high for 10 to 15 seconds. Add ice to this mixture to sharpen blades, and repeat if necessary. Light-duty cleaner will clean the base if a swipe with the sponge isn't enough.

  • Use rice to clean a coffee grinder. The rice will not only clean the grinder, but it will also sharpen the blades.

  • To clean a coffeepot, use a mild detergent and water for all washable parts. Use a percolator brush to clean inside the thin tube with warm, sudsy water. Use baking soda if a more abrasive cleaning is needed.

  • To clean a slow cooker, pour a soapy water solution inside and cook on high for an hour or so.

  • To clean an electric can opener, remove the section with the cutting wheel and lid holder and soak them in sudsy water. If those parts cannot be removed, use an old toothbrush and a little powdered cleanser to remove dried-on food from the cutting wheel and lid holder. Rinse thoroughly.

  • To clean a food processor, soak all washable parts in hot, soapy water. The base can be washed with light-duty cleaner. A little nonstick spray on the center shaft will keep gooey foods, like dough, from sticking.

  • Before cleaning a toaster oven, be sure to let it cool, then use a nylon scrubber to clean the racks. The outside can be cleaned with a gentle abrasive or baking soda on a sponge. Plastic sides can be cleaned with liquid dishwashing soap or baking soda and water. Clean out the crumb tray often, because it can be a fire hazard. Put the racks in a garbage bag with ammonia.

  • To clean a toaster, remove the crumb tray or hold the toaster upside down over the sink or garbage pail and "burp" it gently like a baby. Use a pipe cleaner or thin brush, called a percolator brush, to remove stubborn crumbs. To clean the exterior, rub with baking soda on a sponge. Another option is to spray some glass cleaner on a sponge and rub gently. Plastic-sided toasters can be cleaned with a mild liquid dishwashing soap or baking soda and water. Do not immerse the toaster in water.

  • If waffles are sticking to the grid of the waffle iron, the grid probably needs to be cleaned and seasoned. Wash the grids with warm, sudsy water. Rub away the burned-on spots with a nylon scrubber, then season the grids by rubbing or brushing them with vegetable oil. Wipe off any excess oil. Liquid dishwashing soap should be used to clean an enamel exterior surface, and baking soda will clean a metal exterior.

  • Use mineral oil to lubricate blenders, eggbeaters and any other kitchen appliances with movable parts. Salad oil may corrode the metal, but mineral oil is noncorrosive and is just as safe for food as it is for salad oil.
Also in this Episode
TIPical Mary Ellen : Episode TIP-462
•Preparing to Paint
•Cleaning Small Appliances
•Lettuce 101
•Tip of the Day
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