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How to Clean a Toaster Oven

Home/Resources/Small Kitchen Appliances/Clean a Toaster Oven
DH
Written & researched by Derek Holt Home & Appliances Editor
Updated August 2026
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Cleaning a toaster oven is a 15-to-20-minute beginner task with no tools and only baking soda and dish soap — and it is the fix for a smoking, smelly oven. The crumb tray is the main culprit; crumbs and grease pile up, char, and smoke. The whole job is: unplug and cool it, empty and wash the crumb tray and racks, soften baked-on grease on the walls and glass with a baking soda paste, and gently wipe the interior. The rules that protect the machine — unplug and cool it fully first, keep water and cleaners off the heating elements, and never use oven-cleaner sprays or abrasive pads inside.

The Best Way To Deep Clean Your Toaster Oven!

Tools and materials

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Step 1: Unplug and cool completely

Turn the toaster oven off, unplug it, and let it cool fully. The elements and interior hold heat well after use, and you should never clean around live electrical components. A cool, unplugged oven is safe to wipe and reach into.

Step 2: Empty and wash the crumb tray

Slide out the crumb tray and dump it, then wash it with warm soapy water — this tray is the number-one cause of smoke and odor. Remove the racks and baking tray and wash or soak them too. Getting the crumb tray truly clean solves most toaster oven smell and smoke problems on its own.

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Step 3: Soften baked-on grease

Spread a paste of baking soda and a little water on the greasy interior walls and the inside of the glass door, keeping it off the heating elements. Let it sit 10 to 15 minutes to soften the residue. Baking soda lifts baked-on grease without the harsh chemicals of oven cleaner, which do not belong in a toaster oven.

Step 4: Wipe the interior and elements

Wipe the softened paste and grease away with a damp non-scratch sponge, rinsing as you go. Clean the glass door until clear. Wipe the heating elements only gently with a barely damp cloth — most splatter burns off in use, so do not scrub or soak them. Keep water minimal near any electrical parts.

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Step 5: Dry, reassemble, and wipe the outside

Dry the interior, racks, and trays completely before reassembling — moisture can cause odor or sputtering on the next use. Wipe the exterior and control knobs with a damp cloth. Slide the dry crumb tray and racks back in, plug it in, and it is ready to use clean and smoke-free.

Where to go next

Keep the whole countertop clean with our guides to cleaning an air fryer, deep cleaning a blender, and descaling a coffee maker. Everything sits under the small kitchen appliances hub.

We never buy or physically test the products we rank — our picks come from aggregated owner reviews and expert consensus, explained on how we rank.

Straight Answers

Frequently Asked

How do I clean baked-on grease from a toaster oven?

Make a paste of baking soda and a little water, spread it on the greasy interior walls and glass door (avoiding the heating elements), let it sit 10 to 15 minutes to soften the residue, then wipe with a damp cloth or non-scratch sponge. For stubborn spots, a little dish soap on a sponge helps. Never use oven cleaner sprays or abrasive pads inside a toaster oven — the harsh chemicals and scratching damage the finish and can leave residue near the elements. Baking soda and patience do the job safely.

Can you clean toaster oven heating elements?

Wipe the elements only gently with a dry or barely damp cloth, and only when the oven is unplugged and completely cool — never soak them or use water freely around them. Most food splatter on the elements simply burns off during use. Do not scrub the elements hard or use cleaners on them, as you can damage the coating or the connections. If buildup on the elements is causing smoke, gently brushing off the loose char while the unit is cool and unplugged is enough.

Why does my toaster oven smoke or smell?

Smoke and odor come from accumulated crumbs and grease on the crumb tray, floor, and walls burning when the oven heats up. The crumb tray is the biggest culprit — crumbs pile up, char, and smoke. Empty the crumb tray regularly, wipe down the interior, and clear grease off the walls and elements. A toaster oven that smokes almost always just needs a good crumb-tray dump and interior wipe; letting the debris build up is what causes the smell in the first place.

How often should I clean a toaster oven?

Empty the crumb tray weekly, or more often if you use the oven daily, and wipe the interior when you see splatter. Do a deeper clean of the walls, door glass, and racks every month or two, or whenever grease builds up or it starts to smoke or smell. Frequent crumb-tray emptying prevents most problems and takes seconds. Letting crumbs and grease accumulate is what turns a two-minute task into a scrubbing job and causes smoking, so little and often wins.

Can toaster oven racks and trays go in the dishwasher?

Many removable racks and baking trays are dishwasher-safe, but check your manual, and note that repeated dishwasher cycles can dull or discolor some finishes. For heavily baked-on trays, soaking in hot soapy water for 15 to 30 minutes before scrubbing loosens the residue better than the dishwasher alone. Hand washing with a non-scratch sponge preserves nonstick trays. Whichever you choose, make sure racks and trays are fully dry before returning them to the oven to avoid odor on the next use.