Make this countertop staple shine in just a few minutes.

From toasting bread to grilling pizza, or even roasting chicken, the toaster oven is quite the diminutive workhorse in any kitchen. Here’s how to get it gleaming again after a few rounds battling grease and crumbs (which, if left unattended for too long, are a fire hazard — eep!).

1. Bust crumbs.

Start by unplugging the toaster oven, and taking on the easy-to-dump debris first. Simply shake any crumbs or other food particles into the trash.

2. Tackle the removable parts.

Next, remove the rack and pans, and spray them and the crumb tray with all-purpose cleaner. “Use a non-abrasive scrubbing sponge to get off gunk,” says Carolyn Forte, director of the Cleaning Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. “Rinse, and let air dry.”

3. Wipe away oven grease.

To tackle the oven itself, spray a scrubber sponge (or a regular sponge, if the interior is non-stick) with more cleaner. “Never spray appliances directly,” says Forte. “And steer clear of the heating elements inside.” Wipe the exterior as well, including the glass door. Good Housekeeping home care expert, Heloise, likes to use a vinegar-and-water solution on the glass.

4. Allow to dry completely.

“Be sure the oven’s dry (wait about five minutes), before plugging it back in,” says Forte.

More Cleaning Smarts:

• The Best Way to Clean the Kitchen Sink

• 6 Big Mistakes You Make Washing Sheets

• 14 Hidden Germ Spots Around the House

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