The Worst Cleaning Jobs Made Easy

Dirty Job No. 3: Decrumbing the Toaster

Time it takes: 5 to 10 minutes.

Why it matters: Besides being a mess, the crumbs can smoke, stinking up your kitchen and possibly setting off your smoke alarm.

For a toaster
Step 1: Unplug and remove the crumb tray. Dump out the crumbs, then wash the tray with dish soap and wipe dry with a cotton cloth. Hold the toaster upside down over the trash can and gently tap out any remaining crumbs.

For a toaster oven
Step 1: Place a small oven-safe container filled with water inside the oven and heat at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes to soften everything up, says Findley. Unplug the oven and remove the crumb tray and the rack; dump out the crumbs. Use a plastic spatula to scrape off stuck-on morsels. Wash the tray and the rack with dish soap and wipe dry with a cotton cloth. Wipe the inside and the burners with a damp cloth and a drop of dish soap, then let dry.

Try to do this: Every other month.