Germs breeding in your microwave? Gunk stuck in your toaster? Give your kitchen workhorses a much deserved spa treatment.

Microwaves

Cheese meltdowns, syrup spills, and butter tsunamis: Readers said this indispensable machine takes a beating—inside and out. To soften up grease and calcified oatmeal (or whatever that crud is), place a bowl of water mixed with lemon juice in the microwave and run on high for one minute, then use a food-safe sanitizer (such as Lysol's version) to banish germs lurking under the turntable. An all-purpose cleaner (such as Windex MultiTask) or a mildly abrasive powder (like Bon Ami) can usually dislodge one of the biggest reader complaints: constantly reappearing streaks and fingerprints on the door. Buff with a rag or a microfiber cloth.

Toasters

To get rid of those “annoying crumbs stuck in the bottom of the toaster,” slide the tray out and wipe it down, then blast the interior with a computer-keyboard cleaner. Don’t forget the exterior: Coax stubborn rust spots off chrome with a ball of crumpled aluminum foil. Before cleaning any appliance, always remember to unplug it.

Coffeemakers

While dispensing your favorite brew, your coffeemaker may harbor oily residue (from the grinds) and caked-on minerals (from the water). Every one to six months, run a descaling solution (such as Barista Cleaner & Descaler) through the machine. Then rinse thoroughly with clean water. Check the coffeemaker’s instruction manual first.

More Tips

A mild abrasive will immediately lift the dirt off cabinet knobs and handles, but don’t use it on painted cabinets — it will dull the gloss.

To extract grime lodged in nooks and crannies, apply a multipurpose cleaning solution, then get into the groove with a cotton swab.

Control where your cleaning solution goes. Unlike a spray, a gel glass cleaner won’t seep behind push buttons or into appliances.