One of the most common breakfast appliances could be a fire risk due to a possible hazard that some may note be aware of.
For many, toasters are used every day, but they aren't cleaned out nearly as often. Something as trivial as crumbs could be enough to spark a blaze, experts have warned.
As reported by the Echo, people can reduce any risks by clearing the toaster out regularly, which can be done by removing its crumb tray.
Christian Strandoo, product manager at Morphy Richards, explained: "There are really two types of toaster owners; those that regularly empty their toaster's crumb tray, and those that don't even know they existed.
"The crumb tray sits underneath your toaster and catches errant crumbs so that they don't build up inside the toaster slots.
"If you've never noticed it before, the crumb tray compartment can usually be opened from the back of the toaster and it will slide out from underneath. Some toasters, such as four-slice models, might have more than one tray.
"The crumb tray sits underneath your toaster and catches errant crumbs so that they don't build up inside the toaster slots.
"If you've never noticed it before, the crumb tray compartment can usually be opened from the back of the toaster and it will slide out from underneath.
"Some toasters, such as four-slice models, might have more than one tray."
According to the expert, you should be cleaning the toaster "at least once a week" and while that may sound like a hefty tack it's actually surprisingly straightforward.
All you have to do is pull out the crumb tray from the bottom of your toaster, and then empty all the leftovers out. If there are any leftovers, you can use a damp paper towel or cloth to wipe away any remnants of crumbs.
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