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It’s been a very long time since I posted a cleaning tip! I guess I’ve tried everything Pinterest has to offer 😉 I use my slow cooker all year, but it seems to get more use in the Fall and Winter when soups and other hearty meals like roasts are on the menu. You might not have ever wondered how to clean your slow cooker but at some point you’re going to need to know!
I pulled it out tonight to get ready for lunch tomorrow, and it was gross! Something spilled inside the heating element and it was NOT coming off with soap and water. Plus, you can’t just fill up the sink and soak your slow cooker! After scrubbing for a while, I remembered a pin I’d seen a while ago, and behold, this post was born: How to Clean Your Slow Cooker.
Note: this is for cleaning your slow cooker’s heating element. The inside part, you know? NOT the actual “crock” from your crock pot.
What you’ll need to clean your crockpot:
One can of oven cleaner. I got mine at the dollar store. Yay for cheap! Not all oven cleaners are safe to use with aluminum. It will most likely be marked on the can if it’s not safe to use on aluminum surfaces, so be sure to read the labels.
What to do:
Spray an even coat of foam around the inside of the cooker. You really should do this outside. I’m pretty sure I hacked up a lung after I inhaled some of the cleaner. Lesson learned. After you have a nice, even coat of foam, let it sit for a couple hours.
I left mine outside and went to make dinner and eat. As we were cleaning up afterwards, I pulled it back inside to finish. So it was probably closer to ninety minutes. Then, just use a scrubby sponge to wipe out the foam! Everything but the most caked-on spot just wiped right off. The big yucky spot took some scrubbing, but it was WAY easier than when I was trying to clean it before. So there you go. Now that you know, there’s no excuse. 🙂
While you’re cleaning your slow cooker, you might as well get started on your stove top as well! This is another “set it and forget it” cleaning tip that I use ALL THE TIME for my stove grates and burner covers. It’s the easiest way I’ve ever tried to get the stove clean. Click here to see the “after” photo and get the instructions!
Some of my favorite cleaning tips:
- Chocolate Orange Cookies - November 2, 2024
- Nutella Banana Bread - October 14, 2024
- Bacon Onion Dip - September 13, 2024
Ara says
I somehow had a plastic lid from a whipped topping container between my crock and the base of the crockpot. ( never thought to check it BEFORE I plugged it in!) Needless to say, it melted and I had a horrid mess. The worst part, I turned it on and left for work, so I had no way of knowing from the smell of melting plastic UNTIL I walked in the house after work. I tried everything I could think of to get it clean, with no luck, so I put it in my pantry, thinking someday, I might find the “Cure” I used the oven cleaner trick as a last resort and it worked! Thank you!!
Nicole Burkholder says
As I was reading this, I kept thinking, “I hope it worked, I hope it worked…” until I got the end. 🙂 I’m so glad you didn’t throw it away! 🙂 Happy to help!
Kim O says
I had similar happen to me. I smelled burning plastic and blamed it on my crock pot liner. Even wrote the company about it. Then when I washed the pot I saw a ziploc bag inside the metal part that had melted. Had to have hubby warm it up and pry it off!
Nicole Burkholder says
Ugh- burning plastic is such a nasty smell!
Katherine says
Wouldn’t oven cleaner mar the integrity of the metal? I allowed a tomato based soup to bubble over (rookie mistake) and got it clean with no problem by making a thick paste of baking soda and water, then gently scrubbed with a sponge until the burned goo lifted – took no effort. I am disabled with weak hands so If I could get the stains off this way, anyone can, trust me. I heard from friends that dribbling Dawn over the stickiest of goo, then fill the liner up to ‘stain line’ with hot water and leave to sit overnight works very well – just don’t submerge the whole thing IN water, of course!
Nicole Burkholder says
Honestly, I couldn’t tell you for sure. I read the side of my can of cleaner to make sure it was safe for multiple surfaces, and since it was only on there for an hour and I don’t clean my heating element regularly (this was the first time ever) I think it’s fine. I did try to scrub it out first with blue Dawn and even a little baking soda/vinegar combo, but no luck. But mine was not a fresh stain- it had been cooked on for quite a while. If you can get yours clean without chemicals, I’m all for it! But if not, this is another option. 🙂
Lee says
Nice tips, thank you. Got myself a clean oven thanks to Oven Cleaner Sheffield now I need my slow cooker clean to match, to stand right by the oven :-).
Meghan says
This reminds me, I need to clean my oven AND my crocks! Thank you for sharing this tip.
Nicole Burkholder says
Ugh- I don’t want to talk about my oven.
Meghan says
This reminds me, I need to clean my oven AND my crockpots. Thank you for this tip!
Linda says
Another use I’ve found for oven cleaner is cleaning the inside of the glass doors on my fireplace. Just make sure to wear rubber gloves and use LOTS of paper towels when wiping it clean. It doesn’t get it sparking, but it sure helps.
Nicole Burkholder says
That’s a fantastic idea! Makes perfect sense, too. I’ll have to try that myself (and maybe blog about it) 😉
Linda M. says
the best product for the inside of glass fireplace doors is the cleaner for glass cooktops. I use it all the time…easy to use and hardly any effort!
amy @ one artsy mama says
Oooooh, I so need to do this. My crockpot got a workout over the holidays.
Nicole Burkholder says
Mine, too! We did our ham in the crockpot. Did you know you can do that?!?
Sarah @Snow Globe Shaken says
Great post and perfect timing because I totally need to do this!
Danita @O Taste And See says
Great idea! Going to the dollar store for oven cleaner…I have two crock pots that could use a good cleaning. Thanks for posting.
Nicole Burkholder says
I love when the dollar store ideas actually work!
Emily @ Love, Pasta and a Tool Belt says
I was just noticing the other day how dirty the inside of my crock pot is. I was like this is gross. So this is perfect. I am pinning it to my cleaning board. Thank you for sharing!
Nicole Burkholder says
It was the first time I’d ever cleaned mine! Now THAT’s gross! 🙂
Linda says
This was a great thing to post about. Thanks for the tip. Linda
Sarah Peterson says
Wow! Thanks for sharing! This totally complements one of my old posts for “how to deep clean your slow cooker”…but I talk about cleaning the crock part.
http://www.lifeshouldcostless.com/2012/12/lifechanging-healthy-way-to-clean-that.html
Nicole Burkholder says
That looks great! I pinned it to my cleaning board for future reference 🙂
Helen says
Thanks so much! It’s one of those things where you say “of course!” but you’d not think of it yourself.
Nicole Burkholder says
Exactly! It’s been one of my most popular posts ever, so I guess a lot of people are cleaning their slow cookers this week! 🙂
Pam Barrett says
Thanks so much! My 17 year old daughter is the chef in my family of (2 – me and her). Her beloved crock pot is dirty. Now I know how to clean it for her (nice surprise). Also I help in the football concession stands (talk about dirty crockpots), now know how to clean them as well as leave the instructions for future helpers. 🙂
Nicole Burkholder says
Thanks for passing the tip along! I never realized how dirty the inside of the crockpot could get! Happy scrubbing 🙂
Shauna {The Best Blog Recipes} says
What a great idea Nicole! Thanks for linking up this post @ The Weekend re-Treat last week! Pinned to our party board!
Shauna @ The Best Blog Recipes
Heather @ The Frill of Life says
This is great. I have pinned it for my reference later and tweeted it to spread the word. Thanks for saving us hours of scrubbing! (Stopping by from SITSSharefest)
Nicole Burkholder says
Thanks for coming by and sharing! 🙂 I MUST go check out your Star Wars room!
Katherine says
My crockpot gets a lot of use this time of year. Good tip! (stopping by from the linky)
Kimberly Leverett Osburn says
Hi Nicole Thanks for sharing this wonderful tip. Stopping by from the Weekend re-Treat. <3 Kim
Christina @ Juggling Real Food and Real Life says
Whacking myself in the head………..Why did I never think of that? I have several crocks and use them all of the time. Now I finally know how to clean them!
Mommy on Demand says
Very clever! I will need to do this. Thanks for sharing! Would love for you to come share at my linky party http://mommyondemand.com/create/
Cheryl says
How nice that you shared this tip!! Thanks for posting on Marvelous Mondays@
Nicole Burkholder says
You’re so very welcome 🙂