To clean and disinfect the wheel of a can opener, just use white vinegar and an old tooth brush. Dip the toothbrush in the vinegar and scrub clean. Swish in hot soapy water and rinse.
By Ron from Cortez, CO
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Great post! I keep an old toothbrush in my kitchen for all tiny scrubs just like the can opener.
I put my hand held can opener in the dishwasher. I have done it for years. If you don't have a dishwasher you can put it in your hot dish water. No problem. If you have an electric can opener sometimes the head snaps off. Can openers should be washed everytime you use them just like anything else.
I've had problems with rust if I soak a can opener, or leave it messy. I've learned to never put down my handheld can opener. I use it, rinse it thoroughly under hot running water (turning the wheel with it open and closed), then stand it in the drain rack to drain. Then I remove the lid from the can and use it.
I keep a magnet on the fridge by my food-preparation area, and I put the magnet opposite the starting point (when I get past that point). That way the lid doesn't fall in while I'm busy washing the can opener.
Thanks for the tip about the toothbrush, though, no matter how careful you are, mistakes happen (especially when you're rushed or have "helpers"), so it's good to have a good way to clean it when that happens.
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Why is it everytime I buy a can opener it only last for a few months and then it rust and becomes difficult to use? I heard you are not supposed to submerge them in water, but how should you clean them then? Any suggestions?
By Onesummer
We've had this U.S.A. made Swing-A-Way for fifteen years and it shows no signs of wearing out: around $9 online. Here's a link to a picture I found that most closely resembles ours.
www.acehardware.com/
All I do is rinse it off under hot water, dab the excess water off with a towel, put it in the dish drainer to air dry before putting it back into an enclosed drawer. Hope that makes your life easier!
One thing I have noticed: you know when you use a 'regular' can opener and you hear sound of air escaping from the hole being punched in the lid so you know the can opener has grabbed? I notice this one not doing that, but instead of thinking 'it's going to work' if I start to turn the handles it just starts cutting away. Read some reviews online & see if it would be better for you.
Vinegar will clean off rust. Soak just that the cutting part in vinegar. You can also use WD-40 to remove the rust (and then clean & dry thorougly). Also, scrubby powder and a scrub pad (the green ones) and then clean and dry thorougly. The best bet is never to let it rust heavily (they all seem to rust eventually) in the first place.
As a postscript, the rust is not likely to hurt you anyway....don't toss them for a bit of rust. Will probably give you some extra iron. Just my opinion, I have used hand can openers exclusively for years and I am still here.
To clean a can opener, whether it be an electric or a hand crank one, place a folded piece of paper towel around the edge that cuts the top of the can off, and proceed to have the edge go through the process that you use to cut. You will find that the end result is a nice clean edge. No broken fingernails to worry about. Happy cleaning.
By Joesgirl
I take the top off the can opener (electric, the part that cuts the can) and place it in my silverware basket in the dishwasher, when I'm doing a load of dishes. It cleans it perfectly, or if I open something ugly like tomato sauce, where it spurts all over, then I use my fingernail brush or an old toothbrush to clean it. (05/14/2004)
By Louise cook
Use a chenille type "pipe cleaner" stem to remove the dirt that collects on the wheel of the can opener.
By Syd (12/23/2004)
By ThriftyFun
I use an old toothbrush to clean the blades and roller on my can opener. It works wonders and I don't have to worry about getting cut. (12/23/2004)
By peaches
