Whether homemade waffles are a staple in your house or an extra special treat, keeping your waffle maker clean can make the whole waffle-making experience much more pleasant and turnkey. After all, a messy waffle griddle can lead to frustrating "stickage" and—even more frustrating—get in the way of your Pinterest-perfect waffles. The good news? A quick clean after each use can make things go more smoothly. Meaning more French toast waffles, pumpkin spice waffles, and even tater tots waffles, if you wish!

Here’s how to take care of your waffle iron, according to experts at KitchenAid.

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So your waffles stuck and you defaulted to tried-and-true cooking spray? Bad idea. To redeem your waffle iron from the stickiness that likely ensued, follow steps 1-3 above. If the griddle is still sticky, try wiping away oil and residue with white vinegar before moving onto the exterior. If waffle plates can be removed, you can also try to rinse them in soapy water—but always follow manufacturer directions.

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Prevent sticking by increasing the fat in your waffle recipe. While greasing the waffle iron might be your first inclination when waffles stick, your best bet is to increase the oil or butter in the recipe itself. This way, you won’t have to deal with stubborn residue.

Never use non-stick cooking spray. Most waffle plates have a non-stick surface so there is no need to coat the plates with non-stick cooking spray, which can cause the plates to become gummy for good.

Avoid using metal utensils. Because metal can scratch ceramic waffle plates, wood or bamboo utensils are recommended for best results and minimal damage.

Never soak your waffle-making device. It sounds obvious, but needs to be said: Immersing your cord, plugs or waffle maker itself into water or any other liquid could set you up for an electrical shock. So while achieving a squeaky clean waffle iron can be uber satisfying, it’s really not worth the risk.

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