Burnt-on milk happens to everyone who uses a frother regularly. You get distracted, forget to wipe it down immediately, and suddenly you're dealing with crusty residue that won't budge with a quick rinse.

To celebrate Tom's Guide Coffee Week, we're tackling one of the most annoying coffee equipment problems: how to rescue a frother covered in hardened milk. Whether you have a standalone device or a steam wand attached to your espresso machine, these three methods will get it clean using items you already have at home.

The best approach is always prevention — wiping your frother right after each use takes seconds. But if you're past that point and staring at a crusty mess, start with the gentlest cleaning method below and work your way up to stronger solutions if needed.

1. Soak in hot w

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