Guide · Milk frothers
How to clean a milk frother: jugs, whisks and wands
How to clean a milk frother after every use: non-stick jug care, whisk removal, handheld wands, Nespresso Aeroccino notes, burnt-milk residue and which parts can go in the dishwasher.
Learning how to clean a milk frother is mostly about rinsing before milk dries. Burnt milk ruins non-stick coatings and blocks whisk magnets. Steps differ for jug frothers, handheld whisks, Aeroccino-style heaters and espresso steam wands. We haven’t tested this in person. The jug steps below follow Lakeland’s 62483 Milk Frother care section; dishwasher notes for the Smeg MFF11 come from Smeg’s listing as summarised in our review. Always check your own manual. Read how we compare.
How to clean a milk frother jug after every use
For a typical electric jug frother (Lakeland 62483 care and cleaning):
- Unplug the base and let the jug cool completely.
- Rinse the inside of the jug with hot soapy water as soon as you finish — Lakeland says rinsing straight away makes cleaning easier.
- Rinse with clean water and dry thoroughly.
- Push the whisk off the holder, then wash the lid, silicone ring, whisk and holder in warm soapy water; rinse and dry.
- Wipe the base with a clean damp cloth once cool; dry before storing.
- Never immerse the base unit or the jug in water.
- Do not use abrasive cleaners, steel wool, or hard/sharp objects inside the jug — Lakeland warns these damage the non-stick coating.
- Do not put any parts of that Lakeland model in the dishwasher.
Lakeland also says not to spoon froth out with metal utensils; pour only.
Who it isn’t for: owners of models that list dishwasher-safe carafes. Those still need the electrical base kept dry — see the dishwasher section below.
Handheld frothers
Handheld whisks (including rechargeable models such as the Lakeland Foamie) usually need a quick rinse of the whisk head under warm water and a wipe of the handle. Keep water away from any charging port or motor housing. Lakeland’s Foamie product page did not publish dishwasher guidance when we reviewed it, so assume hand rinse unless your box leaflet says otherwise. Our best handheld milk frother guide covers the type.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants hot milk and foam in one step. Handhelds don’t heat; jug frothers and steam wands do.
Nespresso Aeroccino and similar
Aeroccino-style frothers have a jug that sits on a separate base, with a whisk (and often a spring) under the lid. The safe pattern across models is:
- Unplug and cool.
- Remove the jug from the base; take off the lid, seal, whisk and spring.
- Wash those removable parts in warm soapy water (or the dishwasher only if your exact model manual allows it).
- Never immerse or dishwasher the base.
- Dry the jug underside and the base connector before you put them back together.
Older Aeroccino 3 jugs are typically hand-wash only; newer Aeroccino 4 manuals allow some parts in the dishwasher at limited temperature. Nespresso’s UK pages blocked our check on 3 Oct 2026, so follow your printed manual.
Who it isn’t for: people cleaning a steam wand — use how to clean a steam wand.
Burnt milk and non-stick care
If milk has baked on:
- Fill the cooled jug with warm soapy water and leave it to soak (do not switch the frother on while soaking).
- Wipe with a soft sponge only — no scouring pads.
- For stubborn rings, a nylon brush on the whisk area helps; avoid scratching the coating.
- Rinse and dry fully before the next use.
Prevention is easier: rinse immediately, stay under MAX lines, and don’t run empty. Smeg lists the MFF11 carafe as dishwasher-safe in the product information cited in our Smeg MFF11 review. See also best milk frother.
Who it isn’t for: anyone still running a cycle with yesterday’s milk in the jug. Clean first.
Dishwasher-safe models vs hand-wash only
- Hand-wash only example: Lakeland 62483 — “DO NOT put any parts of the Milk Frother in the dishwasher.”
- Dishwasher-safe carafe example: Smeg Multi Milk Frother MFF11 — Smeg describes a dishwasher-safe carafe; keep the induction base dry and off the rack.
- Mixed: some Aeroccino generations allow selected parts in the dishwasher and forbid the base — confirm your model.
When in doubt, hand wash. A dishwasher that is too hot or a rack pin under a jug can warp lids and seals.
Who it isn’t for: anyone putting the powered base in the dishwasher. No domestic frother base is designed for that.
Steam wands are different
If your frother is the wand on a Sage Bambino or similar machine, use our steam wand cleaning guide instead of jug soaks. For technique, see our guide to steaming milk.
Downsides
- Skipping a rinse once can bake milk onto non-stick.
- Whisk springs and seals are easy to lose.
- Dishwasher rules vary by model.
- Handheld whisk coils hide milk if you only wipe the outside.
FAQ
Can a milk frother jug go in the dishwasher? Only if your manual says so. Lakeland’s 62483 says no parts go in the dishwasher. Smeg lists the MFF11 carafe as dishwasher-safe.
How do you clean a milk frother whisk? Push or lift it off the holder, wash in warm soapy water, rinse and dry. Refit so the magnet clicks home before the next use.
What removes burnt milk from a frother? A warm soapy soak and a soft sponge. Avoid abrasives on non-stick coatings.
How often should a frother be cleaned? After every use. Lakeland says clean thoroughly before first use and after every use.
Is cleaning a frother the same as cleaning a steam wand? No. Jug frothers are washed as cookware-style parts; steam wands need a wipe and steam purge after every milky drink.
Buying advice: see our best milk frother guide and our milk frothers section.