Many of us would happily eat soup every day of the year, but there’s no denying that fall and winter are prime seasons for soup consumption. And while soup makers are a great way to ditch canned supermarket soups in favor of homemade ones, you also need to know how to clean a soup maker to keep it delicious.

Whether you’re on the smooth or chunky side of the spectrum (I prefer a smooth soup, personally), the best soup makers will help you bring your favorite flavors to life. But a dirty soup maker can contaminate your food and even lead to persistent stains, ultimately affecting the machine’s long-term efficiency, so you need to know how to get it squeaky clean for your next soup.