VERY PLEASED WITH ITEM,PRODUCED LOVELY CRISP TOASTIES.WE RECENTLY HAD A BREVILLE TOASTIE MAKER WITH REMOVABLE PLATES WHICH GAVE UP RECENTLY SO WE HAD TO CHOOSE WHETHER TO HAVE REMOVABLE OR FIXED PLATES THIS TIME. BECAUSE THE REMOVABLE ARE QUITE A BIT MORE EXPENSIVE WE THOUGHT WE WOULD GIVE THE FIXED PLATES A GO AND AREN'T DISAPPOINTED. WE HAVE TRIED THE FIXED PLATES IN THE PAST AND TO BE HONEST DON'T FIND MUCH DIFFERENCE IN CLEANING, YES YOU CAN REMOVE THE OTHERS AND WASH THEM IN THE SINK OR DISHWASHER, BUT I FIND THE COATING WEARS MORE DOING THIS. ALL IT TAKES IS A QUICK WIPE WITH A DAMP DISHCLOTH AS SOON AS YOU REMOVE THE SANDWICHES (HAVE TO BE CAREFUL OF HOT PLATES) AND THEN A PROPER WASH WHEN YOU ARE WASHING OTHER POTS JUST WITH WASHING UP LIQUID AS NORMAL POTS. yES THE FILLING WILL LEAK OUT AND PEOPLE DO COMPLAIN IN REVIEWS THAT THEY DON'T HOLD ENOUGH FILLING, BUT THEY ARE NOT DESIGNED TO - YOU WILL NEED A DEEP FILL IF YOU WANT LOTS OF FILLING. AS AN EXPERIENCED TOASTIE MAKER I HARDLY EVER HAVE ANY LEAKAGE, IT JUST TAKES A SPOT OF PRACTICE. OVERALL GOOD VALUE FOR MONEY AND A HOUSEHOLD NAME. hANDY CORD STORAGE FEATURE AND CAN BE STORED UPRIGHT IN CUPBOARD THUS USING LESS SPACE.