Clean a Microwave

Splatters of food from microwaving look bad, smell bad, and decrease the efficiency of your microwave. This article will show you several ways to clean your microwave.

10 Second Summary

1. Fill a microwave-safe bowl half-way with water.
2. Add 1 tablespoon of vinegar.
3. Microwave the bowl for 5 minutes.
4. Wipe down the inside of the microwave with a paper towel.
5. Wash the glass turntable in the sink or dishwasher.

Steps

Using Vinegar

  1. Fill a microwave-safe glass or bowl half full of water. Add a tablespoon of white vinegar.
  2. Place inside the microwave.
  3. Turn on for 5 minutes. You may need less time in a high-powered microwave oven; keep an eye on it the first time you try this. This will steam up the walls of the microwave and loosen the dried-on gunk.
  4. Remove the glass container. Wipe down the inside of the microwave with a clean rag or paper towel.
  5. The loose gunk should come off easily now.
  6. Take out the glass tray or turntable and wash it like a dish. You could even run it through the dishwasher if you have time.

Using a Lemon

  1. Cut a lemon in half. Place both halves cut-side down on a microwaveable plate with a tablespoon of water.
  2. Microwave for about 1 minute or until the lemon is hot and the inside of the microwave is steamy.
  3. Wipe the inside of the microwave with kitchen paper and wash the plate.
    • Now that the lemon is hot and squishy, it makes a great natural cleanser for a smelly garbage disposal. Cut the halves into smaller pieces and flush through with plenty of water.

Using Dish Soap

  1. Take a microwave safe bowl and fill it with warm water.
  2. Add as much dishwashing liquid as you think you'll need.
  3. Put the bowl in the microwave for 1 minute or until it starts to steam.
  4. Take the bowl out. Get a fairly damp sponge and wipe the inside of the microwave.
  5. The steam will have loosened all of the gunk up so that you will be able to easily clean your microwave.
    • Baking soda can also be added to the bowl to serve as a deodorizer.

Using Window Cleaner

  1. Mix your cleaning solution. In a bowl, mix 2 parts window cleaner with one part warm water. This diluted solution should be sufficient to clean the microwave both inside and out.
  2. Wipe out the inside. Dip a sponge in the cleaning solution and use it to wipe the inside of the microwave. Remove the spin tray and wipe the base of the microwave until all the spots and stains have been removed. Wipe the vents of the microwave oven from the inside to remove any gunk that has collected there.
    • Make sure the microwave is unplugged while you work.
    • Soak tough stains and spots in the window cleaner solution for 5 minutes before scrubbing them away.
    • Make sure the upper shelf and ceiling get wiped down, since food tends to splatter onto the top of the microwave.
  3. Wipe it down with a clean rag. After the inside is sparkling clean, soak a clean rag in fresh water and wipe it out completely. Make sure to clean up all of the residue left by the window cleaner, since it contains chemicals you don't want in your food next time you use the microwave. Go over it one more time with a clean, dry rag.
    • If a few tough spots remain, using a cloth soaked in olive oil to clean them.
    • Be careful what other cleaning products you use inside your microwave. For example, you should not use pre-soaked scrubbing pads inside the microwave because the loose particles will catch fire and explode your microwave.
    • Using unsafe chemicals can also cause the unit to catch fire or cause other safety hazards. Stick to window cleaner or a natural solution like vinegar or lemon juice.
  4. Let the microwave dry. Leave the unit to dry after wiping it out with a clean rag. Smell inside the unit to see if it is safe to use. If you smell window cleaner, take a clean rage soaked in fresh water and wipe it out again.
  5. Clean the exterior of the microwave. Window cleaner can be safely used to clean the microwave door, the handle, the buttons, and the sides. Wipe everything down thoroughly once you've removed the grime.


Tips

  • Leave the microwave open for a few minutes afterward in order to let it dry and air out a bit inside.
  • It's always best to clean up messes in your microwave right away.
  • To keep your microwave clean, cover food loosely when heating it.
  • Clean your microwave about once or twice a month.
  • Use a scrub brush that can be used for washing dishes to get off greasy food build-up you may find.
  • Use a plastic lid to cover your dishes and wipe that out afterwards.

Warnings

  • Don't use abrasive cleaners on your microwave.
  • Stand at least {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} away from the door. If you let it steam too long, it will burst open and spray hot water everywhere.
  • If any of the steps seem too much for any reason, consider ceasing the usage of your microwave oven. To heat your food, place your food in a pan (one that uses a lid, ideally), pour a bit of water into that pan and turn on the stove-top.

Things You'll Need

  • A couple of dishcloths or sponges.
  • A dish towel
  • A few minutes.
  • A microwave.
  • A lemon
  • A microwave safe bowl
  • Vinegar
  • Dish soap

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