It might be time to learn how to clean a microwave if you’ve ever opened your microwave to warm up a late-night snack only to find splatters and grime inside.
You are supposed to clean a microwave by using Baking Soda, Lemon, Dish Soap, Vinegar and Water, and Melamine Foam Sponges.
We’ve put together a list of the best microwave cleaning tips so your appliance stays as spotless as the day you bought it.
Here are a few tips before you get started:
- Make sure to unplug your microwave from the outlet. It’s better to be safe than sorry even though it’s unlikely that cleaning a microwave that’s plugged in will cause you harm.
- Use caution when handling the glass plate for the microwave.
How to Clean a Microwave?
Here are the specific tips on how to clean a microwave:
Baking Soda
Additionally, baking soda can be used to clean your microwave. The first method is very similar to cleaning a microwave with lemon. Baking soda is the only additional component you will obviously need. Here’s how you do it:
- Half-fill a bowl that can be used in the microwave.
- Two tablespoons or so of baking soda should be added to the bowl.
- For three to five minutes, place the bowl in the microwave.
- In order to avoid burns, take the heatproof dish out of the microwave.
- Remove the internal dirt by wiping.
The microwave door and exterior can now be cleaned by dipping your towel into the bowl.
There is a quicker way to use baking soda if you don’t need a deep clean.
Sprinkle some baking soda on the area, then scrub it into the dirt to dissolve it. Here, a scrubby sponge—like this one from Amazon—works fantastically to get rid of the stubborn stains.
When you’re finished, make sure to clean your microwave of any leftover baking soda.
Lemon
Cleaning your microwave with lemon might be the best option for those who don’t like the scent of white vinegar.
In order to release the juices, begin by squeezing or rubbing a lemon between your palms.
Making sure to use a sieve or manually remove any seeds that fall in, cut the lemon in half and squeeze the juice into a microwave-safe container.
Add the lemon halves that have been squeezed to the container as well. One cup of water and the lemon juice should be combined.
Put the container in the microwave and heat it for five minutes on high. Similar to the vinegar solution, you should let this one sit for at least 10 minutes to avoid burning yourself when you remove the container.
Turntable and glass plate should be taken apart and wiped down with a soft cloth. After that, use a rag or paper towels to clean the microwave’s interior.
Enjoy your freshly cleaned microwave’s fresh scent while replacing the turntable and glass plate.
Dish Soap
Because you probably always have dish soap on hand, using dish soap is one of the best ways to clean a microwave. Simply follow Hacks #1 and #2’s instructions, but instead of using baking soda, lemon, or white vinegar, use dishwashing liquid.
If you prefer a more hands-on approach, follow these steps:
A bowl should contain warm water and a few drops of dish soap. Once the water in the bowl is sudsy, soak and squeeze a dishwashing sponge in it.
The turntable and interior glass plate should be removed. Use your sudsy sponge and dish soap to hand-wash the glass plate in your kitchen sink as you would your regular dishes.
Next, scrub the interior of the microwave with the soapy sponge. To prevent having to wash the same section twice due to food or grease falling, start at the top. Coat your microwave’s floor, walls, door, and ceiling in a circular motion. Every square inch should be completely covered in suds. Make sure to take care of your microwaveby not letting water get in the vents.
Continue cleaning your microwave until it is spotless.
With a damp paper towel, wipe up any remaining sudsy water before cleaning your microwave once more with a dry paper towel or rag.
Put a new turntable and glass plate in place.
Vinegar and Water
A third efficient method to clean your microwave with vinegar and water.
The best vinegar for this household task is white vinegar, which you can purchase on Amazon.
You largely have control over the vinegar-to-water ratio. Just be sure to diluted your vinegar with some water to lessen the strength. One tablespoon vinegar to one cup water should work well for small stains. Add more vinegar if this doesn’t work for you.
If the stains still won’t come out, you can increase the vinegar to water ratio to a 2:1 ratio (1 cup water to 2 cups vinegar). But tough grease and mold are the two things this is most frequently used for. Cleaning your microwave with one to one or more severely diluted solutions is much more common.
Related: Can You Boil Water in a Microwave?
Melamine Foam Sponges
A melamine foam sponge—better known by the brand name Magic Eraser—truly feels like magic. Though you may think you should avoid putting it in the microwave, think again! This sponge can be a useful cleaning tip for microwaves.
Simply dampen the sponge a little to activate the melamine foam after removing the glass plate and microwave turntable. Then, while being careful not to get any moisture into the vents, use small, circular motions to clean the interior of your microwave and the glass plate.
Replace the turntable and glass plate if the grime in your microwave is so difficult to remove that it seems like your Magic Eraser isn’t working. Following that, microwave the melamine foam sponge for five minutes on high.
Use the sponge to remove any remaining food or grime after allowing it to cool. It should be tidy and hygienic inside your microwave.
Steam Clean Your Microwave
Speaking of cleaning microwaves, steam cleaning a microwave is a really efficient way to remove baked-on food and grease. Here’s a step-by-step to steam clean your microwave:
Gather your ingredients, boil the mixture, let it sit, remove the container, clean the interior, and dry it off.
In less than 10 minutes, you can have a microwave that is spotless with a little water and ingredients you likely already have around the house. The best part is that there is no scrubbing required!
Can You Use Clorox Wipes to Clean a Microwave?
Can you use clorox wipes to clean a microwave? Yes, but it might not always be the best course of action. The surface of your microwave may be damaged by Clorox wipes, despite the fact that they can kill bacteria and aid in cleaning.
Can You Clean A Microwave With Bleach?
One of the most frequently asked questions when it comes to cleaning a microwave is “Can You Clean a Microwave With Bleach?”. No, you shouldn’t use bleach to clean your microwave.
While bleach is a common and effective cleaning agent, it is not strong enough to kill all the bacteria that can accumulate in a microwave. In addition, bleach is extremely corrosive and, if used improperly, can harm your appliance. Last but not least, bleach has a potent smell that can linger in the microwave for a very long time after it has been used.
The Best Way to Clean the Inside of a Microwave
Lemon works best as a cleaning agent inside a microwave. One lemon, a heat-resistant dish, some water, and a cloth are all that are needed! All you need to do is wipe because the microwave takes care of everything.
In light of this, use any of the stain-removing methods described in this article—lemon, baking soda, vinegar, or dish soap—as long as you follow the instructions to get a super-shiny appliance in the end.
How to Clean a Microwave Filter?
It is probably time to clean a microwave filter right away if you are unsure of when you last did so. Use this step-by-step instruction to thoroughly clean a microwave filter to maintain the performance of your vent fan.
Here’s how to clean a microwave filter: unplug your microwave, locate the grease filter, remove the grease filter from the housing slot, soak the grease filter, scrub the filter, rinse the grease filter, and place the grease filter back into the slot.
Read more:
How to Clean Microwave Vent?
When cleaning microwaves, vents are essential pats. So, how to clean microwave vent? Below will give you top tips to clean microwave vents. Read on.
You are supposed to use commercial degreasers, dish soap, toothbrushes, and cleaner.
How to Clean the Outside of Your Microwave?
There are many ways to clean the outside of your microwave. Really simple; in fact, you can use the same materials you did for the interior. Here’s are a few different methods:
- Dish soap and water
- Vinegar and water (2 tbsp per cup up to a 2:1 ratio for maximum strength)
- Lemon juice and water (1-2 tbsp or ½ – 1 lemon for a medium-sized bowl of water)
- Baking soda and water (2 tbsp per cup)
- Kitchen degreaser
How Do You Clean a Really Dirty Microwave?
In a heatproof bowl, combine vinegar and water, lemon juice and water, or baking soda and water to thoroughly clean a microwave. In the following three to five minutes, heat the mixture. Prior to wiping it out, let it sit for a while. By doing this, you can avoid scrubbing because the tough stains and grease will be removed by your microwave. Read more: How to Remove Stains from a Microwave?
How Often to Clean a Microwave?
How often should you clean your microwave? Because it is such a widely used kitchen tool, the microwave is frequently used nonstop. As a result, try to deep-clean your microwave once a month and wipe down the outside each time you wipe down the countertops. Increase the frequency if you notice stains or odors developing.
Depending on maintenance quality, microwaves typically last five to ten years. Maintaining your microwave’s best working condition requires routine cleaning.
How to Keep Your Microwave Clean for Longer?
It can feel like a major achievement to have a spotless microwave. Keep it cleaner for longer by doing the following:
- Cover Your Food: A microwave-safe food cover or paper towel should be placed over any food that could splatter before turning on your microwave.
- Clean Spills Immediately:Fresh spills are much simpler to remove than baked-on messes. “If spills do occur, most can be removed with warm soap and water or with a cleaner formulated for microwave ovens,” says Peterson.
- Use Microwave-Safe Dishes: Use only microwave-safe dishes in your microwave. Some materials have the potential to melt or ignite, resulting in messes or fires. The dish should say “microwave-safe” on the bottom (or on the original packaging) and should not get too hot when used.
- Follow Cook Times: Overcooking food is one of the most frequent causes of microwave disasters. Always follow the suggested cooking times to avoid this. Food can avoid overheating by lowering the power setting.
- Clean Routinely: To keep your microwave spotless, aim for a deep clean once per month.
Suggested reading: How to Get a Burnt Smell Out of the Microwave?
FAQs
What to Avoid When Cleaning Microwave?
Avoid microwaving items that leave lingering grease and/or smells, such as bacon or microwave popcorn. If that isn’t an option, clean up quickly right after cooking by placing water and lemon in a small bowl, heating it briefly in the microwave, letting it sit for five minutes, and then wiping the inside clean.
What Happens If You Don’t Clean Microwave?
If you don’t have time to clean your microwave after each use, try to do so at least twice a week. Leaving the splattered food for long periods of time will not only cause nasty odours but is also a breeding ground for bacteria. Nobody wants a microwave that has mold growing inside of it because bacteria will eventually turn to mold.
What Happens If You Don’t Clean Microwave?
If you don’t have time to clean your microwave after each use, try to do so at least twice a week. Leaving the splattered food for long periods of time will not only cause nasty odours but is also a breeding ground for bacteria. Nobody wants a microwave that has mold on it because bacteria will turn to mold.
Should You Unplug a Microwave before Cleaning It?
Safety Tip: It is recommended to unplug your microwave before doing any cleaning. As soon as possible, clean up any spilled food and leftovers. To clean, dampen a cloth with warm water. Use some soap or baking soda in addition for larger messes.
Does Opening a Microwave While Running Damage It?
It is just fine to open a microwave while it is running. The magnetron is immediately turned off. If there was any leakage, you would feel physical pain as a result. Ionizing (cancer-causing) radiation is not released by it.
Summary: How to Clean a Microwave?
Fortunately, you can clean a microwave with the everyday cleaning products you already have in your house, including all-purpose cleaner, baking soda, dish soap or vinegar (white or apple cider). Just be sure to stay away from bleach because appliance manufacturers, like General Electric, warn it can actually weaken the plastic interior and damage the appliance in the long run. Microwaves typically don’t stain like countertops and sinks, so the whitening cleaner is already unnecessary unless you let tomato sauce splatters sit for an extended period of time.
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