How to Clean the Microwave (The Easy and Effective Way)

white microwave in the kitchen

Knowing that the microwave is one of the staples in the kitchen appliances—It is easy to use, heats the food, and can deliver quick meals. It is bound to accumulate smell and some food stains from all the food reheated in the microwave.

Opening the microwave and seeing the smudges it has accumulated from the food placed on it calls the action for you to clean and remove the unwanted smell in it. Maintaining a clean microwave is a necessity to avoid the accumulated smell sticking to our food.

In this guide, we have gathered three easy ways how you can remove the accumulated smell and grimes from the microwave.

3 Simple Methods to clean the Microwave

There are three simple ways to clean your microwave using materials you can find at home or the store. All you need is a lemon, white vinegar, and soap.

Remember to unplug and turn off your microwave before applying the following steps.

  • Cleaning the Microwave with White Vinegar 
  • Cleaning the Microwave with Baking Soda
  • Cleaning the Microwave with Lemon

Cleaning The Microwave with White Vinegar

white vinegar with three lemons

Removing the accumulated smell and cleaning the microwave using vinegar is one of the cheapest ways to clean it instantly. It also serves as an excellent natural cleaning product for your microwave.

Step # 1

Fill in a microwavable bowl with 50% water and 50% vinegar. Put the bowl inside the microwave.

Step # 2

Place the bowl in the microwave, turn it on, and set the power to high for five minutes. We want to make sure that it will form steam inside the microwave. Leave the bowl inside for another five minutes to allow the steam to trap in the microwave.

Step # 3

Remove the bowl out of the microwave. Be careful as the bowl could be hot, Wear your gloves or mittens when removing it.

Step # 4

Using a sponge, wipe down—the roof, the sides, and the floor of the microwave. The grimes should be softened by now due to the steam of the water and vinegar.
Remove the turntable glass tray and wipe it with the sponge thoroughly. Return the turntable tray after cleaning it.

Cleaning the Microwave With Baking Soda

If you have neither of the materials mentioned above— such as lemon or white vinegar; Then a great alternative would be baking soda.

 

Baking soda is an all-around cleaning product that you can use. You can even use it to remove pee from the mattress.

 

Step # 1

Just like the steps in “Clean Microwave with white vinegar.” Fill in half of the microwavable bowl with water.

 

Step # 2

Add two tablespoons of baking soda to the microwavable bowl. Then mix it before putting it into the microwave.

 

Step # 3 

Set the timer of your microwave to five minutes to heat it and loosen the smudges on the microwave. 

 

Step # 4 

After five minutes, use a glove or mitts to remove the bowl from the microwave. 

 

Step # 5

Using a damp cloth, clean out the—roof, sides, and floor of the microwave. 

Clean the Microwave Using a Lemon

lemons with glass of water

Lemons are a natural disinfectant for your microwave due to their acidic nature. Here are the following steps to take when using the lemon in cleaning the microwave.

Step # 1

Similar to the steps in cleaning the microwave with white vinegar. Fill in half of the microwavable bowl with water.

 

Step # 2

Slice the lemon in half and squeeze it into the microwavable bowl. After squeezing through the lemons, add the squeezed lemons to the bowl.

 

Step # 3

Place the bowl in the microwave and set the timer to five minutes.

 

Step # 4

After five minutes, take out the bowl, and Remember to use a glove or mittens when taking it out as the bowl can be hot.

 

Step # 5

Wipe out the floor, sides, and the roof inside the microwave to remove the smudges. Take out the turntable tray and clean it as well.

Conclusion

Cleaning the microwave is not a one-off job. It needs to be maintained ideally at least once a week to sanitize the microwave regularly. Gathering these materials may be simple; However, the challenge here is the consistency in maintaining the cleanliness of your microwave.

There is no need to scour through Amazon to find a cleaning product that works for your microwave when: vinegar, lemons, and baking soda can be found in the kitchen. 

Nobody wants to use an unmaintained and unsanitized microwave—no matter how brand new it looks on the outside.

 

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