Are you looking for easy and effective ways of how to clean a microwave? Basic cleaning not only removes dirt and grime, but it also improves appeal, increases efficiency and prevents diseases that are caused by the breeding of microorganisms. You may have noticed a build-up of food splatter and a bad smell if you have not cleaned your microwave in a while. Fortunately, it is now possible to get a sparkling clean microwave without using harsh chemicals. Simple natural methods of cleaning a microwave are not only easy but also cheap. Here are the best and safest ways of cleaning a microwave.
There are many ways of cleaning a dirty microwave which may not be as effective. You can create your own fast and easy hacks that will help you to effectively get rid of burnt, smelly and hardened pieces of food. If you do not have the time to clean your microwave on a daily basis, you may still find it necessary to do so after spills, splatter from explosions and to get rid of oily grime after burning popcorn. Cleaning a microwave should be done both on the inside and outside.
While cleaning food particles and oil is easy, you may find it a little harder to clean microwave after a fire. Overcooking food in a microwave and food burning can easily start a fire. The soot and odor from fire calls for serious cleaning. It leaves yellow stains on the interior and a smoky smell that bumps on you every time you open the microwave door. You may have to use the methods discussed below several times before you get the desired results.
What to use to clean a microwave
While there are many commercial cleaning products that are specially made for this purpose, using natural products ensures that your food environment is free from contamination with chemicals. These DIY methods are cheap and easy to use.
The easiest way to clean a microwave is by using a bowl of water with a sponge. As it will be discussed below you can make a few adjustments when you want to scrub or remove bad odors. You can also buy Easy Off microwave cleaner packets from your local store. They are easy to use- just heat one in the microwave as instructed. Allow it to sit for 3 minutes as it cools down. Remove the towel from the package and use it to clean the sides, ceiling and floor of the microwave.
Best Way to Clean Microwave and Easy Way to Clean Microwave
What is the best way to clean a microwave? What is an easy way to clean a microwave? Cleaning a microwave is not always easy especially if you have long-standing sticky grime on the interior and awful smell caused by food spills and splatter. There are many cleaning liquids and solutions specially made for this purpose, the best and easiest way to clean a microwave is using natural home cleaners such as lemon and vinegar. They are non-toxic, environment friendly and leave your microwave smelling fresh.
Clean Microwave with Vinegar
Vinegar is not only great for salad dressing. It is a wonderful cleaning agent that makes sure you keep things around your home clean without worrying about chemical contamination- it contains no harmful ingredients. It has antimicrobial and natural bleaching properties which disinfect and also bleach. Cleaning microwave with vinegar removes tough stains and those distinct food odors. You can either use white vinegar or apple cider vinegar for cleaning the microwave. Here is how to clean microwave with vinegar
- Pour equal parts of vinegar and water into a microwave-safe bowl- ½ a cup to 1cup of each is good enough.
- Heat the bowl for 5-10 minutes depending on how dirty your microwave is.
- When the timer goes off, wait for about two minutes before opening the microwave to allow the vinegar steam to work- the steam will loosen hard food particles and the vinegar will get rid of the odor.
- Take the bowl out with heat-safe mitts- like those used in the oven.
- Dip a sponge in the how vinegar water and use it to scrape off the now softened grime and food bits starting with the ceiling, the sides not forgetting the door. You will find the dirt comes off easily
- Remember to remove and wash it in the sink or dishwasher
Alternatively, if your microwave is not as dirty you can clean it without using the vinegar steam. Rather, you can simply wet a sponge and pour a teaspoon of vinegar on it. Steam in the microwave. While this may not create as much steam, it is enough to remove stains and get rid of the odor.
Make a vinegar spray by mixing equal parts of vinegar and water. Spray the solution to the microwave and allow it to sit for a few minutes before wiping off.
Clean Microwave with Lemon
Can you clean a microwave with lemon? When there isn’t much to scrub off and remove, you can use lemon juice and a few slices to get rid of the awful smells. Lemon is a natural cleaner and disinfectant with a great smell. It has a low PH and antibacterial properties which make it a great cleaning agent. You will find cleaning microwave with lemon real simple but effective. Here is how to make a microwave smell fresh with lemon
- Pour half a cup of water into a microwave-safe bowl
- Squeeze lemon juice into the water and drop in the sliced halves
- Place the bowl with lemon water in the microwave and turn on high power for about three minutes
- Wait for a few minutes before opening the microwave door. Trapping the lemon juice steam inside will help loosen the hard stains.
- Open the door and carefully remove the bowl.
- Wipe the microwave clean and wash the turntable tray in the sink
Remember to also clean the outside of your microwave by wiping it down with a regular cleaning spray.
How to Clean a Microwave with Baking Soda
There are many non-toxic home cleaning agents. Closely following vinegar and lemon is baking soda. Baking soda is a natural scourer and deodorizer that can be used in place of harsh chemicals
- Place two tablespoons of baking soda in a bowl
- Add in a cup of water
- Microwave the solution for 3 minutes
- The baking soda will absorb the odor and while the steam loosens the hardened foods and removes oil stains from the wall of the microwave
- Remove the bowl and wipe the microwave with a piece of cloth of paper towel
Alternatively, you can make a solution with one quart of water and 2 tablespoons of baking soda. Dip a sponge in the solution and use it to scrub the interior of the microwave.
Steam Clean Microwave
Sometimes foods with oils and sauces may burst up in the microwave and most of the time you will find yourself pushing the cleaning for another day. By the time you realize, your microwave will be all messed up with tough stains. If your microwave does not have unpleasant odors, you can heat a bowl with plain water and let it sit for a few minutes to loosen hard food particles making it easier to remove. Remove the tray and clean it separately.
Steaming with water is one the easiest ways to get rid of gunk and grime from your microwave. While you can steam with plain water, the addition of vinegar, lemon juice or baking powder helps to get rid of the odors too. These products also act as antimicrobials and bleaching that get rid of stubborn stains.
Do not forget to clean the exterior of your microwave.
Microwave Cleaning Trick and Microwave Cleaning Tips
Cleaning your microwave is easy but can be made even easier by following these simple microwave cleaning tips.
- Prevent spills by covering food loosely when heating it in a microwave
- Wipe down your microwave daily
- It is best to clean up spills in your microwave right away
- Clean your microwave at least twice a month
- Leave the microwave door open for a few minutes to allow it to air dry
- Leave a dish of vinegar in the microwave overnight to get rid of stubborn odors
How to Clean Microwave Vent and Filter
Most of the time we clean the interior and outside of the microwave and forget on a very important component. Heating greasy foods and oily liquids can cause the exhaust vents to clog which can reduce the efficiency of your microwave making regular cleaning very necessary.
- Wipe off any surface grease with a clean cloth
- Dampen a cloth with white vinegar and wring out the excess
- Use the soaked cloth to wipe surface grease and poke the edges of the cloth between the vent spaces until clean
- Use a clean cloth dampened with warm water to wipe any vinegar residue
Note: steaming water can cause serious burns- use a bowl with a wide opening to allow steam to escape to prevent explosions. Stand clear of the microwave door while steaming water. Use oven mitts to hold the bowl of hot water from the oven.