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How to Clean a Microwave the Proper Way

May 18th 2023 - Team

How to Clean a Microwave the Proper Way

It's necessary to learn microwave cleaning procedures. If you do it well, you won't have to worry about contaminating your meals with unwanted smells or bits of food that got trapped. Your microwave is more efficient and safer because of it.

Cleaning a microwave with lemons, vinegar, dish soap, or baking soda will get rid of filth and lingering odors from previous uses. In this article, we'll go through each method to help you keep your microwave oven clean.

How to Clean a Microwave

  • Fill about half of a bowl that can go in the microwave with water.
  • Get a lemon from the fridge and slice it in half.
  • Put the lemon in the bowl and squeeze half of its juice into it.
  • The bowl goes in the microwave and run it for 5 minutes.
  • Use a paper towel or a microfiber cloth to wipe the surface.

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When Should a Microwave Be Cleaned?

Your microwave needs to be cleaned on the inside and outside, and once a week is probably a good amount of time to make sure it stays in good shape. Try one of the tips and tricks below to get your microwave's plate, door, and other parts as clean as possible.

How to Clean a Microwave with Baking Soda

Since baking soda is a gentle alkali, it can cut through grease and other types of dirt around the house, including any that may have built up in your microwave.

Put 1 cup of water and 2 tablespoons of baking soda in a bowl that can go in the microwave. Put the bowl in the microwave and set the timer for 3 to 5 minutes on high heat. This will get rid of smells and steam away tough spots.

After that, you'll need to have a clean cloth and some cleaning gloves on hand and follow these steps:

  • Take out the plate and spinning ring from your microwave.
  • Around the bottom of your microwave, sprinkle 1/4 cup of baking soda.
  • Work the baking soda into any spots in your microwave with a damp cloth.
  • Rinse your cloth and wipe off any soda that is still on it. Do this twice if there are any leftovers.

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How to clean a microwave with lemon

If you have a lemon on hand, it's easy to clean a microwave. Citric acid, which is found in lemons, is one of the best natural cleaners and antibacterial substances. Lemon juice is the best thing to use to clean because it kills germs.

Follow the steps for this natural way to clean your microwave to get rid of bad smells:

  • Fill about half of a microwave-safe jug or bowl with water.
  • Cut a lemon in half and put each half in the water. Squeeze the lemon to get some of the juice out.
  • Put this in the microwave for three minutes on high heat.
  • Using oven mitts, take the bowl out of the oven and wet a clean cloth in the water.
  • Use the cloth to wipe down the inside of the microwave and get rid of the dirt. It should now be easy to take off.

How to Clean a Microwave with Dish Soap

Since it cleans our plates, it stands to reason that it will also clean other parts of our kitchen.

  • Take out the plate and spinning ring from your microwave.
  • Fill a bowl that can go in the microwave with hot water.
  • Add a few drops of dish soap and stir to make bubbles.
  • Soak a sponge in the water/dish soap mix and use it to clean the inside and outside of the microwave.
  • Wipe the inside and outside with a wet cloth until there are no more suds.

How to clean a microwave with vinegar

Cleaning the microwave and many other places in the house with vinegar is a surefire way to get the job done. Vinegar is both anti-fungal and antibacterial, so it will get rid of any nasty things that may be hiding in your microwave because of the old food. To learn how to clean a microwave with vinegar, just follow the steps below:

  • Put 2 cups of water and 2 tablespoons of white vinegar in a bowl that can go in the microwave.
  • If you want to leave a nice scent, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil.
  • The only bad thing about cleaning with vinegar is the strong smell it leaves behind.
  • Turn on the microwave for 2 to 3 minutes on high.
  • Take your bowl out of the oven with oven mitts.
  • Put some water on a clean cloth and wipe the bowl down to remove the grease and dirt.

Products to clean the inside of the microwave

Aside from natural cleaners like lemon, vinegar, and baking soda, you can also use washing-up liquid to clean the microwave. When you need to clean the microwave more often, you can use a little bit of dish soap and water. When the microwave needs better cleaning, you should use natural cleaning products.

Microwaves should be wiped down after every use and cleaned thoroughly once a week with a warm, damp cloth and a little dish soap. Be careful not to use too much water, since that can hurt the machine.

Normal antibacterial sprays can also be used to clean the inside of the microwave but you should never clean your microwave with harsh chemicals or bleach