How to Clean a Microwave – 8 Easy Hacks

We all love to cook or heat food in a microwave. But when it comes to cleaning it, we delay the task to the next day and the next, and the day never comes. However, with some super-effective hacks, you can clean your microwave in no time. Make the monotonous task of cleaning a microwave fun by following these quick 8 easy hacks mentioned in this article. In order to maintain appropriate functioning of the unit, it becomes very important to clean the microwave regularly, at least once a week depending upon the usage. These hacks are just perfect and suitable for all oven types – whether built-in or counter-top.

Simple and Quick Tricks to Clean Your Microwave Oven

Before starting with the chore of cleaning a microwave we need to take into account a few important points. Microwave being an electronic appliance, you need to switch it off and unplug it from the socket before cleaning. Secondly, you may also inspect the chord for any damage as it carries a risk of fire if anything goes wrong. Wipe off the chord and socket free of any dust or dirt.

Read on to follow some ingenious cleaning tips for your microwave:

1. Baking Soda and Water Solution

Baking soda is a well-known cleaning agent, and here we’ll teach you how to clean microwave with baking soda. Mix in two parts of baking soda with one part of water and make a fine paste devoid of any lumps. Apply this mixture on the stains on the turntable or internal walls of the oven and leave it for about 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, wipe it with a wet towel, and you’ll be amazed at how wonderfully the baking soda works on hardened stains!

2. Vinegar

You need a microwave safe bowl for this. Fill in the bowl halfway with water and vinegar solution in the ratio of 1:1 and microwave for roughly 4 minutes. This will loosen up the tough stains inside the microwave and once done you can remove the bowl and wipe off the walls with a sponge or wet cloth. You can wash the turntable rack separately and place it back once dry.

3. Vinegar and Baking Soda

You can try ingredients separately, or a combination of both since both these products are inexpensive and easily available. To start with mix half a cup of baking soda in equal proportion with warm water and make a smooth paste. Apply this mixture on the internal walls of the microwave using a cloth. Once this is done, mix in equal parts of water and vinegar in a microwave safe bowl and microwave it for 4-5 minutes. Let the microwave cool down for 15 minutes and then open the door and remove the bowl. Now wipe clean using a wet sponge or towel. You may repeat the process if needed.

4. Dish Washing Soap

If none of the natural ingredients is available, then you can always give the dishwashing soap a try. Just fill in some warm water in a microwave-safe bowl and add in required quantity of dishwashing soap gel and microwave it on high power until the steam appears on the glass lid. Once it is done, switch it off and remove the bowl. You can now clean the microwave using a sponge or damp towel.

5. Lemon

Thinking of how to clean the microwave with a lemon? Well here is your answer! The best and cheapest solution is lemon. Moreover, the best part of lemon is that it refreshes not only your microwave but the entire kitchen while you do so! Take some water in a microwave-safe bowl and squeeze in the juice of one lemon and also put in the leftover in the same bowl. Microwave it for about 4-5 minutes. You’ll see that the solution starts boiling and steam appears on the glass door, that’s the point to switch it off and let the microwave cool down for a bit before opening the door. Once done, you may open the door and remove the bowl and clean the insides with a damp towel.

6. Window Cleaning Solution

Mix in the window cleaning agent with water in the ratio of 2:1 in a bowl. Dip the sponge or towel in this solution and wipe clean the insides and outsides of the microwave. Remove the glass tray from the base of the microwave and clean off all the dust and stains beneath the tray. Also, clean the internal walls and vents of the microwave until spotless. In case there are any tough stains on the side walls of the microwave soak it in the cleaning solution for roughly 5 minutes before you wipe it off. An important point to note while cleaning is that the power should be turned off while cleaning.

Once the inside of the microwave is clean, wipe it off with a fresh, clean damp cloth to remove any remnants of the window cleaning solution. To finish it off again wipe it completely with a dry cloth as well. Since the cleaning solution is composed of strong chemicals, you need to completely remove it from the insides of the microwave. Not just the insides but microwave need to be cleaned from outsides as well. So you can use the same solution for the same. Just dip a cloth in the solution and clean the handles, glass door and outer body of the microwave. It removes the dirt and gives a sparkling shine to the surface!

7. Store Bought Cleaners

You can also clean the microwave using store-bought cleaning solutions which are easily available in the market. If you wish to use store-bought cleaners, then go for the products with fewer chemicals and those who do not emit pungent fumes. Most of the store-bought solutions emit fumes and destroy the taste of food baked just after cleaning the microwave. Another tip while using a store-bought cleaner is to keep your microwave doors open for about an hour once the cleaning is done. This will help remove the odour and vapours if any caused due to the cleaning solution.

8. Paper Towels

Well, if on a lazy Sunday you wish to clean the microwave and do not have the above-mentioned ingredients then you can surely opt for the easiest way out, and that’s wet paper towels. Just wet some 5-6 paper towels and place them inside and microwave it on for 2-3 minutes. The steam will slacken up the hard stains inside the microwave. Remove the towel, and once they cool down, you can use it to clean the microwave.

Cleaning the microwave is an inevitable task! However, depending upon usage, you need to clean the microwave at least twice a month. The above simple hacks will guide you to clean the microwave quickly and easily saving a lot of time and energy on a busy day.

Also Read:

Tips for Having Vastu-Compliant Kitchen
Cleaning Hacks To Be Used for Daily Household Things!
Household Items That Help You Stay Organised