Microwaves are one of the true kitchen saviours, helping you to whizz up quick meals in no time. But keeping them clean can be challenging when you’re dealing with burnt-on food, grease and unpleasant odours. In this article we’ve rounded up the most effective ways for how to clean a microwave, including using lemon, vinegar or soap and water.
Follow our tips for how to clean the inside of a microwave and you will have it gleaming in no time.
How to clean a microwave with lemon
One of our favourite, eco-friendly ways to deep clean a microwave is by using lemons. Here’s how:
- Cut a lemon in half and squeeze the juice into a microwave-safe bowl or container. Add about a cup of water to the bowl, as well as the squeezed lemon halves. Remove any pips from the solution.
- Put the bowl in the microwave and run it on a high setting for five minutes.
- Once it has finished, let it cool for another five minutes before opening the door.
- Open the door and remove the bowl, using a cloth to protect your hands from burning.
- Wipe down the inside of the microwave using a clean cloth. The lemon solution will have dislodged the grease and grime, while leaving your microwave smelling fresh and clean.
How to clean a microwave with vinegar
White vinegar is another great natural way to clean a microwave. Follow the steps below:
- Mix two tablespoons of white vinegar with two cups of water in a microwave-safe bowl. If you want to, you can add a couple of drops of essential oil to cover the smell of the vinegar.
- Put the bowl in the microwave and run it on a high setting for five minutes.
- Once the time is up, let it cool for another five minutes before opening the door.
- Open the door and remove the bowl, using a cloth to protect your hands from the heat and steam.
- Wipe down the inside of the microwave using a clean cloth. The vinegar solution will have worked its magic and you should be left with a sparkling microwave.
How to clean a microwave with soap and water
If you prefer, you can use good old-fashioned washing up liquid and water to get your microwave looking spotless. Here’s how to do it:
- Mix some washing up liquid and warm water in a bowl.
- Remove the glass plate and turntable from the microwave. Hand wash the plate in the washing up bowl.
- If the water is dirty, change it for some clean soapy water.
- Soak a sponge in the bowl and then use it to scrub your microwave. Start from the top and work your way down. Be careful not to get water in the vents of the microwave on the sides.
- Use a clean, damp cloth to wipe away the remaining soap suds.
- Dry the interior of the microwave with a dry cloth, then replace the turntable and glass plate.
How to get food off of the inside of a microwave
If you’ve got food caked onto the inside of your microwave, try this simple method to get rid of it once and for all.
Make a paste of bicarbonate of soda and water in a bowl, then use a cloth to transfer the paste onto the food residue. Leave it to sit for at least five minutes, then wipe it off with a clean cloth. If the stains are particularly tough, you might need to repeat the process.
How to get a burnt smell out of a microwave
Microwaves are great for speeding up the cooking process, but it’s easy to overdo it. If you burn popcorn, soup or anything else in the microwave, you may be left with a nasty lingering smell.
Thankfully, it’s easy to get rid of microwave odours.
Simply add some bicarbonate of soda to a microwave-proof bowl of water. Heat it on high for five minutes, then leave it to stand for at least ten minutes before opening the door.
Remove the bowl, using a towel to protect your hands. Leave the door of the microwave open to air.
The baking soda should have neutralised the burnt smell, as if nothing ever happened!
If you’d love some help with cleaning, why not book a Tasker? Find someone local and experienced who can get the job done in no time, leaving you with one less thing to worry about.
