You may have tended to neglect the cleanliness of the microwave before, until the dirtiness was no longer tolerable. If your engine is dusty, the inside is full of food splatter, or the food doesn't seem to be heating up as quickly as usual, it's time to get it cleaned! Scrub the inside of the microwave with a cleaner of your choice, such as lemon, baking soda, or vinegar, and polish the outside. Your machine will come back efficient and looking like new.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Loosening the Oil with Vapor Solution
Step 1. Make a steam solution with a mixture of water and citrus or vinegar
Pour 1 cup (240 ml) of water into a microwave-safe bowl. Then, you can add 2-3 slices of citrus or 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of vinegar to the water. If the microwave is particularly dirty, consider adding citrus and vinegar to the water.
- You can use any type of vinegar, such as white vinegar or cider vinegar.
- Try adding a slice of lemon, orange, or lime.
Step 2. Mix 1 tablespoon (14 g) of baking soda into the solution if the microwave smells bad
Baking soda is a natural deodorizer so mix it with water before heating it in the microwave. The baking soda will absorb odors as the water heats up.
Tip:
If you want to get rid of bad smells while you can smell the aroma in the machine, add 2-3 slices of citrus with water and baking soda before heating in the microwave.
Step 3. Insert the wooden skewers into the bowl
If you want to heat the water in a completely smooth bowl, the microwave can overheat the liquid and make the bowl explode. To prevent the liquid from getting too hot, place a wooden skewer or wooden spoon into the bowl.
Try not to put skewers or metal spoons into the bowl as they can overheat and burn the microwave
Step 4. Heat the solution in the microwave on the " high " setting for 5 minutes
Place the bowl of skewers on the microwave turntable and close the door. Heat for 5 minutes until the water begins to boil and evaporate.
Step 5. Wait for 5 minutes before opening the microwave so the steam can soften the dirt
If you open the microwave right away, steam will come out and the cleaning solution will become very hot. So, it's best to wait for 5 minutes before opening the door.
Do you know?
The steam will loosen the dirt from the grilled food making it easier to wipe off.
Method 2 of 4: Scrubbing the Inside of the Microwave
Step 1. Remove the solution and the turntable before washing it with soapy water
Remove the solution bowl and lift the turntable off its track. Take out the turntable and wash both sides with soapy water. Place the turntable on the kitchen counter while you clean the inside of the microwave.
- If the bowl is still hot after 5 minutes, put on oven mitts before removing it.
- If the turntable is very greasy or has charred stains, you can submerge it in a sink or basin of soapy water while cleaning the inside of the microwave.
Step 2. Scrub the bottom, sides, top, and interior doors with a sponge or cloth
Since food is often splattered in all directions, you need to take the time to wipe down every interior surface. Dip a sponge or cloth into the cleaning solution previously made and use it to wipe away all dirt and food.
Tip:
If the microwave door is greasy, you can spray an oil scraper product on the inside of the door glass before scrubbing it.
Step 3. Wipe the inside of the microwave with a dry cloth
After you scrub the inside of the machine, use a dry cloth or paper towel and wipe each wall in the microwave. You should also wipe the top and bottom of the machine until the entire surface is dry.
Step 4. Put the turntable back into the microwave
Place the turntable back in the microwave and make sure it fits snugly against the track. If it doesn't fit properly, the plate will look tilted and won't rotate properly when the engine is running.
Method 3 of 4: Getting Rid of Stubborn Stains
Step 1. Scrub the oily stain using a baking soda paste
If you use the microwave to melt the butter, the splatter may splash over the doors and sides of the machine. Mix the baking soda and water until it forms a paste. Then, rub the oily area with a cloth before wiping with a damp cloth.
If it's heavily oiled, it's a good idea to spray the inside of the microwave with an oil scraper product
Step 2. Wipe off all the yellow stains using nail polish remover
If you have an old microwave, it can sometimes have yellow stains from years of use. You can clean it easily with a nail polish remover. Dip a cotton swab in acetone nail polish remover and rub it over the yellow stain until it's clean.
To get rid of the strong smell of acetone, wipe the microwave with a damp cloth
Step 3. Scrub the burn marks using a sponge moistened with a mixture of vinegar and baking soda
Burnt marks usually appear after making popcorn. Fortunately, these stains can be easily removed by rubbing a sponge with vinegar and a sprinkling of baking soda. Rub the rough side of the sponge on the burn until it's clean.
You can also try removing the stain by rubbing a cotton swab soaked in acetone
Method 4 of 4: Polishing the Outside
Step 1. Dip a cloth in soapy water and wring it out
Place warm, soapy water and a washcloth in a bowl or sink. Swirl the cloth so it absorbs the soapy water. Then, squeeze the cloth to remove most of the soapy water.
You can mix dish soap with warm water
Step 2. Wipe the top, sides and monitor panel of the machine with a cloth
Remove all items above the microwave so they can be cleaned. Then, wipe the cloth on the side of the machine. You will need to spend a bit longer in cleaning the monitor panel because it is usually sticky from being touched a lot.
Also wipe the handle of the microwave because it is often dirty
Step 3. Wipe the microwave with a clean, damp cloth to rinse off the soap
Flush a new washcloth with hot or warm tap water and wring it out. Use it to wipe down the entire microwave.
Clean the soap before it has time to dry so it doesn't leave a mark on the machine
Step 4. Use a commercial disinfectant if your microwave is very dirty
Water and soap alone should be enough to clean the outside of the microwave, but you can use a disinfectant if the machine is very dirty. Instead of using a deep-cleaning spray directly onto the outside of the microwave, it's best to spray it onto a cloth first and use it to wipe the outside of the machine.
If you spray the machine, the liquid could enter the microwave's air duct system and damage it
Step 5. Wipe the surface of the microwave with a cloth to dry
Take a lint-free cloth and wipe it over the top and sides of the microwave. Keep wiping until the machine is completely dry.
Tip:
For an extra glossy finish, spray the glass cleaner on a clean cloth and use it to wipe the microwave window.
Tips
- Leave the microwave door open a few minutes after cleaning to allow it to air dry.
- Try cleaning the inside of the microwave as often as possible so that the stain doesn't settle and become stubborn.
- If you have a lot of crumbs on the bottom of the microwave, remove it before starting to scrub the inside of the machine.
