The microwave is probably one of the most used appliances in the kitchen. If not cleaned regularly, roasted food residue and grease will build up on walls, ceilings, swivel sections, and microwave doors. Luckily, you can clean the microwave quickly with lemon, water, and a towel. If there are stubborn stains, you can use stronger natural cleaning agents, such as vinegar and baking soda.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Using Lemon Water
Step 1. Squeeze 1 lemon and mix its juice with 240 ml of water
Cut the lemons in half, squeeze as much of the juice out of each as possible, and place them in a microwave-safe bowl. After that, add water and stir the mixture with a spoon until smooth.
If you don't have lemons, you can use other citrus fruits, such as limes or oranges
Step 2. Cut each lemon back into thin slices, then add them to the lemon juice
Once the lemon juice has been squeezed out, use a sharp knife to cut each lemon into four or eight pieces. Dip all the lemon wedges or slices into the lemon juice, then stir the mixture again with a spoon.
This way, the juice remaining in the fruit will also evaporate when heated in the microwave so that it can remove dirt and food residue
Step 3. Heat the mixture in the microwave for 3 minutes
Put the bowl of lemon juice in the microwave. Make sure you don't cover the bowl. After that, heat it on high heat for 3 minutes. The water will bubble and boil, or even evaporate. After 3 minutes, keep the microwave door closed to prevent the steam from escaping from the lemon juice.
If there is still water remaining in the bowl, reheat for 1-2 minutes until most of the water has evaporated
Step 4. Let the water cool for 5 minutes, then remove the bowl from the microwave
Keep the microwave door closed until most of the steam has managed to escape the bowl and condense on the walls of the microwave. After that, carefully open the door and remove the bowl so you can start cleaning immediately.
Warning:
The bowl will feel very hot when you take it out of the microwave. If the surface is still too hot to touch, use oven mitts to safely remove it.
Step 5. Wipe the interior of the microwave using a clean towel
First, remove the swivel cross-section from the microwave and wipe it with a towel. Set the section aside, then wipe the walls and ceiling of the microwave using water as the cleaning medium. Don't forget to wipe the inside of the door. Food and stains left on the interior of the microwave can be removed easily.
- If you don't want to use a towel, prepare a damp sponge with a scouring pad to wipe the interior of the microwave.
- Remember to replace the swivel cross after cleaning the microwave!
Method 2 of 2: Get Rid of Stubborn Stains
Step 1. Add vinegar to the lemon juice to destroy any leftover baked goods
If the microwave is very dirty, add 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of vinegar to the lemon juice. Vinegar acts as a powerful cleaning agent. Make sure you mix the two ingredients evenly as vinegar can leave a strong odor lingering on the interior of the microwave.
If you don't have any leftover baked goods on the walls or ceiling of the microwave, you don't need to add vinegar to the lemon water mixture
Tip:
If 1 month has passed since you last cleaned the microwave, add another 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of vinegar to the lemon water mixture to loosen or remove the stain from the interior of the microwave.
Step 2. Dip a towel in the lemon juice mixture and rub it on the stained area
If there are stubborn stains or dirt, moisten the ends of the towel with the remaining lemon juice. After that, rub vigorously on the area to remove the stain. If the stain doesn't lift, you may need a mild abrasive cleaning agent.
If no lemon juice remains, reheat the new mixture for 2 minutes and let it sit in the microwave for another 5 minutes. After that, use the remaining mixture to remove any stains on the walls or ceiling of the microwave
Step 3. Use baking soda to remove stubborn stains
Sprinkle baking soda on the stain and let it sit for 1-2 minutes. After that, dip a washcloth in the lemon juice mixture and rub it into the stain vigorously. Baking soda acts as a mild abrasive that can remove baked food residue. Meanwhile, lemon water can dissolve or destroy the remaining food that managed to lift.
