Easy Tips for Cleaning Your Microwave
If we were graded on our housekeeping based on the way the interior of our microwave looks and smells, many of us wouldn’t make the grade — as our mother-in-law is sure to tell us when she visits. Even those who keep a clean and tidy house tend to neglect the stuck-on mess inside the microwave. It’s all too easy to just close the door and forget about it. After all, no one can see it — at least until they try to make popcorn, and then the greasy, smelly, cooked-on mess greets them when they open the microwave door. Thankfully, some of the best microwave cleaning tips have been shared by the most accomplished cleaners in the business. These helpful hacks can have your microwave gleaming without all the scrubbing and scouring. And it’s as easy as boiling water!
Microwave Cleaning Solutions
The best microwave cleaning hack to avoid scrubbing is to create a steaming solution to heat up inside your microwave. Intense steaming will rehydrate the dried, stuck-on food particles and allow them to be more easily wiped away. There are several different steaming solutions you can use to clean the inside of your microwave quickly and easily by mixing ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl and then steaming the inside of your microwave.
Before beginning it’s important to know that at extended high temperatures, smooth glass bowls may burst inside a microwave. To avoid this, when boiling water in a glass bowl, add a wooden or bamboo skewer stick to the bowl. This directs the microwaves away from the glass of the bowl to prevent smooth glass bowls from bursting.
The Solution for Cleaning a Greasy Microwave
If your microwave mess includes a lot of grease, such as from microwaving bacon, or other greasy foods, then the best microwave steaming solution is one that contains degreasing agents such as those included in most dish detergents. First, fill a microwave-safe bowl with water and add a generous dash of dish soap. Then, run your microwave long enough to allow the solution to work up a good steam. Once the microwave is off, allow the hot solution to cool to room temperature inside the microwave. Then, dip a sponge or cloth into the bowl of water and dish detergent and use it to wipe down the interior of your microwave. Remove the glass tray and wash and rinse it in your sink. The combination of steam and degreasing agents should allow both grease and stuck-on foods to be wiped cleanly away.
The Solution for Cleaning a Microwave with Stuck-on Food
The best microwave cleaning hack for stuck-on food is to create a citrus solution. This is ideal for cleaning tough, stuck-on food in your microwave. You can create a citrus solution by adding slices of lemon, lime, or orange into a bowl of water. Be sure to squeeze some of the citrus juice directly into the bowl. Then run your microwave until it’s very steamy inside. Allow the bowl of citrus solution to sit in the microwave until it cools to room temperature and then use the solution with a sponge or cloth to wipe away stuck-on foods.
A good bonus tip is to add a dash of vanilla and cinnamon to the bowl along with your citrus fruits to scent your entire home with citrus, vanilla, and spice while you are cleaning!
The Solution for Cleaning a Microwave with Odors
Strong, spicy foods can leave lingering odors in your microwave. So can burnt popcorn or cooked fish. According to Compact Appliance, the best microwave solution to clean and deodorize your microwave is created by adding four teaspoons of baking soda to a quart of water and stirring until it’s well dissolved. Then dip a cloth or sponge in the solution and wipe down the entire interior of your microwave.
Next, combine equal parts water and white vinegar in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave until the interior is well steamed. After the solution has cooled to room temperature, use it to wipe down your microwave’s interior until all the baking soda residue is removed.
If any unpleasant odor remains, leave a small dish of baking soda inside your microwave with the door closed for a few days whenever it’s not in use. This will absorb any lingering odors.
Remember to use a clean cloth to dry the interior of your microwave thoroughly after every cleaning to prevent mildew and corrosion.
With these tips, your microwave will gleam, and even your mother-in-law will give you an A+ on your housekeeping prowess.
Resources— WikiHow, GoodHousekeeping, RealSimple
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