Take the bowl out with oven mitts. Use a damp sponge to wipe down the inside of the microwave, and you’re all set. “If there is too much lemon water and you feel like it’s sticky, follow with a rinse with a wet cloth,” Koch adds. “Be sure to wash the plate and tray it sits on as well, and don’t forget the door.” This method also works wonders to rid your microwave of that smell that lingers after that one time you miscalculated and ended up with burnt popcorn.
One more idea to address a microwave mess? Koch advises turning to a handheld steamer. “This tool is a great way to clean a microwave if you want to skip the water-and-bowl method,” she says. “The steamer has the same idea, but is a little faster at busting through stuck-on messes.”
What is the best cleaner for the inside of a microwave?
If the inside of your microwave oven has some stubborn stains from one too many frozen dinner fiascos, don’t let it get you down. You have two options: Get your hands on a grease-cutting spray, like Method Heavy-Duty Degreaser, or make a soapy water solution with a product like Dawn Platinum EZ-Squeeze dish soap and warm water. Either way, be sure to put the cleaning agent of choice directly onto a sponge, clean cloth, or paper towel so it doesn’t drip into the depths of your microwave—you want this unsung hero to be clean, not broken. If the gunk still won’t wipe away with ease, use a soft-bristle brush or the coarse side of a sponge to dig in.
How do you clean a microwave with vinegar and water?
If you’d like to clean your microwave’s interior with white vinegar and water, you can do so by placing a one-to-one mixture of both liquids in a small bowl. Just like in the citrus steam-cleaning hack, place the microwave-safe bowl inside and turn on the power for approximately three minutes. The same white vinegar-and-water solution can be used to clean the outside of your microwave—add a few drops of essential oil to ensure that your kitchen’s smell isn’t overpowered by vinegar.
Can you use bleach to clean inside a microwave?
Whatever you do, don’t use bleach to clean your microwave. It poses a danger to potentially ingesting the product, which also has an intense smell and can damage the inside of this appliance.
How do you clean the outside of a dirty microwave?
To ensure that the exterior of your microwave oven isn’t covered in fingerprints, grime, or splatters (especially easy to spot if your appliance is stainless steel), clean it in two simple steps. Start with the window. In a bowl, mix together a cleaning solution of one cup white vinegar and one cup water. Dip a microfiber cloth or paper towel into the liquid, and wipe the window clean. Then use the dry side of the cloth to wipe down the surface until all the streaks disappear. Think of it as a fun, done-in-minutes cleaning DIY!
Once the window is clean, move on to the microwave door and buttons. All you need is a small bowl with equal parts water and baking soda. Dip a clean cloth into the paste and wipe down the surface. You might want to run the damp cloth over the surface more than once, as baking soda can leave a chalky residue if not fully removed. If the outside of your microwave is especially soiled, consider a product like Mr. Clean MagicEraser to get rid of the sticky finger evidence before reverting to the above.
