How to Clean Microwave Safely

Almost every home around the country has a microwave oven. Considered a kitchen staple appliance, a microwave oven can cook several dishes, reheat and defrost food, and it may also help disinfect kitchen items.

As helpful as a microwave oven may be, you can’t prevent food splatter and other messy foods from giving your appliance stubborn stains.

The leftover residue from food can easily be cleaned using a damp paper towel. On the other hand, tough stains which lingered longer in your microwave interior may need some help from commercial cleaners or, better yet, different home remedies using natural ingredients.

Regular maintenance — at the very least every few days — is the key to maintaining a clean countertop microwave. When you discover stains on the inside of your microwave or need to remove stuck-on food, use this microwave cleaning guide.

Whichever you may prefer in dealing with your dirty microwave, we’ve got you covered!

Safety Reminders & Tips in Cleaning a Microwave

A couple of methods work in cleaning the inside of a microwave. Some have scrubbing required to remove grime carefully. While others will just need a vinegar and water solution in a microwave-safe bowl to remove lingering odors.

Whether you have to loosen caked-on grime or just remove the burnt smell in microwave, here are some tips to get you started.

1. Always make sure that you unplug your microwave from the socket before cleaning to ensure that you won’t be electrocuted. This is also a must to prevent your microwave from being broken.
2. Be sure to untangle the electric cord from the power cord prior to use. This is a great opportunity to examine the cord for dirt and damage, which can be a potentially hazardous fire risk.
3. Examine the outside of your microwave oven so that it recognizes the dirtiest spots. You will also need to find out which parts can be removed to help you during the whole cleaning process.
4. When heating food, it’s always best to keep a lid on the microwave-safe bowl and dish. This will lessen the grime on the inside of your microwave.
5. Clean your microwave using natural ingredients or a natural cleaner. A commercial cleaner often uses strong chemicals for cleaning, and you don’t want those harsh chemicals mixing up on your food.
6. Wipe the microwave door and interior with wet paper towels or a damp cloth after heating or cooking something. This will give you a squeaky clean microwave even without deep cleaning.
7. Taking out and cleaning your microwave oven’s turntable with dish soap and water twice a week will help it keep sparkling clean.
8. Don’t use metal brushes when cleaning your microwave. A microfiber cloth or a wet sponge/dishcloth can be used to carefully remove tough stains caused by burnt food.

Clean a Microwave Fast with these Home Remedies

The longer you keep the microwave or other kitchen appliances unattended, the more difficult it becomes to tidy up. A dirty microwave can provide a breeding ground for bacteria and other germs.

It’s likely worth knowing how to efficiently the microwave if you cringe at the thought of doing so. Here are some methods on how to clean microwave naturally.

Lemon juice with water

Most households use lemon as a safe and natural deodorizer. Using it to get rid of burnt popcorn smell will surely leave your appliance fresh and sparkling clean.

What you will need:

• Microwave safe bowl
• Water
• 1 lemon
• Microfiber cloth

Directions:

1. Fill a microwave-safe bowl with one cup of water.
2. Slice one lemon and squeeze all the juices. Mix it thoroughly with the water.
3. Run the microwave for a few minutes in low and let the bowl with lemon juice and water rest inside of the microwave for a good ten minutes.
4. Remove the bowl, wipe out the exterior, and then moisten the entire microwave with a microfiber towel with the same lemon juice-water solution.

Note: To avoid steam, carefully remove the bowl with oven mitts and slowly open the microwave door.

Baking Soda Paste

Baking soda is a kitchen staple known as a natural deodorizing agent. It is also mildly abrasive, which makes it perfect for removing baked-on grime.

What you will need:

• Baking soda
• Water
• Sponge
• Clean rag/cloth

Directions:

1. Mix baking soda and water in a bowl to form a paste.
2. Apply the baking soda paste to the dirty microwave using a clean cloth.
3. Allow the baking soda and water mixture to sit on the grime and dirt for up to five minutes.
4. Remove the baking soda residue with a damp non-abrasive sponge and behold a clean microwave. Make sure to leave the insides completely dry before using.

Note: You can also use this method in cleaning your stovetop or other kitchen appliances such as refrigerators.

Vinegar and water

Vinegar water is a multi-purpose natural cleaning agent that helps remove tough stains and grime—the perfect remedy for a filthy microwave.

What you will need:

• Microwave safe bowl
• Water
• White Vinegar
• Essential oil of your choice
• Microfiber cloth

Directions:

1. Fill a microwave-safe bowl with two cups of water and equal parts white vinegar. Place it in the microwave set in high power for a minute to steam.
2. Make sure to clean the microwave dry before using it again to ensure that no vinegar residues remain inside.
3. Put a few drops of essential oil on a microfiber cloth and wipe it on the interior and exterior of your microwave to keep it smelling fresh and clean.

Note: You can skip step 3 if you want a more neutral scent in the kitchen. An air freshener will help the kitchen in smelling fresh, so don’t hesitate to spritz some after heating food in the microwave.

Dish Soap and Water

Warm water and dish soap can be combined to make dishwasher soap. This can come in handy in cleaning a burnt microwave.

What you will need:

• Microfiber cloth (A non-scratch cloth like this can also clean jewelry like pearls)
• Warm water
• Paper towel

Directions:

Step 1: In a bowl, mix a cup of water and two tablespoons of dish soap to make soapy water.
Step 2: Dip the microfiber cloth into the mixture and use it to wipe the outside of your microwave.
Step 3: Then clean the inside of the microwave by removing crumbs and food debris using a dry paper towel. Make sure the stuff doesn’t go into the fan vent.
Step 4: To remove grime and soap residue, wipe clean all surfaces with wet paper towels.

Note: Always remember to completely dry the insides of your microwave before using it again to avoid any accidents such as explosions or burning in the kitchen.

How to get rid of burnt popcorn smell

Movie nights at home are a blast, especially with good popcorn. However, the smell of burnt popcorn and butter residues can be bothersome. Particularly if you have a brand-new microwave that you want to keep clean and odor-free for as long as possible.

Here are some tips to get you started cleaning a burnt microwave and getting rid of the burnt smell.

1. If you want to eliminate the smell of burnt popcorn, don’t throw it in the trashcan in your kitchen. Doing this will not only make the smell worse but also cause you to worsen the problem.
2. A burning odor has nowhere to go without sufficient airflow. Opening the windows to let fresh air in is an efficient way to get rid of lingering odors.
3. Lemon aid is a great way to eliminate the burnt odor that comes from your burnt popcorn. Try spraying your room with a fresh lemon aroma. You will notice that the effect is immediate, and the fragrance is quite refreshing.
4. Allow an open baking soda box to sit on your microwave pan all night to get rid of the burnt popcorn smell. Alternatively, you can use the coffee grounds from your morning coffee in a bowl and let them sit inside your microwave for a while.

FAQ

Keeping Your Microwave Spotless Clean

A modern kitchen may not be complete without a microwave. How to clean them and other kitchen appliances would always determine how long it would last.

We hope the cleaning solutions in this article will help you in keeping your microwave clean. Whatever method works for you, lemon, vinegar and water, baking soda, make sure to wipe your unit dry before using it again.

Always keep a multi purpose cleaner and a good microfiber cloth handy to help clean your microwave and maintain its shine.