How to clean microwave – hacks and tips for easier cleaning

by John Griffith
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Microwaves have become a staple in every kitchen. They are easy to use, make your life s lot simpler and heat up your meals in a matter of seconds. Needless to say they are a necessity, especially to people, living a fast paced life. What’s more, microwaves nowadays can even grill and toast. Because of all these things, everyone needs one in their kitchen. Using a microwave, however, means some additional maintenance. In general, every part of your kitchen where food is prepared needs extra care to get rid of dirt, bacteria and grease. Your microwave, naturally, is no different. That is why today, in this article, we are going to share with you a few easy hacks and tips on how to clean microwave in the fastest and simplest ways possible.

Microwaves have definitely become a necessity in every kitchen

silver clean microwave with lemon on white surface

Everyone needs a microwave cleaning hack to make their lives easier

Using your microwave every day can leave it looking bad. After all, the built up of grease, different smells, as well as splatters from the food, isn’t easy to clean. That is especially if you have left them in there for too long. In general, it is best to clean your microwave as soon as you see that there are splatters of food. Another advice we can give you as well, is to use a microwave plate cover. That way you can keep your microwave clean and make your life easier by only washing the cover, instead of cleaning the whole microwave once every 2 days. However, the problem that always arises is the smell. Because of it, your microwave oven needs to be cleaned at least once a week.

If you are using your microwave every day, it is best to clean it at least once every week

clean microwave with vinegar on the inside

How to clean microwave with lemon?

Yes, you can clean your microwave with a lemon. The acid in the lemon breaks down the dirt and grease and the steam from the lemon water will attach to the surface, which is going to make your cleaning experience a lot easier. So, without further ado, here is the method:

What are you going to need?

  • 1 lemon
  • microwave safe bowl
  • water
  • microfiber cloth or paper towel

How to do it?

  1. Fill the bowl half way with water.
  2. Cut the lemon in half and squeeze the juice out of it into the bowl with water.
  3. Put the bowl inside the microwave and run the microwave for about 5 minutes.
  4. Take the bowl out of the microwave, using oven mitts.
  5. Immediately after taking out the bowl, wipe down the surfaces with a paper towel or a microfiber cloth.
  6. To clean the outside of the microwave you can dip the microfiber cloth into the lemon water mixture and wipe down.

The acid from the lemon breaks down the dirt and grease

bowl with lemon how to get smell out of microwave

Wipe down with a microfiber cloth immediately after taking out the bowl

bowl with water lemon microwave cleaning hack

How to clean microwave with vinegar?

The method with vinegar is pretty much the same as the one with lemon. Here is it:

What are you going to need?

  • 2 tbsp white vinegar
  • 1 cup water
  • microwave safe bowl
  • paper towel or microfiber cloth

How to do it?

  1. Mix the water with the white vinegar in a microwave safe bowl.
  2. Place it into the microwave and run it for about 5 minutes.
  3. Then, take out the bowl, using oven mitts.
  4. Immediately after taking out the bowl, wipe down the inside of the microwave with a paper towel or a microfiber cloth.

For tougher stains, you can use more vinegar, so that the solution is stronger.

It is better to use white vinegar for this method

how to clean microwave vinegar in jug

Cleaning hack with baking soda

You can also clean your microwave with baking soda. What’s more, there are two different ways to do it. Here’s the method if the microwave isn’t very dirty:

What are you going to need?

  • 2 tbsp baking soda
  • water
  • microwave safe bowl
  • paper towel or microfiber cloth

How to do it?

  1. Fill the microwave safe bowl with water and add the baking soda. Stir until the baking soda dissolves into the water.
  2. Place the bowl into the microwave and run it for about 5 minutes.
  3. Take out the bowl using oven mitts.
  4. Immediately after taking the bowl out, wipe down the surfaces with a paper towel or a microfiber cloth.

Wipe down immediately after taking the microwave safe bowl out

cleaning inside how to clean microwave in white

Baking soda hack #2

This microwave cleaning hack is perfect for deeper, tougher stains, which don’t give in to regular methods.

What are you going to need?

  • baking soda
  • scrubby sponge
  • paper towel or microfiber cloth

How to do it?

  1. Sprinkle a little bit of baking soda on top of the greased stains.
  2. Scrub the stains with a sponge so that the soda seeps into it until it breaks down the dirt.
  3. Wipe down with a paper towel or microfiber cloth immediately after.

There is nothing better than a clean microwave

the inside of clean microwave with vinegar

Clean your microwave with the help of some dish soap

This is probably the easiest and most obvious hack. Here’s how to do it:

What are you going to need?

  • dish soap
  • water
  • scrubby sponge
  • paper towel or microfiber cloth

How to do it?

  1. Squirt a few drops of the dish soap onto the stains.
  2. Wet a sponge with a little bit of water and use it to scrub away the grease and dirt.
  3. Wipe down with a paper towel or a microfiber cloth to remove the dish soap residue.

Clean your microwave at least one a week or once every two weeks, depending on how often you use it

woman cleaning inside how to clean microwave

How to get smell out of microwave?

With all the food going in and out of your microwave, it is perfectly normal to have different smells coming out of it. In general, regular cleaning gets rid of the smells. However, sometimes for an odour that just won’t go away, there is something you can do. Grab a box of baking soda, open it and place it into the microwave. Let is sit overnight and throw away the box in the morning. The baking soda will take away the smell and you will have a fresh smelling microwave in no time.

It is important to get rid of the bad smell coming out of your microwave

open door clean microwave with lemon

Your microwave just has to fit in perfectly with your kitchen’s interior

clean microwave with lemon placed on white surface how to get smell out of microwave white cupboards

Cleaning your microwave with lemon water is probably the simplest, yet best hack to get rid of grease, dirt and bad smell

jug with water lemon clean microwave with vinegar

Of course, you can always use a degreaser to clean your microwave inside out

man cleaning how to clean microwave with gloves

Don’t forget to wipe down the handle and buttons, since they gather lots of dirt and bacteria

microwave cleaning hack wiping the handle open door microwave cleaning hack wiping the inside how to get smell out of microwave wiping the inside of microwave cleaning hack

Use a microfiber cloth to avoid any scratches on the surfaces

wiping the tray how to get smell out of microwave wiping the window of clean microwave with lemon

Always clean the microwave window as well

wiping the window of microwave cleaning hack wiping with towel clean microwave with vinegar

John Griffith

John Griffith is a young, passionate journalist. Writing has been John’s hobby ever since he was a boy. He has worked in some of the UK’s most successful news portals over the course of his professional career but found his forever home at Archzine.