How To Clean Microwave Inside – Best Cleaning Ways Using Vinegar
Cutting right to the chase, I asked my son to heat leftovers in the microwave and it was at this time I knew something’s going to be wrong. Unfortunately, he overheated the leftover food and it burst down with a BANG! Thankfully, my son didn’t harm himself.
However, this scenario increased my workload as I had to clean the microwave from scratch now. Therefore, with my secret techniques, I finally decided to answer the question, “How to clean Microwave easily and conveniently.”
Getting right to the point, there are different methods to clean a microwave. These methods mostly involve vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, or a mixture of vinegar and baking soda.
Depending upon the amount of mess created on the inside, I’d be discussing each method in detail.
This way, I guarantee that your microwave will not only look clean but will give that new shiny look at the same time.
Also, Read About: The Best Microwaves In Australia
All in all, let us explore some robust and easy to do microwave cleaning ways:
Cleaning A Microwave Within Few Steps: (DIY Methods)
Note: Start the process with a complete checking of the microwave cord. Make sure that it is durable and sturdy enough to avoid any short circuits.
1. How to Clean Microwave with Vinegar?
The first method is quite easy and could be done in few steps at the same time.
Have a look at methods to clean a microwave with white vinegar and water:
Time Required to Clean Microwave with Vinegar:
No more than 15 minutes.
Things You’ll Need:
- White vinegar (One Cup)
- Warm water (One Cup)
- Microfiber cloth (For cleaning the mess)
- Microwave safe bowl/Glass bowl
- Wooden spoon (For reaching every nook and corner) and
- Rubbing alcohol pads (Not necessary)
Step 1: Preparing the Mixture
Pour one cup of white vinegar and one cup of water into the bowl. Next, place a wooden spoon into the bowl and place it in the middle of the microwave respectively.
Why Wooden Spoon?
Placing a wooden spoon prevents the bowl from getting overheated or exploding. It’s a precaution to keep you on the safe side while the cleansing process.
Step 2: Microwave for 5 to 10 Minutes:
This step involves setting the microwave timer within a range of 5 to 10 minutes. You could set the timer depending upon the microwave’s heating intensity. Microwave the bowl for at least 5-10 minutes. When done, allow the appliance to cool down for 2 to 3 minutes.
After that, carefully take out the glass bowl with the help of oven mitts or microfiber cloth.
Step 3: Wiping the Inside:
Step 3 of how to clean the microwave with vinegar involves wiping. Simply take a clean microfiber cloth or paper towels and start cleaning the door and inside of the microwave.
Due to immense steam, the vinegar and water solution makes the leftovers loosened enough.
Hence, you can clean it off with a microfiber cloth easily. So, that’s how you’d clean your microwave using vinegar.
Step 4: Finalizing the Cleaning Process:
When you are done with the cleaning, and the microwave still gives an awful look, then follow these simple steps:
Take a little amount of isopropyl alcohol and pour it on a microfiber cloth. Use the cloth then to bring out the shiny and new look of your microwave within 5 minutes.
To Conclude:
Cleaning the microwave with vinegar gives 100% results no matter how stubborn the stains get. However, vinegar does have a distinct smell. So, it’s suggested that don’t use this cleaning method if someone in your home doesn’t like vinegar’s smell.
Video Tutorial:
2. How to Clean Microwave with Baking Soda?
Baking soda also acts as a quick cleaning agent as this chemical compound has quick-absorbing powers.
If your microwave’s turntable is stuffed with overcooked food stains, you could use baking soda to remove them quickly.
Moreover, the baking soda method is a good alternative to avoid using the vinegar method.
Let us, therefore, take a look at the cleaning process using baking soda:
Time Required:
5 to 10 minutes.
Things You’ll Need:
- A small plastic bowl.
- Baking soda.
- Warm water.
- Microfiber cloth.
- Paper towels.
Step 1: Making the Paste:
Pour half a cup of water into the bowl and add 4 tablespoon baking soda to it.
Mix the solution until water dissolves baking soda completely.
Step 2: Applying the Paste:
Look out for the hardened mess on the inside and apply the paste over there. Don’t forget to apply the paste on the turntable as well if it’s stained.
Let the mixture sit for at least 5 minutes.
Step 3: Wiping:
Simply wipe down the softened mess with a microfiber cloth and use a damp cloth afterward.
On the contrary, use paper towels to remove the residue from corners and nooks of microwave.
To Conclude:
The baking soda method is easy and it takes less time. But, removing paste is not as easy as you could expect.
Nevertheless, you can use this cleaning method to clean the inside of a microwave thoroughly.
Video Tutorial:
3. How to Clean Microwave with Lemon Juice?
If you don’t like to mess around with vinegar or baking soda, then there’s one another way.
There are two different methods to clean a microwave with lemon juice.
First of all:
- Method 1: Cutting Lemon Into Half:
The first method takes no more than 5 minutes. Cut down lemon into two halves and place them on the turntable.
Add one tablespoon of water on both halves and start microwaving for 3 to 5 minutes.
Take out the lemon after microwaving and wipe down the inside of microwave with a damp cloth or paper towel.
It’s one of the easiest cleaning methods I’ve tried up to this date.
- Method 2: Using the Essential Lemon Oil:
Well, the second method, if done the correct way, could outshine all other microwave cleaning techniques for sure.
However, you have to spend money to get lemon essential oil. So, that’s a negative point.
Anyway, have a look at how you can clean out your microwave with lemon essential oil:
Step 1: Soaking the Sponge:
Take a sponge and soak it in the water as much as possible. Keep it on the turntable of microwave afterward.
Step 2: Making the Lemon Oil Spray:
For that purpose, empty your spray bottle. Add a small amount of water and 3 to 4 drops of lemon essential oil into it.
Close the spray bottle and shake it for a while until the mixture becomes ready.
Step 3: Spray the Lemon Oil + Water Mixture:
Spray the mixture vertically and horizontally. Do it thoroughly if you want the microwave to look like new.
Step 4: Microwave:
Microwave the oven until it gets all steamy. 2 to 3 minutes would be more than enough to do this job.
Step 5: Wipe Down:
Simply take a microfiber cloth and start cleaning the inside of microwave efficiently.
You could also use the wet sponge you placed inside for cleaning purposes.
Wait for a while so that the sponge can cool down a little bit. Don’t hurry while touching the hot sponge.
To Conclude:
Using both cleaning methods of lemon juice, you could remove all gunk, stubborn stains, and messy leftover food from the microwave.
Video Tutorial:
4. How to Clean Microwave Smell?
Let me ask you one question, “Have you ever felt that as soon as you open the door of your microwave, a foul smell comes out of it?”
Taking your silence as a Yes! (Pun Intended). Well, there’s a way you can remove the foul or burnt food smell from your microwave.
Follow me up:
For Light Smell:
There’s no complex way to remove the light odor. What you could do is keep the door of microwave open for a few hours.
Make sure that your kitchen is ventilated enough for this method. I usually try this method on a sunny day and in an open place.
If there’s a light odor, it will immediately be gone when you keep the door of your microwave open in the air for a long time.
For Strong Smell or Odor:
If you’ve burnt popcorns or spaghetti, then chances are that the smell won’t go away easily.
For this, simply clean the residue with the help of above-mentioned methods.
When done, place a high-quality odor-absorbing gel inside the microwave and close its door.
Let it settle for at least an hour or two so that the burnt smell removes completely.
To Conclude:
Well, those were the easiest ways that I tried to remove the smell from my microwave and both of them worked perfectly for me. Try them yourself and don’t forget to share the results with me.
5. How to Clean Microwave with Water?
Using only water isn’t enough to remove stubborn stains. However, I’ve removed light stains from the microwave using only two things, i.e. water and a damp cloth.
So, it’s quite simple. Pour some water into the bowl and soak one part of microfiber cloth in it until it absorbs water.
Start scrubbing the stains with the help of cloth. Repeat the soaking process when water runs short until you remove stains from all areas.
Use the dry part of cloth to dry the inner walls and BINGO! Your microwave is as clean as new.
6. Use Both Vinegar and Baking Soda For Cleasning, How?
Got a messy microwave with stubborn stains and non-removable residue? Besides, if you are a careless person, then cleaning the microwave would take more than just water or lemon juice.
The mixture of vinegar and baking soda is quite effective when it comes to removing grease, gunk, foul smell, and burnt food residue from the microwave.
Follow this step by step guide.
Things You’ll Require:
- Baking soda
- White Vinegar
- Mixing bowl. (Must be microwaveable.)
- Cleaning cloth.
Step 1: Applying Baking Soda Paste:
First things first, add 4 tablespoon baking soda with one cup water in a mixing bowl.
Stir the solution until the baking soda gets completely absorbed.
Take a cleaning cloth, dip it into the solution and apply it to the inside of microwave.
Cover every nook and corner to get perfect results.
Step 2: Microwaving the White Vinegar:
Take half cup of water and white vinegar in a microwave-safe bowl and place it in the middle of the turntable.
Set the microwave timer at 2 to 5 minutes and start microwaving the bowl until the appliance becomes steamy.
Step 3: Wiping and Cleaning:
Unplug the microwave and let the bowl cool down for a few minutes. Open the door afterward and wipe down the microwave with a dry cloth. Paper towels could also be used for that purpose.
Repeat the process if baking soda residue remains.
To Conclude:
Using this technique, you can make your old, grimy, and gunky microwave look like new. Don’t underestimate it as it’s one of the best methods to clean a microwave in 2023.
7. Clean Out Microwave Using Both Lemon and Vinegar?
Remove grease, and oil residue from the inside of microwave by following the Lemon-Vinegar cleaning method:
Step 1: Making the Solution:
Take water in a bowl and squeeze two lemons in it accordingly. Pour half cup of white vinegar into the solution and stir it for a minute.
Step 2: Microwave:
Set timer at 3 minutes with full heating power and let the mixture boil until the microwave window becomes steamy.
Step 3: Wipe with a Clean Cloth:
Take out the bowl after unplugging the cord. After that, wipe the inside of the microwave and door with a dry and clean cloth accordingly.
Conclusion:
A clean and shiny microwave thus works at its best and you could keep using it to heat leftovers, prepare popcorn, or reheat pizza, etc.
With that, I’ve tried my best to answer the question, “How to clean microwave” with a step-by-step demonstration.
Follow these methods and enjoy the mess and smell-free microwaving interface for sure.
You can also suggest some new methods of cleaning microwave if you have any in the comment box mentioned above.
If found good enough, we’ll feature those methods in this article respectively.
