5 Best Ways to Clean a Microwave-CLEANING SERVICE

 

Clean a Microwave

5 Best Ways to Clean a Microwave

When it comes to cleaning, your microwave may be the appliance you overlook the most. Food, dirt, and grease accumulate over time, making it difficult to scrub or easily wipe away any spills or splatters. You've come to the right place if you're tired of your smelly, grimy microwave or aren't sure how to get rid of all that stuck-on food.

Carolyn Forté and Jodhaira Rodriguez from the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Care & Cleaning Lab provided expert advice on how to clean a microwave. They claim that both common cleaning products, such as dish soap and a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, and natural ingredients, such as baking soda, lemon, and vinegar, can be effective. "Vinegar works well on grease," says Rodriguez. "The lemon-water method for the interior helps to steam up the inside and loosen any stuck food."

We'll show you how to clean every type of microwave, including over-the-range, built-in, and countertop models, as well as how to get rid of odours (lemon can help!) and how to clean turntables and filters. Simply follow our detailed step-by-step instructions to make cleaning as simple as possible.

How to Clean a Microwave's Interior with Lemon and Vinegar

Splatters can make your microwave appear sad. Follow these steps to target the interior of your microwave, including the turntable:

1. Combine 1 cup water and lemon, lime or orange slices (squeeze juice from the fruit slices into the water) in a microwave-safe bowl. Or, if you have white or apple cider vinegar on hand, combine a few tablespoons and 1 cup of water in a microwave-safe bowl.
2. Place the bowl in the microwave and turn it on high power for several minutes until the mixture boils and the window steams up.
3. Allow it to cool for five minutes before opening the door, then remove the bowl and use a sponge to clean the inside.

Dish soap and baking soda are used to clean the outside of a microwave.

It's not just what's on the inside that matters. Using these steps, you can remove smudges and grease from the greasy exterior windows of your microwave.

1. Clean the entire door — edges, both sides, and where it seals the oven — with a dampened sponge dipped in baking soda. To rinse, use a damp cloth or sponge.
2. A 50/50 mixture of vinegar and water can be used to clean a greasy window. Rinse and pat dry.
3. Wipe down your microwave door with an all-purpose grease-cutting cleaner (like Mr. Clean Deep Cleaning Mist) or a sudsy mix of dish soap and water to remove heavy grease buildup and stuck-on splatters. To keep the cleaner from getting into the vent holes, apply it with a cloth or sponge. If necessary, scrub with a non-scratch pad (such as Scotch-Brite). Similarly, never spray electronic controls directly with cleaner to avoid damage. Always use a cloth to apply the cleaner to before wiping the controls.

Cleaning a Microwave Filter

If you have an over-the-range microwave, clean the filter at least once a month. Because the filter is designed to catch grease, leaving it uncleaned will result in a sticky mess on the filter and the walls. "These filters are similar to the ones found in kitchen range hoods, and they can be removed and washed in the sink with warm, sudsy water," Forté explains. Just remember to always follow the cleaning instructions provided by the manufacturer of your microwave.

1. Fill your kitchen sink halfway with hot, soapy water.
2. Put the filter in and submerge it for at least 10 minutes.
3. If the residue remains or is resistant to scrubbing, add 1/4 cup baking soda to the water and soak it once more.

How to Remove Odours from a Microwave

When you microwave something smelly, the smell returns as soon as you turn the oven back on. That means you should get rid of the stench as soon as possible.

• For light odours (for example, spicy food with a strong aroma), leave the oven door open or place a bowl of baking soda inside with the door closed to absorb smells.
• Clean any leftover residue and place an odor-absorbing gel, such as Fresh Wave, inside until you run it again if the odour is strong (think: burnt popcorn).

How to Get Rid of Stuck-On Food in a Microwave

Follow these steps to get rid of dried-on food:

1. Put the turntable in the dishwasher or hand-wash it with sudsy water and a non-scratch scrub sponge.
2. Use a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, which has a Good Housekeeping Seal star, to clean the interior walls.