How to clean a microwave the safe and easy way

The microwave is one of the most routinely used kitchen appliances in your home. Whether you use it for thawing meat, popping popcorn, warming up lunch or leftovers, it’s a convenient tool that can often be overlooked for regular cleaning. After all, microwaves are very prone to many splatters and spills that come with heating food.

To avoid cross-contamination and the spread of bacteria from microwave use, you may be looking into how to clean your microwave. Luckily, it’s fairly easy to get the dirt out, and there are many different ways to do this, depending on what concern you’d like to address.

Always wipe down the microwave walls

Microwave walls are often the most targeted area of those pesky splatters and stains, which inevitably retain the smells of the food you heat. 

For a quick and easy clean, wipe down the interiors with a cloth or sponge dipped in warm water. Do this after each use to minimise the need for more frequent, thorough cleans.

How to clean the inside of a microwave quickly

If you’re not able to wipe down the walls as often as you can, and some crust has formed around the splatter, you can opt for a stronger mixture that will effectively help soften the dirt. Here’s a microwave cleaning hack with lemon or vinegar.

What you’ll need:

• Your main ingredient

  • Option 1: One lemon (can be substituted with lime or orange)

  • Option 2: Two tablespoons of vinegar

• Two cups of water

• Microwave-safe bowl

• Sponge or cloth

• Detergent

• Warm water

Steps: 

1. Mix your ingredients. In your microwave-safe bowl, combine the ingredients of water and your chosen main ingredient (fully squeezed lemon or two tablespoons of vinegar).

2. Heat your cleaning solution. Set the bowl at the centre of your microwave’s glass plate or turntable. Turn it up on high power for three minutes or until the concoction comes to a boil, effectively steaming the window. 

3. Let it cool. Allow the mixture to cool in the appliance for another five minutes. Then, take out the bowl.

4. Wipe clean. With your sponge or cloth, wipe down the sides, scrubbing at any hardened splatters in the process. Don’t forget to get the turntable, floor, and door of the interiors.

5. Sanitise. Afterwards, sanitise with your detergent and rinse out with warm water.

How to deep clean your microwave

When there’s a little more gunk than you can manage with a quick heat and a wipe down, it may be time for a more thorough clean of your microwave. 

What you’ll need:

• Paper towels

• Sponge

• A bowl of warm water

• Dishwashing liquid

• Cloth

Steps: 

1. Take out the removable pieces. Remove your microwave’s turntable and rack if they’re removable. Wash them normally, as you would glassware.

2. Do an initial dry clean. With a kitchen paper towel, scrape away any crumbs, splatters, and hardened dirt. This initial wipe should make the next step easier.

3. Mix your cleaning solution. Add a drop of dishwashing liquid to your bowl of warm water. Dip your sponge in, then stir and squeeze until suds start to foam in the bowl. 

4. Scrub the microwave. Using your cleaning solution, scrub the walls, top, bottom, and door of the microwave interiors until sufficiently soapy. Buff in circular motions for best results and hard-to-remove dirt. With the same solution, clean the exterior of the microwave. Take care in going over the buttons.

5. Do one final wash. Once done, rinse away with a damp cloth until free from soap.

6. Return any removable pieces. As an added layer of cleanliness, dry all the microwave surfaces with another paper towel before returning your turntable.

How to clean your microwave door

Sometimes, microwave doors can catch a lot of dirt and grease. It’s important to check for dirt or grease at least once a week to clean.

What you’ll need:

• Water

• Baking soda

• Sponge or cloth

• Vinegar

For dirty doors:

1. Prepare your solution. Dip your dampened cloth or sponge in baking soda. 

2. Wipe thoroughly. Make sure to cover the whole door and its edges where you’ll find the seal.

3. Rinse with water. No need to go too intense with water; wiping with a clean damp cloth should be enough.

For greasy doors:

1. Combine your mixture. Create a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water. 

2. Wipe thoroughly. Cover both the front and back windows of your microwave doors.

3. Rinse with water. A damp cloth should be enough to rinse before wiping the doors dry.

Keeping your microwave clean

The microwave is a convenient, all-around kitchen appliance that’s easy to maintain with proper heating practice and regular cleaning. To minimise the frequency you’ll need to maintain its cleanliness, you can try different ways to protect your food when heating it. 

One way is to use microwave-safe covers or put a paper towel over your food. Another is to opt for a lower wattage when using the appliance to avoid splatters from boiling food.

If you have no time to do regular cleaning, you can always hire a professional cleaner. They can clean your essential kitchen appliances, from microwaves to ovens or even other areas of your home, in one go.