Your trusty old microwave; the day you got it was the day you realized what the luxury of convenience truly means. Perhaps it made life so convenient that you forgot it needs cleaning too! Like any other kitchen appliance that is surrounded by food, your microwave is bound to get dirty, greasy and grimy overtime.
If you open your microwave door to reveal a plate of caked on food particles, gravy stains splattered on the sides, and food gunk under the turntable, you know you’ve waited too long to give your micro a much needed cleaning. Having said that, it’s never too late to clean your microwave and get it looking and smelling great again! What’s more, there are a couple of methods to do this, but we’ve narrowed it down to two: one using natural sources and one using store-bought products. Read on to find out which is more fitting for your micro cleaning needs.
Natural All the Way
If your microwave needs nothing more than cleaning up greasy surfaces and hardened food spills, a natural cleaning solution will work just fine. Though you can also use lemon as a natural source, we’ve found that it’s not as effective as white vinegar in cleaning microwaves. Here is the step-by-step cleaning method when using white vinegar.
Step One: Fill a glass bowl halfway with water, add 2 tablespoons of white vinegar and place it in your microwave to heat for 5 minutes (or until it starts steaming or fogging up the glass door).
Step Two: Take the bowl out and turn the power off or unplug your microwave for safety reasons before you start the cleaning process. Remove the plate/turntable and wash it in the sink with regular dish soap and a sponge.
Step Three: With the interiors sweating and the grime and grease loosened, take a clean microfibre cloth or non-abrasive sponge and wipe the insides. Start with the roof, then onto the sides; leave the bottom for last as any food particles from the top and sides will fall to the bottom when wiping.
You can dampen the cloth by dipping it in the bowl; just make sure that the water isn’t too hot. Use washing gloves when cleaning as the heat may be too much for bare skin to handle. They will also be useful as this can be a pretty icky job when dried food spills are moistened.
Step Four: For the exterior, you can either use plain, warm water or the same vinegar solution to wipe away any stains or dirt using a kitchen cloth. If you want to go for a little more shine, consider using olive oil; it’s also great for removing stubborn stains.
Window Cleaner to the Rescue
For a very soiled microwave that hasn’t been cleaned in a long time, natural cleaning solutions may not be enough to get your micro sparkling clean again; for these results, window cleaner has proven to be the best cleaning option. Here’s the step-by-step method.
Step One: Take one part warm water and two parts window cleaner and mix in a bowl. This is generally enough to clean the interiors and exteriors but you can make another solution if it gets over or too dirty.
Step Two: Remove the turntable and wash it like you would normally was a dish. To clean the interiors, use a soft sponge dipped in the solution and follow the same process as cleaning with vinegar; i.e. start from the top, move to the sides and clean the base last. For stubborn stains or hardened food spills, pour this solution in a bottle spray can and spritz the gunk directly. Allow it to soak for a few minutes before you wipe the area clean.
Step Three: Take a clean kitchen cloth soaked in water and wipe the insides down thoroughly. Make sure that there is no trace of window cleaner left in your microwave after you’re done wiping it out. Leave the door open to dry and air out. If the smell of the cleaner is still evident, wipe it down with a damp cloth until the micro is odourless.
Step Four: Cleaning the exteriors with window cleaner is perhaps the easiest part of the micro cleaning guide. Simply spray the glass door, handle and sides and wipe it clean with a microfibre cloth. Your microwave will look as good as new, inside and out!
We make cleaning guides simple, yet effective, so that home owners are never overwhelmed when it comes to cleaning the house themselves. Simply Maid offers topnotch services to tackle all home cleaning needs at your convenience. To get a quote, please visit our services and pricing page. You can also call us on 1300 009 363 for more information.
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Thanks for awesome natural cleaning tips. I love it. Debbie