Tips to clean your microwave with ease

All microwaves attract food splatter and food spills. Here’s how to clean a microwave when you’ve forgotten to clean all that up.

If your reheating skills are as dodgy as ours, the inside of your microwave is a canvas for spills and stains. Look, no one’s perfect, and the microwave has made our lives in the kitchen a lot easier. You needn’t be a master chef anymore to toss up great meals. Just pop in a heat-n-eat pack, and you’re good to go. Or, follow those #recipereels, and you’re sorted.  

But no matter how good a cook you are, you’ll always end up spilling inside the microwave. It could just be droplets of gravy that got left behind ten seconds too long or that milk which spilt over because you were too busy doing other chores.

Of course, you would end up cleaning the more obvious spills (we hope) – such as the milk, for instance – but even the most organised of us would tend to miss that little gravy that flew into the top left corner of the microwave. Over time, these tiny spills add up, and before long, your microwave isn’t as pristine as it used to be. 

But cleaning the microwave needn’t always be a daunting task. With a few simple hacks and a handful of natural ingredients, you can keep your microwave sparkling clean and odour-free. 

How to clean microwave with baking soda

Baking soda is a readily available ingredient. Even if you aren’t into baking, chances are you’ve bought baking soda to clean something. If you didn’t already know this, file it under TIL: baking soda is a powerhouse cleaning agent. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to clean your microwave with baking soda:

1. Create a baking soda paste using warm water. Use only as much water to form a paste whose consistency is similar to a toothpaste. Don’t make it watery.
2. Turn off the microwave, unplug it, and then apply this paste on the insides of the microwave using a soft cloth or sponge. Pay extra attention to areas with stubborn stains. 
3. Let it sit for about 20 minutes during which time the baking soda will break down the grease and grime.
4. Now, using a damp sponge or cloth, scrub away the loosened stains. Don’t use a scrubber because the baking soda is a gentle abrasive, making it easier to remove tough spots.
5. Finally, wipe down the interiors of the microwave with a damp cloth to remove any remaining baking soda residue. Make sure you’ve cleaned up properly else you’ll end up with baking soda-flavoured food the next time you use the microwave. Use warm soap water to clean the outside of the microwave.

How to clean microwave with vinegar

White vinegar is yet another kitchen staple that can be used to effectively clean the inside of a microwave. Here’s how:

1. Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a microwave-safe bowl.
2. Place the bowl inside the microwave and turn it on high for five minutes straight. The steam from the water will help loosen the food particles stuck even in the hard-to-reach corners of the microwave as well as the stains.
3. After the five minutes are done, let the bowl sit in the microwave for a few more minutes as the vinegar’s acidity breaks down grease and grime.
4. Now, turn off the microwave, unplug it, carefully remove the bowl, and wipe down the interiors of the microwave using a damp cloth. The softened stains should come off easily. Use warm soap and water to clean the outside of the microwave.

How to clean microwave with lemon juice

Lemon juice not only adds a burst of freshness to your recipes but can also be a potent cleaning agent. The process to clean a microwave with lemon juice isn’t dissimilar to the one with vinegar

1. Add a cup of water to the juice of one or two lemons in a microwave-safe bowl.
2. Microwave it on high for five minutes; the steam will help to soften and loosen the stains.
3. Let it sit for another five minutes to maximise the effect of the lemon-infused steam.
4. Remove the bowl carefully and wipe down the interior surfaces using a damp cloth or sponge. The acidity of the lemon juice will cut through grease, leaving your microwave smelling and looking fresh. Clean the outside of the microwave using warm water and soap.

How to clean microwave with orange peel

An orange peel can be as effective as lemon juice to clean your microwave oven. Here’s how you do it:

1. Add a cup of water and orange peels from one or two oranges in a microwave bowl.
2. Microwave it on high for five minutes. The steam will loosen the stains.
3. Let it stand for another five minutes to maximise the effect of the orange-infused steam.
4. Remove the bowl carefully and wipe down the interior surfaces using a damp cloth or sponge. The natural oils in the orange peel will help cut through grease and leave a refreshing scent. Clean the outside of the microwave using warm water and soap.

If there are lingering odours, place a few orange peels on a microwave-safe plate and heat them on low for a minute, and your microwave will be left smelling citrusy and clean.

Cleaning a microwave oven is relatively simple when you have ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice, and orange peel. These easy-to-follow steps will leave you with a clean and odour-free microwave. Choose the method that suits you best, incorporate it into your regular cleaning routine and maintain your microwave for a long time.

Alternatively, book an appointment with Urban Company and let the experts clean it up for you!