Is your microwave dirty? Clean it thoroughly by following these steps
It's hard to imagine managing our daily routine without the help of a microwave oven these days! Microwaves reduce the preparation time for many dishes, quickly heat up leftovers, and now have so many functions for various types of cooking that it's not uncommon to find households relying on them solely rather than a traditional oven.
This inevitably means that the cooking chamber of these appliances get dirty. The longer we wait to clean them, the more health risks increase, and the potential for damaging the appliance also arises. Additionally, the layer of dirt on the inner walls can negatively impact the microwave's energy consumption.
Let's roll up our sleeves and see how to clean our microwave oven properly:
What you need when cleaning the microwave oven
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To remove stubborn dirt and grime deposits in the microwave, an acidic substance is needed. And, as you might have guessed, our best cleaning friend, white vinegar, comes to the rescue here. You'll need a microwave-safe bowl and microfiber cloths as well as a dishwashing liquid that is fragrance-free and eco-friendly.
If necessary, it's helpful to have some baking soda and a soft sponge ready for use too.
This cleaning process will take about 45 minutes to carry out.
How to clean the microwave effortlessly
How to proceed:
- Fill the bowl with water, about half a liter, and add half a cup of white vinegar.
- Place this in the microwave, close the door, and run a cooking cycle at the highest power for five minutes.
- Keep the microwave closed for an additional 15 minutes. During this time, the steam produced by the liquid mixture will work on the stubborn dirt deposits.
- Open the microwave to let the steam escape, and remove the bowl, placing it nearby.
- If there was a grill, take it out along with the rotating plate, which you'll move to the sink for thorough cleaning now that the dirt will be easier to remove.
- Dilute some dishwashing liquid in a bowl of water (or add the soap to the bowl with the vinegar once it has cooled).
- Dip the cloth in the soapy water, wring it out, and wipe down the inner surfaces of the microwave.
- If you notice some stubborn spots, wet and wring out a sponge, sprinkle a teaspoon of baking soda on the spot, and then scrub it clean.
- Wipe all surfaces down with the cloth and soap.
- Finally, rinse off with a clean, damp cloth, removing anyresidues.
- Allow to air dry and your microwave will be good as new again.
Alternative ingredients you can use
Instead of vinegar, you can use:
- Lemon juice, optionally leaving slices or wedges of the fruit (after squeezing) in the bowl while it "cooks" in the microwave.
- Citric acid, to be dissolved in hot water before placing it in the oven. Use two or three tablespoons.
Citric acid can also serve as a substitute for baking soda as a slightly abrasive substance for the additional and specific cleaning we discussed above.
It is recommended to perform this cleaning operation once a week or, as a minimum, twice a month, especially if the microwave is used frequently.