When you were young, you simply saw the microwave as a quick option for heating food and a tool to make tasty popcorn. Now, you realize that messes can quickly develop in the microwave and that someone has to clean those up. When it’s time to clean the inside of a microwave, you should not be filled with dread. With the right tools and techniques, you will be able to quickly get the job done and go back to being impressed with the appliance and all it can do.
How Often Should You Clean Your Microwave?
Maintaining a clean microwave not only keeps your kitchen looking tidy but also ensures your appliance runs efficiently and safely. The frequency of cleaning depends on how often you use your microwave and how messy it gets. Here’s a quick guide to help you determine how often you should clean your microwave:
- Microwaves should be given a more thorough cleaning on a weekly basis.
- A microwave that is not used too often might be fine with just a bi-weekly cleaning.
- As you are doing a thorough cleaning of your home or completing short term rental cleaning work, you should consider including your microwave in that deep cleaning work and really get every part of it clean.
- Microwaves used every day should be given a quick wipe-out each day.
- All spills in the microwave should be cleaned up right away, as they will get stuck on – and could even cause a fire risk – if they are left in place as the microwave is used.
Microwave Cleaning Hacks for a Busy Lifestyle
Baking Soda and Water
Baking soda is a product that you have readily available in your kitchen, but did you know that it can take on stains and hard-to-scrub buildup in your microwave? Simply sprinkle baking soda on the area that you want to clean and then use a damp cloth to scrub and you will soon have a clean microwave again.
Soaked Paper Towels
When you put damp paper towels in the microwave and then run the microwave, the steam from those paper towels will help loosen the buildup. Always watch the microwave when doing this, though, to make sure that the towels don’t get too hot or dry out.
Lemon Juice and Water
Place part of a lemon in a bowl of water and microwave until steamy. This will not only help the microwave smell good, but it will loosen up the grime inside and make it easier for you to wipe it all away.
Vinegar and Water
Just like with lemon, you can mix vinegar and water, then microwave it to create steam that will help loosen grime and make the microwave easier to clean.
Vinegar, Baking Soda, and Water
Vinegar can help disinfect the microwave, baking soda works well on stains, and when combined with water, they form a powerful solution to loosen and remove food buildup and grease that’s hard to get out.
Commercial Cleaners
You can use traditional kitchen cleaners in your microwave, and de-greasing products can be particularly effective. Just be sure to wipe the microwave with water afterward to remove any residue from the commercial cleaners.
Olive Oil
Some sticky residues may not come off easily with basic soap or even a strong cleaner. In such cases, oil can help loosen them. Apply a small amount of olive oil on a paper towel to clean the residue, then use soap to wipe away the oil afterward.
Say Goodbye to Cleaning Stress: Hello MaidThis Scottsdale
Dealing with a dirty microwave and trying to clean other parts of your home or rental can be stressful. We want to take your stress from you. Trust our Airbnb cleaning service when you don’t know how to clean a microwave, and use our deep cleaning service at your home when life is simply too busy. Call us to learn about the many jobs we can handle to make life less stressful!
Don’t let a dirty microwave ruin your Scottsdale kitchen’s sparkle. Schedule a cleaning today!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some tips for preventing future microwave messes?
If you are tired of dealing with a dirty microwave, it is time for you to change the way that you heat food. First, make sure that anything you are heating is in a good sized container. When you try to heat soup in a bowl that is too small, it will boil over and make a mess. Give your food room to expand without overflowing the container that it is in. Second, place some kind of cover over your food. Consider resting a paper towel over a bowl or investing in a cover that is made for the microwave.
How can I avoid damaging my microwave during the cleaning process?
The main thing that you need to focus on is being gentle with the work that you do. Don’t scrub so hard that you chip away paint, and don’t push the door back while cleaning and damage its components. Finding an easy way to clean microwave will help you keep from being too rough on the appliance, as creating steam in the microwave or using another hack will allow you to be gentle when wiping.
How can I speed up the microwave cleaning process?
Again, using steam will help with this. If you are looking for an easy way to clean microwave, always use one of the options that prepares the inside to be wiped down – such as microwaving a cup of lemon water – before you start working.
How do I remove grease and grime from the inside of my microwave?
If the microwave is especially greasy, you might use a dish soap or another type of cleaner that claims to be strong in the fight against grease. Applying such a product directly onto the greasy spot should help clear away the mess.
Can I put my microwave turntable in the dishwasher?
You may want to refer to the manufacturer to find out the answer to this. While most turntables will probably hold up well in the dishwasher, you don’t want to risk having yours shatter, leaving you unable to use your microwave.
