How to clean your microwave with vinegar or lemon
The microwave is one of those appliances that is easy to forget to clean. Since the door is almost always closed the nastiness that lurks inside can go unnoticed for quite some time.
Luckily the microwave can be cleaned in about 5 minutes with only plain water and very minimal effort. Even if your microwave is like mine with gross caked on food seemingly baked into the walls, I promise you this will only take 5 minutes.
Microwaving cleaning hack
An easy way to prevent a big mess in the microwave is to get a microwave plate cover. You place it over your food before you turn the microwave on and it will catch any splatter so that it doesn't get on the walls or ceiling of the microwave.
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Cleaning instructions
- Take a microwave safe bowl and fill it with water. Add a dash of vinegar or a squeeze of lemon juice. Set it in inside and turn the microwave on for 2 minutes. The water will turn to steam and the steam will soften up all the gunk. The vinegar helps to absorb the smells.
- While it's cooking give the outside a quick wipe down and then go do something else for 4 more minutes until it's done. You can let the microwave sit for a few more minutes to let the steam penetrate even more if you like.
- Be really careful when opening the microwave and taking the bowl out. The water will be extremely hot. Wipe down the walls with a damp cloth and remove the plate from the inside. Rinse it in the sink with hot soapy water. Put the plate back in and voila, a nice squeaky clean microwave ready for the next person to cook something and forget to cover it!
You may also like: How to Dry Herbs in the Microwave
How to Clean Your Microwave
How to clean your microwave with two ingredients in two minutes
Materials
- Microwave
- Bowl
- Water
- Vinegar- 1 tbsp
Instructions
- Fill a bowl with water and vinegar.
- Place in microwave uncovered.
- Turn on microwave on high power for 2 minutes.
- Let hot steam form in microwave for 2 minutes before you open the door.
- Remove bowl carefully.
- Wipe down interior of microwave with wash cloth.
Anonymous says
I cut up lemons into small wedges, place them in a microwave safe bowl with water and let it go for about two minutes. The results are impressive. I've never tried vinegar but have no doubt the results are the same. Lemon just smells better. 🙂
Anonymous says
love using lemon juice or vinegar.....will be trying this in the microwave in the morning.....thanks for sharing!!
Kristen Reinhardt says
Idk what I did wrong, but it didn't work for me:(
Anonymous says
I just did it - works great !!! thank you sooo much 🙂
Madeleine @ NZ Ecochick says
Great post. Thanks for the tip I did this in my microwave and did a pos ton it. I mentioned your blog in my post. Thanks so much.
http://www.nzecochick.com/2012/06/clean-your-microwave-naturally-in-5.html
Anonymous says
I love this! I just tried it on my microwave which was gross! Pasta sauce that had 'popped' and exploded everywhere and hubby didn't tell me until AFTER it had dried! It all wiped right off without any scrubbing and no harsh chemicals! Woohoo!
cheapcraftymama says
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Anonymous says
I use vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser with every wash, instead of FS. Vinegar cuts any soap residue and helps keep the washer clean. I've never noticed a vinegar smell, either. Clothes are soft, but if you still feel the need for FS, use the dryer sheets.
Barefeet On Black Tie Street says
A wet rag soaked with lemon nuked works also. I love this!
Anonymous says
Vinegar is an excellent degreaser as well, so it helps melt the crud.
slpmomofthree says
Worked great on a very dirty microwave. No scrubbing needed. Thanks for the tip!
c.w.frosting says
Going to clean my microwave tonight! Thanks for the tip!!
-caroline @ c.w.frosting
Mattie @ Comfy and Confident says
This is brillant. Thanks for sharing!!!
Anonymous says
Doing this right now with Lemon Juice & Water (instead of the vinegar!) Thankyou so much for this idea, found it on Pinterest! 🙂
Anonymous says
Also the essential oil of lavender works. Put one drop of the oil into two cups distilled water and apply.
Liza Reyes says
Thanks for sharing....
Anonymous says
Put wet tea bags on the burn. Will feel better right away.
Anonymous says
- Pour about 1/2 cup of baking soda into a dish and slowly add water to it until it becomes a thin paste. You don't want it to be too thick because you want the mixture to be easy to spread.
- Spread the baking soda mixture all over the oven glass. I ran out of baking soda so I didn't have enough to do the entire glass surface so I just spread it over the dirtiest areas.
- Set the timer for 15 minutes. If your oven is REALLY dirty you can set it for 20 minutes to give the baking soda a little extra time to work.
- When 15 minutes has expired use a clean rag (I used a damp wash cloth) and wipe up the baking soda mixture. You will be amazed at how easily the grime just wipes right off!
Anonymous says
- Pour about 1/2 cup of baking soda into a dish and slowly add water to it until it becomes a thin paste. You don't want it to be too thick because you want the mixture to be easy to spread.
- Spread the baking soda mixture all over the oven glass. I ran out of baking soda so I didn't have enough to do the entire glass surface so I just spread it over the dirtiest areas.
- Set the timer for 15 minutes. If your oven is REALLY dirty you can set it for 20 minutes to give the baking soda a little extra time to work.
- When 15 minutes has expired use a clean rag (I used a damp wash cloth) and wipe up the baking soda mixture. You will be amazed at how easily the grime just wipes right off!
Anonymous says
I use baking soda instead of vinegar. It works wonderfully.