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Steam your microwave clean and leave it smelling fresh
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Your microwave is likely one of the most-used appliances in your kitchen, and not cleaning it regularly can lead to baked-on food debris and stains. Luckily, cleaning a microwave is easy peasy! All you need is a microwavable bowl, a lemon, some water, and a towel. Keep reading to learn how to quickly steam clean and wipe down your microwave in 5 simple steps. Plus, we’ve got additional tricks for removing stubborn and baked-on stains.
The Best Way to Clean a Microwave
Fill a microwave-safe bowl with 1 cup (240 mL) water and the juice of 1 lemon. Place the lemon rinds in the bowl and microwave for 3-5 minutes. Let the bowl cool for 15 minutes before removing it from the microwave and wiping down the inside of the oven with a cloth.
Steps
Section 1 of 6:
Steam Cleaning the Microwave with Lemon Water
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Mix the juice from 1 lemon and 1 cup (240 mL) of water in a bowl. Cut a lemon in half and squeeze as much juice as possible from each half into a microwave-safe bowl. Then, pour the water over the lemon juice and stir with a spoon to mix thoroughly. [1] X Research source- If you don't have a lemon available, use another citrus fruit like a lime or an orange.
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Chop the halves into smaller pieces and place them in the lemon water. Once you've squeezed all the juice out of the lemons, use a sharp knife to cut the lemon into quarters or eighths. Put all of the pieces into the water and stir the mixture with a spoon again. [2] X Research source- This ensures that any juice still in the lemon will evaporate in the microwave to help remove dirt and debris.
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Microwave the mixture for 3 to 5 minutes. Place the bowl in the microwave uncovered and set it on high for about 3 minutes (or longer for extra dirty microwaves). The water should bubble and boil and may evaporate out of the bowl. After 3 minutes, leave the door closed so the steam from the water can't escape. [3] X Research source
- If there's still some water left in the bowl, microwave it for an additional 1 to 2 minutes until almost all of the water has evaporated.
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Let the water cool for 15 minutes, then remove the bowl from the microwave. Keep the door to the microwave closed until most of the steam has settled and condensed on the walls of the microwave. Then, carefully open the door and remove the bowl so you can start cleaning. [4] X Research source
Warning: The bowl may be very hot when you take it out of the microwave. If it's too warm to touch, use oven mitts to safely remove it.
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Wipe down the microwave and turntable with a clean towel. Lift the turntable out of the microwave and wipe it with the towel. Set it aside and wipe the sides and ceiling of the microwave, using the water as your cleaning agent. Don't forget to wipe down the inside of the door. The food and markings on the inside of the microwave should wipe off easily. [5] X Research source
- If you don't want to use a towel, use a damp sponge with a scrubbing pad to wipe the inside of the microwave.
- If the bowl and turntable are still warm to the touch, put on oven mitts to remove them.
- Remember to replace the turntable once the microwave is clean.
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Section 2 of 6:
Removing Tough Microwave Stains
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Add white vinegar to the lemon juice to dissolve caked-on food. If you know your microwave is particularly dirty, add 1 cup (240 mL) of vinegar to your lemon juice and water mixture to create a stronger cleaning agent. Be sure to stir the mixture thoroughly, as vinegar can have a strong smell that may linger in your microwave. [6] X Research source
- If you don't have any caked-on food in your microwave, you probably don't need to add any vinegar to the lemon water.
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Use baking soda to remove particularly stubborn stains. Sprinkle baking soda over a stain or piece of crusted-on food and let it sit for 1 to 2 minutes. Then, dip a cloth in the lemon water and scrub the stain vigorously. The baking soda acts as a gentle abrasive to chip away at baked-on food and the lemon water helps dissolve the food as it comes off. [7] X Research source
- Wipe the area clean with a damp cloth so there's no baking soda left behind on the interior of the microwave.
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Dip a towel into the lemon water and scrub if the microwave is stained. If there's a spot that just won't come off, wet the corner of a towel with any leftover lemon water. Then, scrub the spot to remove the stain. If the stain won't budge, spray on a multi-surface spray for extra cleaning power. [8] X Research source
- If you don't have any lemon water left, microwave a new batch for 2 minutes and let it stand for 5 minutes in the microwave. Then, use the leftover water to help remove the mark.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionHow do I get out burn smells in a microwave?Community AnswerYou can get burn smells out of a microwave by cutting a lemon in half and gently scrubbing at the inside of the microwave. After a few minutes of doing this you should no longer smell that smell.
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Tips
- Keep your microwave clean and avoid baked-on stains by wiping down microwave spills right when they happen. [13] X Research sourceThanks
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Warnings
- Be careful not to tip or spill the remaining water after you remove it from the microwave. It can still be very hot for up to 15 minutes.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://www.themakeyourownzone.com/homemade-microwave-cleaner/
- ↑ https://www.food.com/recipe/easy-microwave-cleaner-452969
- ↑ https://www.food.com/recipe/easy-microwave-cleaner-452969
- ↑ https://www.bonappetit.com/story/how-to-clean-microwave
- ↑ https://www.bonappetit.com/story/how-to-clean-microwave
- ↑ https://www.southernliving.com/home/cleaning-and-housekeeping/clean-microwave-with-vinegar
- ↑ https://www.cleaninginstitute.org/sites/default/files/research-pdfs/Alternative_Hard_Surface_Cleaners.pdf
- ↑ https://www.cleaninginstitute.org/cleaning-tips/clean-home/room-room/cleaning-refrigerator
- ↑ https://www.bonappetit.com/story/how-to-clean-microwave
- ↑ https://www.bhg.com/homekeeping/house-cleaning/tips/how-to-clean-a-microwave-281474979530474/
- ↑ https://www.southernliving.com/home/how-to-get-smell-out-of-microwave#toc-how-to-clean-a-stinky-microwave-with-common-kitchen-products
- ↑ https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/mistakes-when-cleaning-microwave-37263045
- ↑ https://www.cleaninginstitute.org/cleaning-tips/home/room-guide
About This Article
Article Summary
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To clean a microwave with a lemon, start by mixing 1 cup of water with the juice from 1 lemon in a microwave-safe bowl. Then, cut the juiced lemon up into quarters, and place the pieces in the bowl. Next, microwave the mixture for 3 minutes before letting it cool in the microwave for 5 minutes, which will be enough time for the lemon water to condense on the walls of the microwave. Finally, remove the bowl and wipe down the microwave with a clean towel. For more tips from our Cleaning co-author, like how to use vinegar and baking soda to clean your microwave, read on!
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