5 Quick Microwave Cleaning Hacks

Today I thought I would talk about microwave cleaning hacks. Why? Because mum life entails a lot of cleaning, and the faster we can do it, the more time we can spend doing other stuff. 🙂

Don’t ask me why, but one of my favourite rooms to clean is the kitchen! OK, I don’t like cleaning the oven, but I do enjoy cleaning the rest of the kitchen.

And that includes cleaning the microwave. Maybe it’s because my husband and I are the only ones who use it, which means it never gets too dirty.

Having said that, there have been occasions where I’ve had to resort to a few microwave cleaning hacks to get rid of both bad odour and spillage.

So I’ve come up with five tried and tested microwave cleaning hacks. Use them or share them with your cleaner, but hacks are always handy for us as homemakers.

Whether your microwave has a spillage or encrusted grease, or you’re simply looking for a quick maintenance cleaning solution, there’s a hack for you.

5 Quick Microwave Cleaning Hacks

1. Lemon

• Start by cutting a lemon in half and squeezing the juice from both sides into a microwave safe bowl (To get the maximum amount of juice, use a room-temperature lemon or press and roll the lemon over a surface before cutting it).
• Add a cup of water and the lemon halves to the bowl.
• Place the bowl in the microwave and set it for five minutes on high.
• When the time is up, leave the bowl in the microwave for an additional five minutes.
• Remove the bowl carefully in case it’s still hot.
• Remove the turntable and clean with a cloth.
• Wipe all the surfaces inside the microwave with a clean cloth, making sure not to get liquid in the vent.
• Dry all surfaces with a cloth or towel.

2. White vinegar

• Fill a microwave safe bowl with two cups of water and add two tablespoons of white vinegar.
• Place the bowl in the microwave and set it for five minutes on high.
• Leave the bowl in the microwave for an additional five minutes.
• Remove the bowl carefully and then remove the turntable and clean with a cloth or sponge.
• Wipe down all the microwave surfaces (doors, sides, bottom and top) with a cloth, making sure not to get liquid in the vent.
• If there are still stains, use a sponge dipped in vinegar to remove them.
• Dry all surfaces with a cloth or towel.

3. Washing-up liquid (Dish soap)

• Put some washing-up liquid in a bowl and fill with warm water to make suds.
• Dip a sponge into the soapy water, remove the microwave turntable and clean it with the sponge. (Or, wash the turntable in the dishwasher.)
• Rinse and dry the turntable.
• Use a clean cloth or some kitchen roll to remove any crumbs from the microwave.
• Clean the top, bottom, sides and door of the microwave with the sponge.
• Rinse the sponge, dip it into the soapy water and repeat. Just make sure not to get water in the vents.
• Remove the soap from the microwave with a damp cloth. Again, make sure water doesn’t get into the vents.
• Finally, dry everything with a microfibre cloth or a towel.

4. Window cleaner

• Pump window cleaner into a microwave safe bowl (about ten pumps) and add a cup of water.
• Place the bowl inside the microwave and set the microwave on high for five minutes.
• Let the bowl sit in the microwave for an additional five minutes.
• Remove the bowl and the turntable.
• Rinse the turntable and dry with a towel.
• Clean the inside of the microwave with a wet cloth and finally dry the microwave with a towel or microfibre cloth.

5. Bicarbonate of soda

• Clean the microwave door with a cloth dampened with water and dipped in a little bicabornate of soda.
• Leave for five minutes.
• Wipe with a damp cloth or sponge to remove the bicarb.
• Dry with a towel.

Check out the versatile benefits and uses of bicarbonate of soda (or baking soda, as our fellow Americans say).

How to remove unpleasant odours from your microwave

• If your microwave has a light odour, just open the door and air it out. Alternatively, place a bowl with bicabornate of soda inside the microwave, close the door, and leave for a couple of hours. (The bicarb will absorb the smell.)
• If your microwave has a strong odour, take away any food leftovers, and then place an odour-absorbing product inside, making sure to follow the packet instructions.

And that’s it! Do you have any microwave cleaning hacks to add to the list? Let me know in the comments. 🙂