It is critical for you to keep your microwave clean. As a place where food is prepared, using a dirty microwave can cause issues with your food preparation and potentially cause health issues. So, what do you need to do to take care of your microwave? Below, is the best guide on how to clean a microwave.
Supplies Needed to Properly Clean your Microwave
The exact supplies you will need to clean your microwave will depend on the method you use. Important supplies you should have include:
- A microwave-safe bowl
- Clean water
- Half of a lemon or distilled white vinegar
- Paper towels, a dish sponge, or a microfiber cloth
A Step by Step Guide to Cleaning the Inside of Your Microwave
- Fill your microwave-safe bowl to the halfway line with water
- Take your half of a lemon and squeeze it into the bowl. Alternatively, you can pour in about a 1/2 cup of vinegar
- Place the lemon in the bowl when finished
- Cook the bowl in the microwave for five minutes
- Remove the bowl safely with an oven mit
- Wipe down the microwave with a clean paper towel or microfiber cloth
It helps to wipe down the microwave with paper towels and then use the sponge or the microfiber cloth for a secondary wipe down.If you do this regularly, you should be able to keep your microwave clean.
Why You Need to Clean Your Microwave
There is a good chance you use your microwave multiple times per day. As you use your microwave, grease, dirt, and food are going to accumulate on the inside of your microwave. Greasier foods tend to splatter as they’re being warmed up in the microwave, getting grease all over the inside of your appliance.
If you don’t clean your microwave regularly, this debris is going to get old, grow bacteria, and (in some cases) become incredibly hard as its cooked over and over. That will ultimately make it more difficult to clean as bacteria feed on the refuse in the microwave, creating a serious health hazard.
Last but not least, a clean microwave is a sign of a clean, well-kept home. Unsightly food, grease, and residue aren’t indicative of a clean kitchen.
How Often You Should Clean Your Microwave
Ideally, you should wipe down your microwave after every use. But most folks aren’t going to take the time to go through that process after each use.
You should follow the detailed cleaning method above at least every two weeks. If you live with multiple people, you may need to clean your microwave once per week.
Different Ways to Clean Your Microwave
Cleaning Your Microwave Using Vinegar
You can follow the cleaning method above by swapping the lemon for distilled vinegar. If you have a lot of grease on the inside of your microwave, a 2:1 ratio of vinegar to water is good. If your microwave doesn’t look overly dirty, then you might be able to drop this to a 1:1 ratio.
Cleaning Your Microwave with Dish Soap
If you don’t have vinegar or a lemon, you can use dish soap. Take some dish soap, squeeze it on the affected area, and let it sit for a few minutes. Then, use a paper towel or a microfiber cloth and wipe the debris away.
Cleaning a Microwave with Burned Food Stuck On the Inside
If you have burnt food stuck on the inside of your microwave, you should be able to use the lemon juice or vinegar methods above. After you are done heating the bowl in the microwave, remove the bowl and remove the burnt food with a paper towel.
If you are still having issues removing burnt food from the inside of your microwave, contact Maid Zen Cleaning Service for professional assistance! Make sure you take care of your microwave!
Cleaning Your Microwave Grease Filter
Microwaves that are placed over an oven range have a grease filter on the bottom that helps trap grease as it filters smoke out of the kitchen. These filters should be cleaned at least once per month. Simply slide the filter out from underneath the microwave and spray it out with hot water (hot enough to loosen grease) or run the filter through a dish washer cycle.
