How To Clean The Inside Of A Microwave (4 Effective Ways)

With all the food products you can efficiently heat inside a microwave oven, it’s no surprise that grease and grime can build up quickly.

It is important to keep cleaning your microwave to prevent the unhygienic build-up of food to maintain its functionality and extend its lifespan.

The good news is, unlike most kitchen appliances, you can clean a microwave with everyday kitchen and cleaning products you most likely have lying around your house.

With some baking soda, dish soap, lemon, or vinegar, we can show you how to get the cleanest microwave from the outside in, door, turntables, and more!

1. How to clean the inside of a microwave with dish soap

Dish soap might have been your first thought when considering how you’d clean the inside of your dirty microwave.

One of the most effective uses of detergent and a sponge is completely removing the turntable and washing it in the sink like a regular dish. This ensures that you don’t miss a spot and that your turntable is completely degreased.

While you can totally load up a sponge with some water and dish soap and get scrubbing, following these steps that will loosen up the grime in your microwave for a clean that takes 10x less effort will save you time:

1. Fill a microwave-safe bowl with 1 cup of water and a squirt of detergent
2. Place the mixture in the microwave
3. Set on the microwave for ~ 1 minute or until you see steam
4. Let it cool, then remove the bowl and wipe the inside of the microwave with a sponge or damp cloth

2. How to clean a microwave with lemon and vinegar

Similarly to using soapy water, a lemon and vinegar solution can target grease and food remnants inside your microwave.

The acetic acid in vinegar not only sanitises but also deodorises the interior of your microwave. The lemon juice is used to increase the acidity of the mixture. Follow these instructions to clean a microwave with lemon and vinegar effectively:

1. Combine equal parts water and white vinegar or apple cider vinegar into a microwave-safe bowl.
2. Add lemon slices and place the bowl inside the microwave
3. Put it on high power for a few minutes until you see the mixture steam up.
4. Let it cool before opening the door
5. Remove the bowl and wipe down the inside of the microwave with a clean microfiber cloth or sponge

3. How to remove stuck-on food with baking soda

Food splatters inside your oven can be stubborn, especially if you don’t remove it immediately.

You can effectively deal with any food that is stuck in your microwave with a simple mixture of baking soda and water:

1. Mix small amounts of equal parts baking soda and warm water to create a paste
2. Place the mix on any food bits stuck on the inside and the door of the microwave
3. Let the paste sit for a few minutes
4. Wipe with a wet sponge or paper towel
5. Repeat for more stubborn stains until clean

4. How to remove odours from a microwave oven

If you’ve ever burnt popcorn in the microwave or had any other mishaps with other odorous foods, you’ll know firsthand that the smell often sticks around and lingers as soon as you turn it back on. We recommend getting rid of the stench immediately to avoid it worsening.

For light odours such as spicy food, air out your microwave by leaving the door open. Alternatively, you can place a bowl of baking soda inside with the door closed to absorb the smell.

For more pungent odours, like burnt popcorn, clean any leftover residue using the above tips and leave an absorbing gel inside until you use it again.

Save precious time and leave it to the professionals!

Even with our simple guide on cleaning your microwave, it might feel like there simply isn’t enough time to regularly clean it and keep on top of any messes and general grime build-up.

At Absolute Domestics, we’ve covered all your microwave cleaning needs.

Book a regular service to help you keep up with the chores, or one of our deep one-off cleaning services if your microwave or other kitchen appliances require a thorough cleaning.

Book now, and one of our trusted and skilled cleaners will come to your home and give you a professional-grade clean that will leave your microwave shining and take care of those other cleaning tasks that sneak up on you.

Frequently asked questions

What is the fastest way to clean a dirty microwave?

Using a lemon and vinegar mixture and steaming in the microwave is the fastest way to loosen up any grease and grime in your microwave, so all that’s left to do is give it a quick wipe down without the need for excessive scrubbing.

How do you clean a microwave door?

You can easily clean a microwave door using equal parts water and vinegar and a clean cloth to wipe down the inside and outside of the door.

How often should I clean a microwave?

The best way to keep your microwave clean is regular maintenance. When you start noticing stains in its interior, you should clean them off immediately. Otherwise, once a week or once a fortnight is recommended to avoid general grease build-up, depending on how often you use your microwave oven.