Here’s How to Deep Clean Your Microwave in 10 Minutes Flat
It is so easy to skip over the microwave when cleaning up your kitchen. By the time the dishes are done and the counters are clean, you are left with little energy and ambition to tackle that mess. Luckily, we're here to share how to clean your microwave in just seven simple steps.
I am not sure about you, but I find that everything is going well with my microwave, and then one day I open the door and see that one of my kids made their pizza rolls explode all over the place (or maybe that was me?). Now, the sauce has crusted over into an unremovable compound.
And I am left with no choice but to clean it up. UGH!
However, cleaning your microwave is really only a 10-minute job, and half of that is just boiling water. Sounds too good to be true, right? Not at all!
After reading through these easy-to-follow instructions (pictures included!), you might just remember to include it in your weekly, instead of your monthly (or…cough, cough…only in desperation) schedule.
How To Clean Your Microwave in 7 Easy Steps
1. Assemble the Items You Will Need To Clean the Microwave
Courtesy Wendee Wendt
2 cup glass measuring cup or microwaveable bowl
Measuring tablespoon
Vinegar (my favorite) or lemon juice
Dishcloth or sponge (scrubber if it’s really bad!)
Glass cleaner
Paper towel
Related: 10 TikTok Cleaning Hacks That Actually Work (We'll Never Think About Toothpaste the Same!)
2. Add One Cup of Water to the Measuring Cup or Bowl
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3. Add One Tablespoon of Vinegar or Lemon Juice to Your Water
You can use one or two slices of lemon instead of juice (if desired).
Pro tips:
If your microwave smells like a 20-year-old, mildew-ridden Tupperware container, just add a tablespoon of baking soda slowly to your water mixture (especially if you chose vinegar, because they make lots of bubbles together!). Just know the baking soda will splatter out onto your microwave during the 5-minute boil. I tried it and there was a film created, but it wiped off easily enough, and the overall cleaning was not affected by it.
I have never had a problem with flash boiling in all the years I have done this. I've always used a measuring cup that holds twice the amount of water I'll be using (two cups). If you want to side on the err of caution, add a wooden spoon or skewer to the cup or bowl, and remove the chance of it happening altogether.
4. Put the Microwaveable Container With Your Solution Into the Microwave
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Set the timer for five minutes (on high temp). This will give enough time for the water to boil, creating a steam that will loosen all of the crusties.
Bonus Time: You have an extra 5 minutes to yourself (hopefully) while the magic happens. Pour yourself a little wine or crack a beer—you deserve it!
5. Remove the Turntable and Wheels
Courtesy Wendee Wendt
Once your time is up, take the mixture out and remove the turntable and wheels. These can be cleaned in the sink with soap and water. But do it after you scrub the microwave—you’ll want to get at it while everything is still moist and loose.
6. Wipe Down the Top, Sides and Bottom With Your Cloth
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Make sure to clean the outside, too! Then, take some paper towels to finish drying everything.
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7. Wash the Turntable and Dry It
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Place the turntable (and the wheels) back inside the microwave.
Tips for Removing Stubborn Stains
If you have some stubborn stains, like yellow discoloration in a white microwave, use a little nail polish remover. Soak a cotton ball or a small piece of paper towel with some acetone. Then, rub it on the stain until you no longer see it. Finally, wipe off the chemical with some warm water.
How To Eliminate Scorch Marks
It happens to the best of us—we leave a bag of popcorn unattended, and BOOM! Burnt popcorn. And man, it can leave some ugly marks on a microwave. Fortunately, there's a solution! All you have to do is sprinkle some baking soda over the rough side of a sponge or scotch pad. Then, scrub the mark until it lifts. Wipe the mixture off and you are good to go.
Tips for Making the Microwave's Exterior Shine
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Since you have already wiped the outside down (don’t forget the crevices of the handle!), everything should look new again.
If you would like that extra shine (especially for stainless-steel microwaves), then just spray it down with some glass cleaner. Afterward, wipe it down with a clean paper towel.
You’ll be left with a streak-free shine that may only last as long as it takes your kids to heat something up, but hey, at least you saw it!
Courtesy Wendee Wendt
Don't forget to wipe down the topside of the microwave, too (especially if you have an over-the-stove type). Those seem to collect an amount of dust equivalent to a ceiling fan. When combined with grease splatters, they become gross and nearly impossible to remove!
Courtesy Wendee Wendt
Although they get nasty quickly, you now know how to clean just about anything that splatters, overflows and crustifies in your microwave in under 10 minutes flat!
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