So, The Girl and I got home after our trip to find the house, well, how to put this? Like it had been inhabited by two video-game playing males with an obvious apathy toward housework.
I had expected it though. I mean, I do spoil them a bit when I am home. It cleaned up pretty easily, but then I opened the microwave. Ho-lee Buckets! The microwave had apparently been the source of everything they put in their mouths while I was gone. It looked like a Hot Pocket bomb went off–and I don’t even buy Hot Pockets.
Since I had to clean it, I thought I might share some tips on getting the job done:
- Place a microwavable bowl with 3 cups water and 1/2 cup vinegar in the microwave. Turn it on and microwave for 3-5 minutes. The mixture will cause a degreasing steam to penetrate the microwave. When it stops, open it up, take out the bowl and wipe it clean.
- If you want a super quick fix, and to sanitize your sponge or dishcloth, wet it, and zap in in the microwave for 45 seconds. The steam will loosen any debris, and then you can use the hot sponge or dish cloth to wipe it down {I usually wear rubber gloves to give me a little layer of insulation from the hot dish cloth.}
- If you have scorch marks, grab a magic eraser {I love those things} wet it and put a little elbow grease into the problem. They usually take care of the problem pretty fast.
- To freshen as well as clean, microwave a bowl of water with lemon slices. It will loosen exploded particles and make it smell lemon fresh
- Every so often, right before you start the dishwasher, take the glass turntable out of the microwave and throw it in with the dirty dishes. It will be sparkly clean, degreased and sanitized all in one easy step, and you won’t have to live without it very long.
- If you have a stainless steel microwave, try rubbing a little olive oil or vegetable oil onto a paper towel and buffing the stainless steel. It will resist hand prints just as well as any commercial cleaner.
- If you have really baked on foods, make a paste of water and baking soda. Wipe the past all over the microwave. Wait 5 minutes and then wipe clean.
- To reduce the amount you have to clean your microwave in the first place, lay a paper towel over the top of whatever you microwave {unless it is cheesey and will stick} and the paper towel will absorb/catch splatters.
- For cleaning and deodorizing all in one step, add a teaspoon or so of baking soda to the mixture in step 1.
- To keep your microwave sparkly clean all of the time, just don’t use it. {Just seeing if you were paying attention.}
Happy Cleaning,
~Mavis
This post may contain affiliate links. These affiliate links help support this site. For more information, please see my disclosure policy. Thank you for supporting One Hundred Dollars a Month.
Rosaleen says
Mavis-
I always look forward to your tips, but I think we can make cleaning the microwave even easier. Spray the inside with your preferred window cleaner. (Homemade is fine!) Rinse your kitchen sponge well, leaving it very wet. Place the sponge into the microwave. If there is a particularly dirty spot or spill, put the sponge on it. Microwave for a minute or two. Let the sponge cool a bit and use it to clean your microwave. The sponge will be sanitized (and need to be re-rinsed), the steam will have loosened any spatters, and the window cleaner should cut any grease, making wiping the microwave oven a snap.
Easier is better, in my book!
Anita says
Wow, that was really dirty! Good job cleaning it up Mavis! 🙂
Wyatt says
Neat tips – but won’t the baking soda and vinegar neutralize each other if you use them both in the same bowl of water?