Welcome to Spring Cleaning Week! To celebrate the season, and the tidying rituals that go along with it, we’ll be sharing cleaning hacks like this one all week long.
Cleaning the microwave is a task that often falls by the wayside. If you get food splatter all over the walls while you’re cooking, wiping them down is probably the last thing you want to do before tucking into your meal. Then again, leave it for another day and you’ll be met with baked-on sauces or hardened bits of food that are tough to remove, especially in those tight corners.
Thankfully, a few inexpensive household items are all it takes to loosen microwave grime. Try this steam cleaning hack that will leave you with a spotless microwave in a matter of seconds.
Farewell, Microwave Mess
To remove stubborn stains, take advantage of the microwave’s heating function to soften them. Start by combining 1 cup of tap water, 1 to 2 tablespoons of distilled white vinegar, and two or three lemon slices in a microwave-safe bowl. (For maximum cleaning power, squeeze some of the juice from the lemon slices into the water.) Leave the bowl uncovered and set your microwave to high. Run it for two to three minutes, or until the liquid mixture is steaming hot.
The next step is very important: When the microwave beeps, leave the door closed for five minutes. This allows all of that vinegar-rich steam to soften up the food particles, requiring no effort on your part. When everything has cooled, open the door and carefully remove the bowl. Dip a microfiber cloth in your cleaning solution, wring it out, and use it to wipe down the interior of the microwave.
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Cleaning With Vinegar and Lemon
Steam makes quick work of wiping away all that grime and grit. Once you’re finished with this chore, don’t toss the remaining cleaning mix — put it to good use elsewhere. You can use the ingredients to gently and effectively clean other areas of your home.
Both vinegar and lemons are acidic, making them great options for breaking down dirt and grime. Use the cleaning solution to wipe down the outside of your microwave, the inside and outside of your refrigerator, your cooktop, nonmarble countertops, or soap scum buildup in the bathroom.
