How to Clean A Microwave Like a Pro

A microwave has become a common kitchen appliance. It makes cooking easy and convenient for working moms and those with busy schedules. Like any other appliance, your microwave also needs care. Show it the love it deserves by cleaning it regularly. Burnt up food particles and cheese drips harden over time. It gets difficult to get rid of these stains after they’ve set. Save yourself from the exhaustion of having to deal with stubborn stains. 

Read on to know how to clean microwave to keep it looking like brand new for longer. 

Ingredients to Keep Handy 

a) Disinfectant wipes

b) Dishwashing liquid

c) Microfibre cloth

d) A bowl of warm water 

e) Dry towel 

f) Vinegar

How to Clean Microwave Interiors

1. Step 1: Steam the Microwave

   Mix 1 cup water with 1 cup vinegar in a microwave-safe bowl. Put a wooden spoon in this bowl. Microwave this water-vinegar solution for 5 to 10 minutes, depending on the type of food splatters on the insides of your microwave. If the stuck food residue is too hard, you may need to microwave the solution for longer. The steam from the water-vinegar solution will loosen the splattered bits on food on the insides of your microwave, and you can get rid of it without any scrubbing. 

2. Step 2: Wipe the Insides

   Grab a clean cotton rag and wipe the insides of the microwave. The loosened food bits will come off easily. For more cleaning tips, read our article: Tips to clean your microwave.

3. Step 3: Wash the Turntable

   Remove the glass turntable in your microwave and wash it with an efficient dishwashing gel. You can use Vim Dishwash Gel, which is easily available in the market. Wipe it dry using a microfibre cloth. If there are food bits stuck on the turntable, you can soak it in a solution of warm water and dishwashing gel for 20-30 minutes. Wash off the stuck food remnants with hot water before keeping back your turntable in the microwave.

4. Step 4: Disinfect the Insides of Your Microwave

   Wipe the insides of your microwave with antibacterial wipes to get rid of germs and prevent food contamination. Ensure that you cover the corners, sides, and floor of the microwave along with the turntable tracks. Leave the microwave door ajar for some time. Replace the turntable inside the microwave once it has dried thoroughly. 

How to Clean Microwave Exteriors

1. Step 1: Prepare Cleaning Solution

   Add 2 drops of an effective dishwashing gel in a bowl full of lukewarm water. Alternatively, you can use a kitchen cleaner for this. You can try Cif Kitchen Cleaner. Check the pack to understand the correct usage instructions.

2. Step 2: Wipe the Exteriors with Cleaning Solution

   Dip a soft sponge in the cleaning solution and wring it to ensure that the sponge is not dripping wet. Now, scrub the exteriors of your microwave with the slightly damp sponge. Remove everything from the top of your microwave to clean it properly. Don’t forget to rub the sides and the display panel. Pay more attention to the display panel as its more likely to attract fingerprint stains and grease. Once you’ve scrubbed the exteriors of your microwave thoroughly, rinse it with a soft damp cloth. 

3. Step 3: Disinfect

   If you’re not satisfied with washing the exteriors with soapy water, wipe them clean with all-purpose disinfectant wipes. Wipe from top to bottom. 

4. Step 4: Wipe it Dry

   Remove all traces of residue moisture from your microwave exteriors by wiping it dry with a microfiber cloth. 

How to Remove Odours from Your Microwave

Yes, we know. A slightly burnt pizza bread can leave your microwave stinking for days. What’s worse, is that this stench gets passed onto the next food items. You don’t want your pasta to smell like chicken tikka masala. So, you must take care of the odours right away. After finishing your cooking in the microwave, leave the door open for some time to allow air circulation. You can also keep a dish of baking soda inside the microwave. Baking soda will absorb the foul odour from your microwave and leave it fresh smelling. 

How to Remove Burnt Food Stuck on the Microwave

Dealing with burnt food particles is never easy. However, you can clean your microwave efficiently by treating the stuck-on food bits with a grease-cutting product. Liberally sprinkle baking soda on the surface, then gently scrub with a less abrasive brush. Now, pour ½ cup of vinegar into a spray bottle and spray it all over the surface and wait for 30 minutes. Then gently scrub and clean with water. 

How to Clean Microwave’s Greasy Door 

Step 1: Clean the Gasket 

You can wipe clean the gasket around the door using efficient multi-purpose disinfectant wipes. 

Step 2: Clean the Microwave Window

To wipe glass surfaces like the dining table and the centre table or the microwave window, you can use a glass cleaner such as Cif Glass Cleaner. Always read pack for usage instructions and test on a small part before use.    

Step 3: Clean the Microwave Door 

The microwave door is a high-touch surface. Wipe it clean using a multi-purpose disinfectant spray.

Cleaning a microwave is easy. Include it in your weekly schedule. Leaving the stains and splatters of food in your microwave for longer can make them difficult to remove. Ensure that you do not use any bleach-based products to clean your microwave. The plastic inside the microwave can be damaged by bleach. 

Key Step 

Make sure any cleaning product has been thoroughly wiped away before cooking, as most products react with hot surfaces. It might be a good idea to spray the product onto your cleaning cloth rather than directly inside the microwave so that there’s as little product residue as possible. Then wipe again thoroughly with a clean cloth before using the microwave again.