Deep cleaning your microwave is nobody’s favorite job. Even with a plate cover, it seems to get filthy in no time.
There are several different things you can clean your microwave with; vinegar, lemon juice, regular dish soap, baking soda and an all purpose cleaner…but which is best?
In this article, you will have the information you need to deep clean your microwave and hopefully, keep it clean!
Clean Your Microwave on the Inside
If you have badly stuck on food, you can scrap it out with a plastic spatula or putty knife; however, the following cleaning recommendations will unstick that food for you.
If you use vinegar, you need to get a glass bowl and fill with some water, add a couple of tablespoons of vinegar. Boil the vinegar in the microwave…it will take about 3 minutes.
Let the vinegar cool just a minute…pull it out and wipe the inside of the microwave down with a clean towel.
If you don’t have any vinegar, you can use lemon juice and water.
When using lemon juice, use equal parts lemon juice and water. Heat it up for 3 minutes…till it boils.
Let it cool a minute and pull it out. Wipe the inside of the microwave out with a clean towel.
If you decide to use dish soap…it is a little harder. Mix a few drops of dish soap with some warm water in a bowl. Take a wet towel and dip in soap. Begin scrubbing the inside of the microwave.
Keep doing that until the inside of the microwave is clean. Then wipe it down with plain water.
I don’t usually use a general spray cleaner, like Lysol on the inside of the microwave. I don’t want it to get into the vent area, possibly damaging the microwave…but, mostly I don’t want to taste Lysol in the next thing I microwave.
Really Stuck on Food?
If you don’t have any vinegar or lemon juice, and you have some really tough stuck on food, you can use baking soda.
If you, like me, sometimes forget to clean the microwave, you may have to get gritty with it.
It is good, when you need it, to have some baking soda on hand.
Take a bowl of baking soda and a wet rag, dip the rag in the baking soda and rub the inside of the microwave where the worst stuck on food is.
After using the baking soda, wipe the microwave down really well with plain water…then you can use vinegar or lemon juice to finish cleaning the inside.
Don’t forget, the turntable and the spindle, need to be cleaned as well. You should be able to remove the turntable and put it in the dishwasher or hand wash it like any other dish.
For the spindle…take a toothbrush and whatever cleaner you are using, scrub that spindle! Wipe it down when you wipe down the rest of the microwave.
That just leaves the door of the microwave. Presumably, you wiped down the inside of the door when you wiped down the rest of the microwave; however, don’t forget to work around the edges with a toothbrush.
You may have to take the toothbrush to the inside of the glass a bit as well, just double check before your final wipe down.
Clean Your Microwave on the Outside
Now, let’s tackle the outside. If you have a stainless steel microwave, you likely have a stainless steel cleaner you like to use.
If not, or you don’t have a stainless steel microwave, make some dish soap and wipe down with a clean towel. I like to wipe it down with a dry towel afterwards.
Give some love to the number panel…that is what we all touch first and last! I like to wipe it down with some alcohol, because it dries fast.
Spray some glass cleaner on the outside of the microwave door and wipe down with a paper towel…or some crumpled newspaper.
Does anyone get an actual newspaper anymore?
You have the basics cleaned at this point. But, you are not done.
Clean the Rest
Pull your microwave away from the wall…look at the back and the bottom…there is usually grease or some sort of build up there.
While you have the turntable removed and the microwave unplugged, you can turn a microwave upside down if needed…it is not like a refrigerator…there is nothing that will be damaged by laying it on its back, side or top even.
You can use some hot vinegar water and a clean towel to break that grease down on the back or bottom. I like to mix a cup of hot water and two tablespoons of vinegar to wipe down the back and bottom of the microwave. Don’t forget to run the towel down the cord…which is unplugged at this point.
You didn’t forget did you?
What does Germany know that we don’t know?
Did you know that microwaves are banned in Germany, despite the fact that they were developed in Berlin, according to this information from The National Foundation for Natural Science.
Microwaves were subsequently banned in Russia as well. Curious that Americans…and the rest of the world do not agree.
Microwaves have a filter…some have 2!
Did you know that microwaves have a filter? I was this year old…
However, counter top microwaves do not have filters, only microwaves mounted above a stove have filters.
Filter #1
It is easy to spot grease filters, they are the metal “chain mail” that slides over or snaps over the fan area of the exhaust fan.
You can remove them and put them in the dishwasher to get them clean…or you can let them soak in hot dishwater and then let them air dry. I like the dishwasher method. It is quick and easy!
If you don’t clean your microwave filters often enough, it could damage the exhaust fan.
Filter #2
When the exhaust fan blows the air back out, recirculates the air, it goes through a charcoal filter. These filters get clogged over time and need to be replaced since they are not easily cleaned. It is advisable to have a few on hand.
Some built in microwaves make it easy to replace the charcoal filters which are housed behind the exhaust air outlet grill.
Others make it harder, since the microwave has to be unmounted and the casing removed.
To find out which over the stove microwaves have to be unmounted and the casing removed, I looked at the most popular microwaves as indicated by this consumer reports study.
When looking up each one of the nine “most popular” it was still hard to find out how to replace the charcoal filter as filter replacement is “model specific” not manufacturer specific. Each time I was advised to refer to the owner’s manual.
However, after further digging, it appears that all of the microwaves on Consumer Reports “favorites” list indicate that replacing the charcoal filter is fairly easy…just a few screws to remove the front top grille allows you to replace the charcoal filter.
My advice, ask the salesman to show you where the charcoal filter is located before you buy the microwave.
Don’t forget, while replacing the charcoal filter, clean the exhaust area of your microwave…it can get nasty!
Additionally, if an over the stove mounted microwave is capable of recirculating the exhaust, it needs a charcoal filter.
All filters may need to be replaced periodically…if you cook on the stove top versus only cooking in the oven…you need to replace the charcoal filter every 6-12 months.
When a filter needs to be replaced, be it the grease filter or the charcoal filter, you should be able to get a part number from the manufacturer’s operating manual and order it online or by calling the customer service number.
Finally, Let’s Cook!
Your microwave is now clean!
If you use your microwave for reheating only…perhaps now is the time to actually cook something in it!
Perhaps this recipe from Taste of Home? I love potatoes for breakfast and these look fabulous!
Wow! Who knew it would feel this good to have a clean microwave! Not me!
Let’s cook!