How to clean a microwave inside and out: quick ways

Preparation

Before you start cleaning the microwave at home from grease, carbon deposits and other contaminants, you need to prepare:

1 Be sure to disconnect the device from the power supply by unplugging the plug from the socket (however, this step is performed only if you do not use the self-cleaning function of the stove or do not use a steam bath).
2 When washing the device, carefully wring out the cloth, making sure not to allow too much water to penetrate inside (this can flood sensitive parts of the device). Liquid should also not get on the side grilles.
3 Decide right away how you will wash the stove. Prepare all consumables, cleaning compounds, and protect your hands with gloves.

IMPORTANT! You cannot disassemble the microwave into its component parts yourself (even for cleaning). If contamination somehow got inside, it is better to seek help from a specialist.

The fastest way is with vinegar

In order to quickly wash the inside of the microwave, it is not necessary to use any expensive purchased products. You can use regular vinegar. This effective method will help you easily and efficiently get rid of not only minor contaminants inside the microwave, but also unpleasant odors.

You will need:

vinegar 9% (or vinegar 70%);
water;
small capacity;
microfiber cloth.

Step-by-step instruction:

Step 1 In a small container, mix 2 tbsp. spoons of vinegar 9% (you can replace them with 1 teaspoon of vinegar 70%) and 2 glasses of clean water.
Step 2 Place the bowl with the mixture in the microwave.

Step 3 Turn on the stove to maximum mode, set the timer for 10 minutes.
Step 4 After this, turn off the device and leave the container with the product inside for another 60 minutes so that all the acidic steam has time to settle on the inner surface of the device and remove yellowness, grease, carbon deposits and other types of contaminants.
Step 5 Thoroughly wipe the inside of the device with a dry cloth, removing any remaining dissolved dirt.
Step 6 Open the oven door and leave the appliance to ventilate (the smell of vinegar should completely disappear).

The vinegar bath cleaning method works effectively on simple stains (it may not cope with old deposits). This method should be used with caution by those who clean a microwave oven with an enamel coating in the chamber.

What products can be used to clean a microwave?

Cleaning the device seems quite simple at first glance, but in reality this process presents some difficulties. The inside of the microwave is equipped with a special coating that can reflect microwave waves. It is so thin that it can be accidentally damaged if you use detergents with large particles for cleaning, which can lead to breakage.

Before you start cleaning the inside of the microwave oven, you first need to steam off the dried-on dirt, after which the softened food debris can be removed from the walls.

Almost all cleaning methods are based on this principle of cleaning, and the housewife only needs to choose a convenient and suitable one. Moreover, a microwave oven can be quickly cleaned using traditional methods, and it is absolutely not necessary to buy expensive detergents for this.

Cleaning a Microwave Oven with Vinegar

Another effective means for cleaning the inside surface of a microwave oven is table vinegar. It will help you easily get rid of fat deposits and unpleasant odor. To do this, add warm water and 3-4 tbsp to a glass container. spoons of vinegar, mix the resulting solution well and place in the microwave for 5-7 minutes. Then leave it inside for another fifteen minutes without turning on the oven. After the time has passed, the walls of the device can be cleaned with a soft cloth or sponge intended for dishes. For this method, use only 9% vinegar.

Cleaning with soda

Kitchen aid can be easily cleaned with regular baking soda. To do this, you need to prepare a mixture of 1 tbsp. l. of this product, 2 tbsp. l. vinegar and 0.5 liters of water. Boil water and add components to it, the resulting mixture is placed in the microwave for half an hour. Then open the device and easily clean it inside using a foam dish sponge.

Cleaning with citric acid

Using citric acid, you can not only remove dried grease and dirt inside the microwave oven, but also get rid of the smell. You can effectively clean it by making a solution in the required proportions. To do this, you must first dissolve citric acid in water in a special container, and then put it in the oven for 20 minutes. After time has passed, the walls of the microwave can be wiped with a damp cloth or sponge.

Cleansing with citrus peels

You should never throw away orange skins, because they can be used to easily clean your microwave. Just put them in a cup of water and put them in the oven for 3-5 minutes, then remove dirt and grease from the walls. According to housewives, the method is quite effective. You can do the same with lemon or grapefruit peels by placing them in water and in the microwave for 5 minutes.

Method 2 - Cleaning with citric acid

You can also quickly and effectively clean the inside of a microwave using citric acid. The method perfectly washes away any type of contaminant, be it old carbon deposits or fresh greasy marks.

You will need:

boiling water;
lemon acid;
paper towels;
small bowl.

How to clean:

1 Mix 500 ml of boiling water and approximately 25-40 g of citric acid in a small container.
2 Place the bowl containing the ingredients in the microwave.
3 Set the maximum power on the display and set the timer for 10 minutes.
4 After the allotted time, remove the container with the cleaning composition from the oven.
5 Using paper towels, begin to gently remove any loose grease or dirt, paying particular attention to the glass disc on which the utensil is placed.

Here's a good video that shows both the process and the result:

If you feel that after the first use not all the dirt has softened, and the inner surface of the microwave is still shiny with grease, then return the container with water and citric acid, again set the power of the device to maximum and the timer for 5 minutes. The secondary procedure should help completely dissolve the dirt, so that it will be much easier to scrub off difficult stains.

What can you combine citric acid with?

Most often, “lemon” is not used in its pure form, but together with other cleansing products. It is not recommended to combine it with other acids. Ultimately, this will enhance not only the beneficial, but also the negative properties of substances. Thus, by “overdoing it”, instead of removing contamination, you can end up with corrosion of the top layer of the oven. This means an increase in the likelihood of its breakdown.

According to statistics, “lemon” is combined with water and soda. In some cases, citrus-based supplements are used.

In order to clean the microwave with citric acid and soda, you should strictly adhere to the proportions developed over time. For 25 grams of citric acid, use 10 grams of soda. This mixture is suitable for stubborn grease stains.

Instructions:

A mixture of soda and lemon should be dissolved in water.
The container with the resulting solution is placed in a microwave oven.
Run the device at full power for 15 minutes.

As a result, the fat layer softens. It can be removed with a sponge.

To freshen up your kitchen equipment, you can use citrus additives. Following the instructions on how to wash a microwave with citric acid and orange peels, you can develop an algorithm:

For the number of peels of one orange, take 1 tbsp. Citric acid crystals.
Pour 2 glasses of water over everything.
Mix.
Heat in oven on high for 8 minutes.

Other additives may be used, depending on the degree and basis of the contamination.

Method 3 – Cleaning the microwave with baking soda

A good helper in the fight against dirt in the microwave oven is soda. The product perfectly helps to clean the inside of the microwave from grease without effort, and in combination with lemon peels it also works as a “freshener” for the microwave.

You will need:

two well-moistened rags (for a preliminary steam bath);
soda;
small capacity;
paper towels;
lemon peel.

How to clean:

1 First of all, soak two rags in clean water.
2 Place wet towels on the glass disc, close the device, set the maximum power on the display, and set the timer to 60 seconds.
3 After the allotted time, unplug the stove, and with the same damp towels (wring them out first), begin wiping the device, removing softened dirt from the walls, door and disk.
4 Dilute 2 tbsp in a small amount of water. spoons of soda, and thoroughly wipe the glass disk, door and inner walls of the stove with the resulting mixture.
5 After this, wipe the device dry with paper towels and leave it to air for a while.

How to clean a microwave with vinegar?

Mix 500 ml of water and a couple of tablespoons of vinegar in a microwave-safe container. Place the container in a dirty microwave for 5-10 minutes. After this period, the dirt can be easily washed off the walls of the microwave with a napkin or towel.

If you don’t like the smell of vinegar, add a couple of drops of an essential oil you like to the solution. In addition, the smell of vinegar gradually disappears and no special problems arise.

Soda will dissolve fat

Baking soda, along with lemon juice and vinegar, is also used to clean microwave ovens. Add 2 large spoons of soda to the water and act similarly to the methods described above to clean the microwave in 5 minutes.

Method 4 – Sponge + dishwashing detergent

Regular dishwashing detergent can also cope with traces of grease and old carbon deposits in a microwave oven.

You will need:

sponge for washing dishes;
any dishwashing detergent;
paper towels;
latex gloves.

How to clean:

1 If you are the proud owner of a dishwasher, then you can first remove the glass disc from the microwave oven and wash it in it. If you don’t have a PMM, then don’t worry, you can clean the glass plate manually with the same composition that is used to wash the entire oven.
2 Squeeze the sponge generously soaked in water slightly (so that no water drips from it). Apply dishwashing liquid to it (it is better to use proven products that remove grease well, for example, the same “Feri”).
3 Squeeze and unclench the sponge several times to whip the product into a foam.
4 Place the foam sponge in the microwave, close it, set the display to minimum power, and set the timer to 30 seconds. Turn on the device.
5 Using a clean sponge, remove all dissolved contaminants from the internal surfaces of the device.
6 After this, use paper towels to once again go over all the walls inside the microwave, wiping off any remaining product and dirt.

Popular cleaning methods

The choice of method depends on how long ago you last took care of the condition of your faithful assistant, and how neglected it is. All these techniques have been repeatedly tested by many people and have long proven their effectiveness.

If the method you chose did not help, then try another - stronger one. You can combine, for example, vinegar and soda. This will increase efficiency significantly. With due persistence, the result in the form of a device shining with cleanliness will not take long to arrive.

Steam

A quick way to clean the inside of a microwave. True, it is suitable only for fresh and mild stains, and also as a preventive measure.

Pour 1 liter of water into a bowl and turn on the device at full power for 15 minutes. During this time, the water should boil and begin to steam. When the time is up, do not rush to open the door: let condensation form and soften the dried dirt. This will take about a quarter of an hour, after which you should take out the container (be careful, it’s hot!) and wipe the walls with a sponge.

Dishwashing liquid

You can increase the effect of steam by adding dishwashing detergent to the water. It will dissolve dirt faster. The procedure is similar to the previous option, only upon completion you will have to thoroughly rinse the device to remove the soap.

There is another option: dampen a sponge in water, pour a little detergent on it and lather it, squeezing and releasing several times. Place the sponge in the chamber and run the oven for 30 seconds at minimum power.

Make sure the foam doesn't start to melt!

Then you need to walk along the walls with the same sponge, rubbing particularly difficult areas. All that remains is to rinse and wipe.

The methods described above cope with light and medium dirt.

Vinegar

Probably the most affordable and effective option for cleaning at home, because vinegar copes with even advanced cases. The only negative is the pungent smell, but it soon disappears.

Add 1 tsp to half a liter of water. vinegar essence or 2 tbsp. l. table vinegar. This solution must be heated at maximum power for 2–5 minutes and then allowed to stand for another 5–10 minutes. Use a rag or soft brush to remove greasy deposits. All that remains is to wash the equipment.

I tested this technique on my microwave. The result was pleasing, especially since the option with detergent and steam did not help at all. I had to do the steam bath twice: after the first, most of the greasy droplets were gone, but the particularly corrosive ones did not give in. At the same time, I did not specifically rub the difficult areas. After the second time, not a trace of fat remained, and after a couple of hours the aroma disappeared.

You can watch a lot of videos about how vinegar works, here is one of them:

Lemon or citric acid

They have an effect approximately similar to vinegar, but the advantage is that there is no unpleasant odor left. And when using lemon, a pleasant citrus aroma will be a bonus.

To implement the “Clean Microwave” plan we will need:

0.5 l of water;
1 tbsp. l. citric acid or 2 fresh fruits.

Everything is clear with the powder: it will have to be dissolved. And if you use fresh citrus fruits, then you need to cut them into halves and squeeze out the juice (about 4 tablespoons). In a suitable container, combine water and juice, and place the remaining halves of the fruit there.

By the way, you can also add orange or grapefruit peels - this will provide a pleasant fragrance.

Next, we follow the familiar scheme: heat the container in the chamber for 5 minutes, then wait another 15, and wipe off the dirt.

Laundry soap

Another equally effective measure for removing dirty marks involves using laundry soap.

Lather a cloth generously with soap and spread the resulting foam over the inner surface of the device. After 15 minutes, you should wipe it off with a napkin, simultaneously removing stubborn stains, and rinse the microwave oven.

Soda

It is not advisable to apply soda dry, as it scratches the coating. But in tandem with water, it copes with the problem perfectly.

You need to prepare a soda solution: for half a liter of liquid you need 1 tbsp. l. soda This composition must be heated at maximum power for 3 - 5 minutes, and left inside the chamber for another 5. During this period, particles of soda settle as condensation and cover all the insides of the device and dissolve plaque. Then it will come off effortlessly.

After the allotted time, you need to walk through the microwave with a cloth, removing dirt. Difficult areas can be lightly rubbed with the same soda cleaner. And, of course, at the end, rinse the substance thoroughly.

Wiper

This method involves the use of household chemicals - although not for their intended purpose. The procedure will require glass and mirror liquid.

The product must be mixed with water in a ratio of 2 to 1. Treat the microwave inside and outside with this mixture. The cleaner takes a little time to work: 5 minutes will be enough.

Use a wet cloth to go over all surfaces, wiping off traces, and then rinse thoroughly.

Special means

If the device is very dirty, or if you don’t want to bother with homemade recipes, you can turn to household chemicals that are sold in stores.

Just be sure to read the label to see if the cleaner is suitable for your type of coating!

Products from the HG, Topperr, Filtero, Lion, Bon, and Sanada Seiko brands have received good reviews. Equipment manufacturers, such as Electrolux and Bosch, produce cleaning liquids and gels.

The procedure for using all such compositions is approximately the same: apply to the surface, leave for a few minutes and wipe, then rinse with water. However, it is worth studying the instructions in order to follow the advice of the developers. Then the effect will be maximum.

Method 5 - orange peels

An interesting way to remove dirt from the internal surfaces of a microwave is to use orange peels infused with plain water. The life hack can be used to remove different types of stains.

You will need:

peels from one orange;
water;
small capacity.

How to clean:

1 Peel the orange. Cut them into small strips and place in a shallow container.
2 Fill the crusts with a small amount of clean water so that the water only slightly covers them.
3 Place the container with the crusts in the microwave and close it. Set the maximum power on the display and turn the timer up to 1 minute.
4 After the timer rings, do not open the stove. Leave the container with the crusts inside for 1.5-2 hours.
5 After the allotted time, open the microwave and remove the orange solution.
6 Wet a napkin in clean water, wring it out so that water does not drip from it and flood the inside of the stove.
7 Use a damp cloth to remove any softened dirt from the walls, glass disc and door.
8 Dry the cleaned microwave oven with a cloth or paper towel (you can leave the appliance open for a while to allow it to dry completely).

This recipe effectively cleans many types of stains. So if you were not able to remove all stains and traces of scale the first time and are still too far from being “clean”, then repeat the procedure 2-3 times. After each use, carefully clean out all dissolved fat and only then repeat the procedure again.

How to clean a microwave

If the device does not have strong and old layers of grease and dirt, you can completely get by by evaporating the inner walls with clean water vapor.

All you need is clean water (400-500 ml) and a water container.

We perform cleaning in the following sequence:

-Pour water into a container and place it in the microwave.

-Turn on the maximum heating mode and leave the water to boil for 10 minutes.

-After the microwave turns off, leave the device alone for another 10 minutes. It is important that the door is closed. Thus, we allow the hot condensation that has formed to work for a few extra minutes.

-After the specified time has passed, open the door and carefully take out the container with water. Then take a clean sponge or napkin and carefully remove the softened layers of dirt with it.

In the case where the layer of grease and dirt is quite impressive, the water should be heated for more than an hour at medium temperature, or even turn to another method of cleaning the walls of the microwave oven.

Method 6 - Laundry soap

Regular laundry soap can also help in the fight against a dirty microwave. It not only helps remove old fat from the walls of the chamber, but also has a disinfecting effect.

How to clean:

Step 1 Grate a bar of laundry soap.
Step 2 Add soap shavings to water. Calculate the proportions by eye; in the end you should get a saturated soap solution without pieces of soap.
Step 3 Apply the mixture to the inner walls of the microwave chamber and leave it for 45-60 minutes.
Step 4 Remove any remaining soap solution using a damp cloth (rinse the cloth in clean water as often as possible).
Step 5 Open the microwave door and leave the device to ventilate for a while (this will help remove the soap smell).

How to eliminate odors in a microwave oven?

To quickly get rid of an unpleasant odor, you need to use a special spray. The inside of the microwave should be sprayed in the evening and left overnight, while closing the door. In the morning, you just need to wipe the inside of the device with a soft cloth or dish sponge. It is also effective to use kitchen odor absorbers.

There is another way to get rid of the unpleasant odor in the microwave oven. To do this, pour water into a glass container, adding detergent and a couple of tablespoons of lemon juice.

To eliminate the smell, the resulting mixture should be kept in the oven for at least 10 minutes, and then open the door and leave it overnight.

Household chemicals

If you cannot clean the microwave oven with improvised means, you need to use household chemicals.

On the market you can find a lot of different compositions that are suitable for cleaning microwave surfaces (including grill grates and stainless steel elements).

Choose only specialized products designed for cleaning microwave ovens. Pay attention to the composition of the drug; it should not contain abrasives or aggressive chemical compounds.

Be sure to read the operating instructions for your stove and make sure that the manufacturer allows the use of certain substances when cleaning the device (especially if the device is built into a kitchen unit).

The best microwave cleaners:

Fairy;
AOS;
Fresh;
MAGIC POWER;
SANO;
MEULE;
Korting;
Electrolux;
Green&Clean.

Microwave self-cleaning function

Many housewives have probably noticed that some microwave ovens have a built-in self-cleaning function.

The “Self-cleaning” mode may have different names for different models of microwave ovens, but the principle of its operation is always the same: you simply place a container of water inside the device and select the desired mode to self-clean the device.

While the stove is operating, the water will evaporate, dissolving fat, scale, and soot deposited on the walls of the device. After this procedure, the dirt will be much easier to wash off even with an ordinary damp cloth.

However, everything described just sounds ideal. In fact, self-cleaning alone is usually not enough for the device. The steam bath function is rather auxiliary; it can be used to preliminary prepare the device for cleaning.

So you shouldn’t expect any miracles from such a procedure; in case of severe contamination, it is unlikely to even help dissolve the dirt the first time, not to mention complete cleansing.

How to clean a microwave with lemon

The principle of cleaning a microwave with lemon is very simple: when heated inside the oven, the lemon releases vapors that settle on the walls of the device and soften layers of dirt and grease.

After this treatment, removing plaque and fat is not a particular problem. So, clean with lemon in the following sequence:

1. Take a glass or bowl made of refractory material and pour clean water into the container.

2. Cut a large lemon into wedges or cut it in half

, and then squeeze the juice from its halves into a container with water, and also immerse the lemon itself in water.

3. Place the container with the contents in the microwave,

having set, at the same time, the mode of maximum power and temperature. Heat the bowl to a boil and allow to simmer for 5-6 minutes.

Bringing beauty outside

Cleaning the outside of a microwave oven is, of course, much easier than cleaning the inside. Here you can use not only specialized products for cleaning microwave ovens, but also, for example, glass cleaners in the form of a spray.

A solution based on vinegar (white food grade 9%), water and ethyl alcohol (the components are taken in a ratio of 1:2:1) also copes well with stains.

Cleaning the oven outside:

Remove all dust from the surface of the case.
Wipe the back panel of the microwave with a dry or slightly damp sponge (it’s better to use a dry cloth).
Spray the oven door, top and side walls with a cleaning solution.
Leave the product on for 5-8 minutes and then remove any remaining residue with a microfiber cloth.
Wipe the housing dry with a clean cloth.

How to clean a microwave with citric acid

There are different ways to clean a microwave oven. The method using acid is highly effective. You can add soda and other components to the powder.

We recommend reading: Baking soda: beneficial properties, uses, how to take

How to clean the inside of a microwave from grease with citric acid

Unlike juice, the powder does not emit a strong odor. In order to clean the microwave using citric acid, you need to dissolve 25 g of the product in water (250 ml). The container with liquid is placed in an electrical appliance. Its operating time ranges from 5 to 10 minutes. The door can be opened after a quarter of an hour. Internal surfaces are treated with a damp sponge.

After washing, the microwave oven must be wiped dry.

How to clean a microwave with citric acid and soda

Using powder-based products you can get rid of old stains. To clean the inside of the microwave from dirt, you need to prepare a solution of citric acid (25 g), soda (10 g), water (400 g). The container with the product must be placed in the electrical appliance at maximum power.

After 15 minutes, remove the vessel using oven mitts. The softened fat is rubbed off with a sponge intended for washing dishes.

The product is suitable for removing heavy stains

How to clean a microwave in 5 minutes with citric acid

Often there is a need to remove grease stains as quickly as possible. In this case, you can use a quick way to clean the microwave using citric acid.

To prepare the product, dissolve a tablespoon of powder in a container of water (0.5 l). A container intended for use in a microwave oven is placed in the appliance and set to full power. The duration of exposure of the solution to internal surfaces depends on the degree of contamination.

10 minutes after the appliance has finished operating, you must remove the dishes. Wipe the inside of the microwave using a clean cloth.

Remaining stains can be wiped with a sponge and used solution.

Important! It is not recommended to frequently wash the microwave with citric acid if there are enamel surfaces.

How to clean a microwave with citric acid and water

Dirt is often localized on the outside of the microwave oven. In this case, you can wash the microwave using citric acid and water. 20 g of powder are dissolved in 500 ml of liquid. The device should be wiped with the liquid and left to act for several minutes.

Wear gloves when cleaning the microwave oven from dirt.

With lemon juice

To enhance the effect, you can add juice and citrus peel to the composition. To prepare the solution you will need 500 ml of water and a tablespoon of acid. The composition also includes lemon juice (4 tablespoons). The container with the solution is placed in the microwave and the power is set to maximum. The operating time of the electrical appliance ranges from 2 to 5 minutes.

Surface treatment can be carried out in a quarter of an hour

How not to clean a microwave

In order to ensure that the microwave oven is washed correctly and does not lead to damage to the electrical appliance, you need to follow several important rules:

When cleaning, do not use metal sponges, brushes, scrapers or sponges that leave behind crumbs. You shouldn't rub the surface too hard either. You may damage the body and the camera itself.
Be careful with water when washing. Do not flood the device with water, wash it in the shower (yes, such cases do occur), or use rags that are too wet. If liquid gets inside the device, a short circuit may occur, and you definitely don’t want that.
Do not use cleaning products containing abrasives or aggressive chemical compounds. Only specialized preparations for microwave ovens or dishwashing detergents.

How to keep your microwave clean

If you hate cleaning and think about washing the microwave every time with a shudder, try following a few recommendations that will save you from having to look for an effective cleaning agent every time that removes old dirt from the oven chamber:

Tip #1 When reheating, cover the plate with food with a cap or cling film. You can also use special closed containers with valves. This will help avoid splashing of fat, juice and food particles.
Tip #2 Do not allow a thick layer of contamination to form. If food or fat is scattered throughout the chamber, remove everything immediately, without allowing it to dry out or burn.
Tip #3 Wipe your microwave oven daily with a damp cloth, inside and out, to remove even the slightest dirt.
Tip No. 4 If you use your microwave oven often, then thoroughly clean it at least once a month.