Discover simple, fail-proof ways to clean your microwave using the power of steam – and other natural things you’ve probably got in your kitchen right now! 

If you look inside your microwave and see a version of Mission Impossible Tom Cruise couldn’t even survive, these are the 7 powerful (natural) microwave cleaning hacks you can use to tackle the job with ease! 

Each of them is a gold status cleaning hack if your microwave has the most going on and you’re looking to do the least amount of scrubbing possible.  These tips are from some of the top cleaning pros on the web and our friends at Real Simple!

How To (Easily) Clean A Dirty Microwave

01 lemon + steam

Becky Rapinchuk of the Clean Mama homekeeping blog follows this tried-and-true method:

DIRECTIONS

Fill a glass bowl or measuring cup with three or four cups of hot tap water, then cut a lemon into chunks and add to the water. Put the bowl of water and lemon/lemon juice in the microwave and run it until the water boils, about three to five minutes.

“Let the steam do its job—don’t open the door for at least five minutes,” Rapinchuk says. If the microwave isn’t steamy after that time, microwave the water for another minute and let it sit, then use a wet microfiber cleaning cloth to wipe it clean.

02 vinegar + steam

When those marinara splatters are extra stubborn, spray the interior of the microwave with white vinegar, Rapinchuk says. Let it sit for 15 minutes, then use a microfiber cleaning cloth to wipe clean, rinsing and wringing it as you’re wiping. Remove, wash, and dry the glass plate and replace.

03  dish soap + steam

Fill a microwave-safe bowl with one cup of water and one teaspoon of dish soap, says Harriet Jones, cleaning and maintenance supervisor for Go Cleaners London cleaning services.

DIRECTIONS

Heat the mixture in the microwave for about two minutes to create steam, being careful to not let it boil over. Let it sit for three minutes before opening the microwave, removing the bowl using oven mitts, and wiping down the inside with paper towels.

04 wet sponge + steam

No, you’re not going to use it to scrub. Instead, saturate the sponge thoroughly in water, adding a drop of Dawn dish soap if you wish, says Zeynep Mehmetoglu, a cleaning expert with Maid Bright cleaning services near Washington, D.C.

DIRECTIONS

Spray the inside of your microwave with a mixture of one to three ounces of water and three to five drops of essential oil (orange or lemon are good choices). Microwave the sponge on the turntable for two or three minutes, then let it sit a few more minutes before wiping off stuck food with the sponge.

05 wet towel + steam

For an extra-simple cleaning process that involves only one item, thoroughly wet a small towel (ensure it doesn’t contain any metal tags or elements), then microwave it for a minute or two, says Shirley Langridge, a kitchen cleaning expert with Maggie’s Oven Services. The towel will soften the stuck-on bits, and once it cools down enough to handle, you can use it to wipe down the microwave’s interior.

06 baking soda + air

To handle serious spills without resorting to harsh chemicals, take a small bowl and make a paste out of baking soda and water, Langridge says. Apply it to the hardened food and let it sit for five minutes, then wipe it up with a wet sponge. “There will be no need for any scrubbing,” says Langridge.

07 the funny gadget + steam

Fill this hilarious little steamer called Angry Mama with water and vinegar and microwave on high for seven minutes, advises Joanne Archer, an editor with Expert Home Tips. Let it cool for two minutes, open the door, and wipe clean.

08 bonus microwave cleaning tips (keep it clean)

The easiest microwave cleaning hack of all is to not let your microwave get filled with crusted pieces of food in the first place. Once you’ve followed the above tips and gotten it back to mint condition, here’s some advice for keeping your appliance looking fresh and clean all the time:

• Always cover whatever you’re heating up, even if it’s just for 10 seconds, with a paper towel or a perforated microwave cover.  Think anything deliciously saucy like spaghetti, bbq, and chilli.     

• Wipe down the inside of your microwave whenever you clean the kitchen counters.

• After microwaving something with a loud smell, do a quick clean immediately following cooking by adding water and lemon to a small bowl, microwaving for a few minutes, letting it stand for five minutes, and then wiping the inside clean.

• Take the glass plate out of the microwave so that you can clean underneath it.  Wash the plates off with a little soap and water, rinse and place back into your like-new microwave. 

• Clean the outside of your microwave with soap and water.  After washing it down, take a second towel and buff it dry.  It’ll sparkle for days with this simple 2-step cleaning method.  

Laundry Out Of Control?  You may want to read my post 7 Laundry Tips You Can Use To Get Laundry Under Control.  These tips are perfect for busy moms and those that are absolutely drowning in laundry!

Vinegar is natural which means it’s safe to use on everything right?  Wrong!   Yes, it’s pretty amazing but there are some things you should know before you clean your house with vinegar again!  Read this post to learn the ins and outs of cleaning with vinegar!

Super Dirty Bathtub?  Learn how to (easily) make it look new again with this step-by-step post.  You’ll learn everything you need to clean your dirty tub with the least amount of scrubbing in the shortest time possible! 

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