The microwave is a great invention that gives a second chance to your leftovers. However, people sometimes forget to cover their mac and cheese and leave a mess. Or maybe they cook fish, which won’t leave a pleasant smell. Not feeling like eating now, do you?
Luckily, microwaves are easy to clean! Here are three methods to clean and remove odors from your microwave oven.
Why do you need to clean your microwave
When your microwave is dirty, strong odors stick to your meals and can ruin your appetite. Also, food residue becomes a breeding ground for bacteria. Another danger of a messy microwave is when the residue hardens; it becomes tough to remove, and it can even catch on fire.
Unplug your microwave and prepare for cleaning. The following methods will help you have an odorless, squeaky clean microwave.
Method #1: Clean it with lemon juice
Lemon juice not only has a pleasant smell but also cuts through grease. Inside a microwave-safe bowl, pour 1 cup of water with a squeezed lemon. Then, heat the bowl for a minute. The bowl will be hot, so let it cool for 5 minutes before removing it.
Method #2: Heat a sponge inside the appliance
At first glance, it seems like you’d burn your sponge, but you’ll add just enough heat to steam clean the inner walls of the microwave. Never place a dry sponge inside your microwave—it could catch fire!
To clean your microwave with a sponge, dampen the square in 1/4 cup water, then heat it at high temperature for one minute. Once it’s finished, the sponge will be hot, so wait another five minutes before removing it. Wipe the inside dry with paper towels or a cloth, and you’re done.
Method #3: Scrub the surfaces with vinegar
White vinegar is a powerful sanitizer that also deals with lingering odors. Maybe this method requires elbow grease, but it’s necessary if the trapped smells are too strong.
Follow these steps to clean your microwave with a vinegar solution:
- Mix half warm water and half vinegar. You could either store this solution inside a spray bottle or in a container.
- Spray directly onto the stains or dip the sponge in the container and wring it well.
- Scrub away the grime.
Don’t forget to clean the outside and the turntable
Besides the inside of the microwave, you should clean the outside too. You’ll be touching the keypad and handling the door every time you reheat food, so it’s safe to assume a lot of germs will gather on those surfaces. Wipe it clean with the vinegar solution.
Cleaning the turntable is the easiest part; you can hand wash it or put it in the dishwasher. Just remember to dry well before putting it back.
Hire the best residential cleaners in San Jose CA
At CalMaids, we know how essential it is to have a beautiful kitchen. We can leave your microwave spotless during our visit, and we also offer deep cleaning and recurring cleaning for your kitchen and the rest of your house. Read more about our services here.
