How to clean a microwave with steam, lemon or vinegar

Step by step: how to clean a microwave with steam, lemon or vinegar

Safety first. Water heated in a microwave can be hotter than it looks and can boil over suddenly, so use a wooden spoon in the bowl, wait before opening the door and use oven mitts. Never run the microwave empty, and never use steel wool, oven cleaner or metal scrapers inside it.

1. 1

   Fill a bowl with water and lemon or vinegar

   Pour 1 cup (250 mL) of water into a microwave-safe glass bowl and add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar. Half a sliced lemon works too. Put a wooden spoon or chopstick in the bowl to help the water boil evenly instead of overheating.

2. 2

   Heat it until it steams

   Microwave on high for 3 to 5 minutes, until the water boils and the window fogs up. Larger or older microwaves may need the full 5 minutes.

3. 3

   Leave the door shut for 5 minutes

   Do not open the door right away. The trapped steam loosens dried splatter and lifts the smell. Then open it and lift the bowl out carefully with oven mitts, since the bowl and water will be very hot.

4. 4

   Take out and wash the turntable

   Lift out the glass tray and the roller ring under it. Wash them in the sink with warm, soapy water once the tray has cooled. Many trays are dishwasher-safe, but check your manual first.

5. 5

   Wipe the inside from top to bottom

   Dip a soft sponge in the warm lemon or vinegar water, add a drop of dish soap, and wipe the ceiling first, then the walls and floor. The softened food should come off with light pressure. Wipe gently over the cardboard-like panel on the side wall; do not scrub or remove it.

6. 6

   Clean the door and seal

   Wipe the inside of the door, the window and the edges where the door meets the frame. Food stuck on these sealing surfaces can stop the door closing properly, so get every crumb.

7. 7

   Wipe the outside and keypad

   Spray a little cleaner or soapy water onto a cloth, not onto the control panel, and wipe the buttons and handle. On stainless steel, wipe in the direction of the grain and dry it to avoid streaks.

8. 8

   Dry it and put the tray back

   Dry the inside with a microfiber cloth, set the roller ring and turntable back in place, and leave the door open for 10 minutes to air out.

Lemon, vinegar or dish soap: which works best?

All three work, because the steam does most of the job, which is why steaming first and wiping second is the best way to clean a microwave. Choose lemon if you mind the smell of vinegar, vinegar for strong odors, and soapy water for greasy splatter.

Whirlpool’s odor instructions use 1 cup of water with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar heated for 2 to 5 minutes, after washing the inside with mild soap and water, then drying with a microfiber cloth. Models with a steam clean button follow a similar idea: Whirlpool’s steam clean directions call for 250 mL of water in a shallow container in the center, with optional lemon juice or vinegar, then a wipe with mild detergent once the cycle ends.

How to clean burnt or stuck food in a microwave

Steam twice, then use a paste. Most baked-on spots come off after a second round of steam.

• Repeat the steam step and leave the door closed for 10 minutes the second time.
• For spots that still will not budge, rub on a paste of 2 tablespoons of baking soda and 1 tablespoon of water with a soft cloth, wait 5 minutes, then wipe it off and rinse with a damp cloth.
• Use a plastic scraper held flat on the floor of the cavity. Do not use metal tools, which scratch the coating and can expose metal that sparks.
• For burnt popcorn smell, leave a bowl of baking soda inside overnight with the door closed after cleaning.

How to clean an over-the-range microwave’s filters

An over-the-range microwave has a grease filter underneath, and it needs cleaning about once a month if you cook on the stove often.

Slide the metal mesh grease filters out from the underside, soak them for 10 to 15 minutes in hot water with dish soap, scrub gently with a soft brush, rinse and dry. Many are dishwasher-safe, but check your manual. If your model vents back into the kitchen, it also has a charcoal filter, which cannot be washed; replace it as the manual directs. Wipe the underside around the lights while the filters are out.

A clean microwave matters for safety, not just looks. UC Berkeley’s microwave safety guidelines say ovens should be cleaned regularly to prevent contamination, fire risk and door seal damage, and that a microwave with a damaged door seal, hinge or latch should not be used. If the door no longer closes snugly, have it serviced or replace it.

Do the microwave in the same session as the rest of your appliances, using our kitchen cleaning checklist.

Mistakes to avoid

• Opening the door the moment the timer ends, which lets out the steam before it has softened anything.
• Heating plain water in a smooth cup with nothing in it, which can boil over suddenly.
• Scrubbing or peeling off the cardboard-like cover on the side wall.
• Using steel wool, abrasive powder or oven cleaner inside the cavity.
• Spraying cleaner straight onto the keypad, where it can seep behind the buttons.
• Putting a cold glass turntable into very hot water, which can crack it.