The microwave is a fantastic kitchen appliance with many uses, from reheating last night's leftovers to melting butter quickly for your recipes. Indeed very convenient to use, but, just like the fridge or stove, you should clean the microwave from time to time.

Unfortunately, a quick wipe is not enough once you're in a nasty situation with flood splatters and stuck residue. However, you don't need to worry! Cleaning this appliance is easier than you think. Here's how to clean a microwave oven in a few steps.

Why you need to clean your microwave

After days—even weeks—of neglecting to clean the inside of your microwave, many things can go wrong. The burnt-on residue can gather bacteria and even catch on fire!

If that's not enough, think about the lingering odors. The smell of fish and some vegetables doesn't go away so fast and can stick to the next food you reheat, giving you an unpleasant taste every time.

How to deep clean your microwave

Now that you know what's at stake, maybe you should think about deep cleaning your microwave. After doing this task, you'd only need to clean the microwave once a week to keep bacteria and odors at bay.

Here's the detailed guide:

Part #1. Remove and clean the turntable

Removing the glass turntable before wiping the inside will make reaching the bottom of the microwave a lot easier.

If you're unsure how to clean the turntable, don't worry, this part is pretty much a plate, so you can wash it in the sink or carefully put it in the dishwasher. Once the turntable is clean, let it dry while you clean the rest of your microwave.

Part #2. Clean the inside

Here are some effective methods to deal with odors and stains inside the microwave. Depending on how hard the residue is on the microwave, choose one of these three:

Method #1: Microwave a sponge

This method seems weird at first, but it works wonders. By creating steam, the sponge helps loosen up everything stuck on the inner walls so you can wipe them clean without much effort.

Here's how you do it:

• Step 1: Dampen the sponge in a ¼ cup of water.
• Step 2: Microwave it for one minute on the high setting.
• Step 3: Wait five minutes until the sponge cools down. 
• Step 4: Remove the sponge and wipe the walls clean with paper towels or a dry cloth.

Note: Never try this method with a dry sponge as it can catch on fire.

Method #2: Heat some lemon juice 

This method is perfect for cutting through grease. Lemon is an excellent degreaser and has a pleasant smell. Besides, since lemons are all-natural, you can trust this method is safe.

Follow these steps:

• Step 1: Pour one cup of water and squeeze the juice out of a lemon into a microwave-safe bowl.
• Step 2: Heat the bowl for a minute on the high setting.
• Step 3: Let the bowl cool for five minutes before removing it.
• Step 4: Wipe the walls clean.

Method #3: Wipe the inside with white vinegar

If you want to make sure your microwave is spotless and fresh, use white vinegar to trap those pesky odors and dissolve layers of residue.

• Step 1: Pour equal amounts of vinegar and distilled water inside a spray bottle.
• Step 2: Spray on the interior walls of the appliance. Be careful not to overwet your microwave—especially near the vent. 
• Step 3: Scrub with either a sponge or a rag.
• Step 4: Let the walls dry.

Part #3. Clean the outside of the microwave

Your fingers leave dead skin and food smears on your microwave's handle and keypad. Fortunately, cleaning the outside of the microwave is easy. You'll only need the vinegar solution from method #2 and a soft cloth.

Note: If your microwave's surface is made of stainless steel, avoid streaks by wiping in the direction of the grain.

Do you need help with the rest of the kitchen (and home)?

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