Cleaning your kitchen doesn’t have to be a nightmare. Dare we say it could be fun? Welcome to BA's Cleaning Week: Consider this your trusty guide to the nooks and crannies that you definitely are not scrubbing often enough, plus the pro-approved tools and products to get the job done.
It’s deep clean day. After you’ve vacuumed the floors, wiped down the counters, and taken out the trash, you’re feeling pretty good. You reward yourself by heating up some leftovers in the microwave, only to see that the interior has taken on a Jackson Pollock splatter look from the red sauce you zapped last week. Let’s face it: It’s time to tackle the task of cleaning the microwave, a chore put off for far too long. You can do it.
Here’s how to clean your microwave:
The good news: You probably don’t need to purchase any cleaning products—most of what you need is likely already in your pantry. To handle the messes on the inside of the microwave, we need to create a magic potion to break up and soften the willful grease and gunk. This can be made with vinegar, lemon juice, or baking soda, but let’s start with vinegar. In a microwave-safe bowl, mix together 2 Tbsp. white vinegar and 2 cups water. Put this water solution in the dirty microwave and cook for 5 minutes until the concoction begins to bubble up.
Let the bowl sit in the microwave for 15 minutes before opening up the door. You will see condensation start to form, which will help loosen the grime, essentially steam cleaning the buildup. Carefully (with oven mitts), remove the hot bowl, glass plate, and turntable from the microwave, and begin to wipe down the interior with a microfiber cloth. If the grime and stuck-on food remains, dip a sponge into the cleaning solution and lightly scrub; or use a damp cloth and some dish soap or diluted bleach to spot-treat especially stubborn stains. Apply the same treatment to your turntable and glass plate outside of the microwave. Once you’re done scrubbing, put all the pieces back together, and the inside of your microwave should be shiny as new.
If you don’t have vinegar in your pantry (or want something else to neutralize that burnt popcorn smell) use lemon juice instead. To do this, combine the juice of 1 lemon with 1 cup water. And if you’d like to switch it up with an even more neutral smell, might I suggest baking soda? The process is essentially the same: Mix 2 Tbsp. baking soda with 1 cup water, microwave the liquid for 5 minutes, let it sit for 15, and get scrubbing.
Don’t forget to clean the outside of your microwave too. Dip your sponge, magic eraser, or towel into the same solution you used to clean the microwave interior and start wiping down the sides of the microwave, including the microwave door. Dry any lingering moisture with a paper towel or clean cloth. Stand back and admire how your microwave glistens.
How often should I really be cleaning it?
Let’s be real—most of us are not wiping down our microwaves after every use. But if this is a high-use kitchen appliance, you want to make sure yours doesn’t become a cozy home to growing bacteria. Add microwave cleaning to your weekly list. Your next bowl of soup will thank you.