The Best Way To Clean Your Microwave

A guide from Trilogy Contracting

Your microwave does heavy-duty work day in and day out, whether it’s popping popcorn, reheating pizza slices, softening butter, or melting chocolate. And that includes a lot of grime and food odours. All of that exploding food will make your microwave less effective over time.

The good news is that we have a quick and simple solution for getting your microwave back to like-new condition, or close to it. The following instructions will show you how to clean a microwave.

1. Remembering Prevention

The first line of defense is to avoid the issue in the first place. Most stains and splatters can be avoided by covering whatever you’re microwaving.

2. Wipe It Up

As part of your daily kitchen routine, we recommend cleaning the interior of your microwave. Wipe down the inside ceiling, base, sides, and tray with a soft rag, sponge, or paper towel. Any spatters that may have escaped containment are discarded before they have a chance to harden.

3. Steam It If it’s Stubborn

If the splatters are caked on, steam is a safer choice than elbow grease. Heat about 1 cup of water in a microwave-safe container on high for two to three minutes. Allow for up to five minutes of resting time before carefully removing the water (which will be hot) and the turntable. Using a fluffy rag, sponge, or paper towel, wipe off both surfaces.

You can also remove odours and disinfect during this process. When your cup of water is heating up, squeeze half a fresh lemon into it. When you remove the lemon half, it will be steam, but once it cools off, run it through the garbage disposal to freshen it up as well.

Then, as a natural disinfectant, use white vinegar. Wipe down the surfaces with a microfibre cloth dipped in a 50-50 water-vinegar solution, wrung out until slightly damp. In most cases, this will be adequate to clean the interior of your microwave. If there are any splatters left, simply repeat the operation.

5. Loose Ends

Clean the turntable that you took apart earlier. Almost all turntables are dishwasher safe, but if you’re not sure or don’t think your microwave would be out of service for the duration of a dishwasher cycle, clean it with warm water and dish soap.

Using a damp rag, wipe the rubber gaskets as well. Wipe down the glass door with a damp rag, but if it’s especially greasy, use a 50-50 water-and-white-vinegar solution or glass cleaner. Wipe all down with a soft, dry cloth for a polished look.

6. Finishing Up

Finally, using a smooth, damp cloth, wipe down the external surfaces, including the instrument panel. Go over stuff with the water-vinegar solution again if they’re especially greasy or fingerprinted. For an even more polished appearance, dry the surface with a soft cloth.

But remember Step 1: Prevention. If your microwave was especially bad– then it’s probably good to think about preventing it from even getting worse. Steam-cleaning the interior of the microwave once a week or so will help with that, but this approach works even though you go longer between cleanings!

Is the inside of the microwave the nicest place in your home?

Consider a home renovation.

Before you take on your home renovation, or any home improvement project, be it DIY or with a professional contractor, do your research and make sure you know what you’re getting into. The more you know, the smarter decision you’ll be able to make, the better result you’ll get.

Trilogy Contracting is a home renovation company in the Fraser Valley servicing client’s in the Tri-Cities, Surrey, Langley, Maple Ridge and everywhere in between. If you have a question, feel free to send us an email.