Microwave cleaning. How to effectively clean your microwave inside and out

Many housewives have no idea how to clean old fat inside the microwave. A complete cleaning of the “insides” of a snow-white pet will not take more than 15 minutes at home, if you know how to correctly approach the procedure.

The microwave oven has long and firmly settled in the kitchen space of every housewife. This smart and compact appliance reheats ready meals, saving energy and precious time.

This is a real rival of household cooker: depending on the available functionality, it cooks, bakes, grills food. At the same time, time costs are reduced several times. Not surprisingly, using the microwave oven has become a daily ritual.

Safety

1. Unplug the device before using liquid products.
2. To clean the enameled surface, do not use metal brushes and abrasive products: this will damage the enamel.
3. The use of water during cleaning should be minimal: there is a risk of flooding the vital parts of the microwave.
4. Do not disassemble the electrical appliance yourself, even if there is a possibility that dirt has entered inside. Use the services of specialized services, which is much more reliable and safer.
5. Do not experiment with household chemicals if they are not intended for microwave cleaning ovens. This can harm you and household appliances.

Effective folk remedies

Cleanliness in the house is a laborious process that requires a lot of time and money. Modern products of the chemical industry greatly facilitate the process, but many prefer time-tested "grandmother's" recipes. They work no less efficiently, but cheaper and more environmentally friendly.

Lemon acid

A great way to clean household appliances. It is possible to replace citric acid with fresh lemon or other citrus. Citric acid neutralizes unpleasant odors well, but you should not often resort to its help: with regular use, the acid destroys the enamel.

For cleaning you will need:

• 0.5 l of water;
• 1 st. l. citric acid (or 4 tbsp. citrus juice).

After mixing water and citric acid in a container, place it in the microwave. Depending on the degree of soiling, set the timer for 2-5 minutes. Then, for greater effectiveness, wait for about 10 minutes more. After the procedure, fat and burn marks can be easily removed with a soft sponge.

Video tips

Vinegar

A wonderful tool that will help in the fight against even severe pollution. It is not recommended to use it all the time, otherwise the housewives risk the beauty and integrity of the enamel coating. The disadvantages of the method include the smell: it is very caustic, open the windows in the room during cleaning.

For cleansing you will need:

• 0.5 l of water;
• 2 tbsp. l. 9% vinegar.

In a deep container, combine vinegar with water. Place the solution in the microwave for 3-5 minutes (depending on the degree of contamination) and turn on the mode to the maximum. At this time, vapors work for the hostess and acetic vapors soften old fat. After the timer announces the end of work, leave the device closed for another two minutes. After this, dirt can be easily removed with a simple soft sponge. Then clean again with water, removing any residual vinegar from the walls.

Soda

Baking soda, which costs a penny, replaces many expensive products. Soda condensate has proven itself as a cleaner fat, but soda can’t handle strong pollution. The tool will gently clean the surface of small and medium stains without damaging the enamel.

For work you will need:

• 0.5 l of water;
• 1 st. l. baking soda.

Dissolve soda in a bowl of water, then place in the microwave for 3-5 minutes and turn on at maximum power. During this time, soda forms a condensate that softens fat and burns. After switching off the appliance, wait another 2 minutes, then remove the grease with a damp soft cloth.

If somewhere the stain does not rub off, soda will come to the rescue: pour a small pinch on a rag and remove the dirt. Remember, baking soda is abrasive and can leave small scratches on glossy stainless surfaces.

Purchased funds and chemistry

Means of the chemical industry are firmly established on the shelves of every home: in a matter of minutes they clean any surface from contamination, restoring the former shine and original whiteness to objects.

There are also special chemistry for cleaning microwaves, but if there are none at hand, others will do, which will always be found in the arsenal of housewives. It is important to take into account their consistency and structure - abrasive substances will not bring benefits to enamel. A detailed description of the possible options will be considered in the table.

• Contamination is easier to prevent than to eliminate: use special lids when working with a microwave. You can replace them with plastic bags or baking paper.
• Set aside 1 day a month to clean the inside of your microwave. This will help to avoid a large accumulation of fat on the walls, and will make the process of cooking and heating food more hygienic.
• Do not rush to close the microwave door after use, let it stand open for two to three minutes: during this time, the smells of food will disappear and the resulting steam will dry out.
• Ideally, remove dirt after each cooking if there are drops of fat on the walls.

Regular cleaning in the microwave will reduce the time and effort for general cleaning and prolong the joy of using this useful household helper. And the cleanliness of the inner surface is a guarantee of health!

The microwave oven becomes dirty with frequent use. Both specialized detergents and folk recipes will help clean the internal walls of the device: vinegar, lemon or citric acid, laundry soap. In this article, we will take a detailed look at how to deal with dried fat and food residue.

How to clean the inside of a microwave oven correctly?

For a long service life of the microwave oven, you need to follow a few simple rules when cleaning the device:

1. A prerequisite is to turn off the microwave oven from the power supply before wiping, open the door, let the device cool down.
2. Metal washcloths, brushes, brushes, other sharp hard objects must not be used in the cleaning process. The inner surface of the device has a special coating. This thin layer reflects microwaves. If it is subjected to hard objects, scratches may appear on the outside and inside of the device, which will later lead to cracks.
3. Aggressive household chemicals, which include chlorine, acid, alkali, abrasive coarse products are not recommended.
4. Clean the external and internal surfaces of the appliance using a minimum amount of water to prevent moisture from penetrating into the elements of the device. It is best to wash the microwave inside from grease and other contaminants with a clean, damp cloth, foam sponge or cloth.
5. If dirt gets into hard-to-reach places, you should not try to disassemble the kitchen assistant yourself. To get rid of crumbs and food debris, you can use a vacuum cleaner with a special narrow nozzle or entrust the microwave oven to a specialist.

To clean the outside of the device, you just need to wipe it with a damp sponge with the addition of any detergent.

How to clean a microwave in 5 minutes

The easiest and fastest way to get rid of non-old and not very stubborn dirt is to use ordinary liquid or dishwashing gel.

1. Pour water at room temperature into a glass container, add the product.
2. Place the dishes with the liquid in the microwave, turn on at full power for 1 minute (until steam is formed).
3. Remove the dishes, wipe the inside surfaces and the appliance door with a damp cloth.

Steam will soften old dirt, so the microwave oven will be washed off without difficulty. For a better effect, baking soda can be added to a container of water.

How to clean the device with household chemicals

When choosing cleaners for microwave ovens, choose gel or spray. Terms of use and cleaning method are written on each package.

When cleaning the microwave oven, you should strictly follow the instructions and recommendations of the manufacturer of the product. It is necessary to avoid getting spray or gel on special gratings that cover the magnetron.

To get rid of grease and stains, it is necessary to apply a purchased product to the inner surface, bottom and door of the device. If it is a gel, then evenly over all the walls, if it is a spray, gently spray it. Leave the microwave oven for a few minutes according to the attached instructions, then wipe thoroughly with a damp sponge, then with a soft and dry cloth.

You can clean the microwave oven with the usual means that are always at hand.

Getting rid of pollution in folk ways

Experienced housewives do an excellent job with drops of fat without the use of purchased household chemicals. You can clean your microwave oven with:

• vinegar;
• lemon
• citric acid.

These methods are safe and inexpensive.

How to clean a microwave with vinegar

Vinegar is the simplest and most popular method. It will help to cope with dirt inside the microwave oven, with an unpleasant smell and rust.

1. Pour warm water (200 ml) into a glass container.
2. Add vinegar essence (3 tablespoons).
3. Place the dishes in the microwave oven, turn on the power of 500-800 W for 10 minutes.
4. After the required time, wipe the internal surfaces of the device with a damp cloth.

Steam with vinegar will perfectly corrode stubborn dirt and cope with an unpleasant odor. To improve the aroma during such processing, a few drops of any essential oil should be poured into the solution.

How to clean a microwave oven with lemon

The most enjoyable way to clean is with fresh citrus fruits. It can be lemon, grapefruit, lime, orange.

1. Fruit (1 large or 2 small) cut into pieces, lower into a suitable plate.
2. Add water (200 ml) to the container, put in the oven, turn on at maximum power for 5-15 minutes.
3. After the end of the operation of the device, do not open the doors immediately, let the dried dirt stand and soften for about 15 minutes.
4. Remove grease with a soft, damp cloth, then wipe dry all the walls of the microwave.

This method is also good if you do not clean with whole citrus fruits, but only with the peel. The skins should be finely chopped. In addition to getting rid of traces of fat, the room will smell pleasantly of citrus.

How to remove contaminants with citric acid

1. Pour warm water (200-250 ml) into a bowl, add 1 sachet of citric acid (25 g).
2. Place the plate in the oven, turn on for 5-15 minutes (depending on the degree of contamination) at full power.
3. After completion of work, do not open the oven for 10 minutes, then wipe it with a clean, damp cloth.

Citric acid perfectly dissolves fat and soot, softens old dirt.

Other effective ways

The old laundry soap, forgotten by many, does an excellent job with numerous household contaminants. For cleaning, it is worthwhile to lather well with a sponge or soft cloth, lather and evenly apply to the inner walls of the microwave oven. So leave the device for half an hour, then carefully wipe the remnants of soap and food.

If the soap solution is not completely removed from the walls, an unpleasant smell of organic burning is possible when the microwave oven is first turned on.

Another no less effective and simple method is the “steam room” with ordinary water. But it is suitable for mild pollution.

1. Pour water (200 ml) into the dishes, place in the device.
2. Turn on the oven at full power for 5-8 minutes. Leave the doors closed for 20 minutes to soften the dirt, then wipe with a damp sponge and a dry, clean cloth.

Such methods will allow you to quickly clean the microwave from the inside.

First, study the recommendations on how to properly use the microwave. And in order for the stove to stay clean longer and delight the household, you need to follow some recommendations:

• use a special plastic cap - this will help protect the camera of the device from splashes and drops of fat from heated food;
• if there is no cover for the microwave oven, then cling film, parchment paper will do;
• it is advisable to wipe the inner walls every time after use;
• it is worth leaving the oven door open for a couple of minutes after work in order for the smell of food to disappear and the microwave to dry.

Following these simple tips, the microwave oven will shine much longer, the hostess will not have to wipe off the stubborn old grease drops.

This little miracle helper has become an essential attribute of any modern kitchen. She is both a craftswoman to cook food, and the first in line to warm it up. Due to very frequent use, plaque, greasy stains and dried splashes form on the inner surface of the microwave, and as a result, an unpleasant odor appears, which can also impregnate foods heated in it. There is only one way out - to clean the microwave, and you need to do this as often as possible.

1. Dishwashing liquid. With the usual dishwashing detergent, you can rid the microwave of sticky greasy deposits and yellow spots:
   • soak a sponge in hot water and wipe the inside of the microwave oven;
     
   • apply a small amount of detergent to the sponge and lather;
     
   • wipe the microwave with this sponge, leaving foam on its walls;
     
   • leave it in this state for half an hour;
     
   • over time, remove the foam along with the dirt, periodically rinsing the sponge;
     
   • wipe it with a dry cloth, collecting excess moisture.
     
   If the microwave oven is very dirty, then more foam will be required. Therefore, you will have to periodically add detergent to the sponge.
   
2. Soda and citric acid. The essence of this method lies in the fact that when these two ingredients react, dirt particles also dissolve at the same time:
   • take a bowl and pour 2 tbsp into it. soda and 1 tbsp. citric acid;
     
   • pour in a couple of tablespoons of warm water;
     
   • take an old toothbrush, dip it into a hissing mass and apply the resulting product to the inner walls of the stove with rubbing movements;
     
   • rub all its walls in this way and leave for 15-20 minutes;
     
   • then remove the dirt with a soft sponge.
     
   After such cleaning, even the unpleasant smell from the microwave is removed. After cleaning, the stove must be wiped first with a clean, damp, and then with a clean, dry cloth.
   
3. Vinegar. The simplest and most popular method that has saved more than one microwave oven from grease and plaque:
   • pour a glass of warm water into a microwave-safe dish;
     
   • add 3 tbsp. vinegar essence;
     
   • put the container of water and vinegar in the microwave at 500-800 watts and set the time to 10 minutes.
     
   During this time, the steam released when the water is heated will corrode the adhering dirt and get rid of the unpleasant odor. After a while, remove the container and wipe the walls of the microwave with a damp cloth, collecting all the dirt. Instead of vinegar, you can add a tablespoon of citric acid or the juice of one lemon to the water.
   
4. Orange peel. Do not rush to throw away orange peels after peeling the fruit, as they can clean the microwave quickly and effectively:
   • put the peel in a microwave-safe container;
     
   • fill them with water, you will need about 1.5 cups;
     
   • turn on the oven at full power, for about 7-10 minutes;
     
   • after a while, remove the container and wipe the walls with a damp cloth.
     
   This method of cleaning in a matter of minutes will save the microwave oven from dirt, plaque, bacteria and unpleasant odors.
   

All the most effective and fastest ways to clean the inside of a microwave oven are based on the same principle - creating a steam bath and a trap for cleaning agent fumes. The effect of the trap will be created by the stove itself, but our task is to make an effective cleaning solution from products that, fortunately, you probably already have in your kitchen cabinet.

The quick way to clean your microwave

In most cases, the vinegar “bath” method helps to wash the microwave from old greasy deposits and stubborn stains:

1. Mix 1.5-2 cups of water and 2 tablespoons of vinegar (9%) in a bowl and put it in the microwave.
2. Run the microwave oven at maximum power for 10 minutes, then leave it to “steam” for another 5-10 minutes.
3. Wipe the oven with a damp cloth to remove dirt and vinegar smell.

Yes, the smell of vinegar will be felt during cleaning, but it will quickly disappear both from the room and from the microwave chamber. And, of course, for the time of the "bath" it is desirable to open the window.

If the dirt after the “bath” is soaked, but still remains, you can turn on the stove for another 10 minutes or wipe its chamber with a sponge soaked in the same vinegar solution and sprinkled with soda.

An old oily coating after an vinegar “steam room” will help wash the olive oil.

And now let's talk about other ways that you can replace or supplement the above cleaning method.

Method 2. Cleaning the microwave with citric acid or lemon juice (for medium to heavy soiling)

This method allows not only to quickly clean the microwave oven from the inside of grease and soot, but also to eliminate unpleasant odors. However, if the chamber of your microwave oven is covered with enamel, then you should not regularly use citric acid to clean it.

What will be required: water (400-500 ml), water container and 1 tablespoon citric acid or 4 tablespoons lemon juice from 2 medium lemons and leftovers.

Recipe:

1. We fill the dishes with water, pour citric acid into it or squeeze the juice from the lemons cut in two, and then put the halves of the fruit there as shown in the photo below.

1. Next, put the container in the chamber and turn on the microwave at maximum power for 2-5 minutes, depending on the degree of contamination.
2. When the microwave turns off, you should wait another 5-15 minutes.
3. We take out the dishes, wipe the oven inside with a sponge or cloth, wetting the sponge in the same solution in difficult places.

Method 3. Cleaning the microwave with soda (for medium soiling)

If citric acid was not at hand, and you do not grow a lemon tree at home, and generally prefer to use citrus fruits for their intended purpose, then baking soda will help you, which will settle on the walls of the chamber in the form of condensate and dissolve dried splashes and dirt.

What will be required: water (400-500 ml), a container for water and 1 tablespoon of soda.

Recipe: our task is to make a solution that will settle on the walls of the chamber in the form of condensate and dissolve dried splashes and dirt. To do this, fill the dishes with water, pour soda into it, put it in the chamber to heat up at maximum power for 2-5 minutes, and then leave the oven alone for another 5 minutes. Then it remains only to wipe the camera clean, in difficult places wetting a sponge or rag in the same soda solution.

Method 4. Vinegar cleaning (for heavy dirt)

Vinegar will help to clean even the most neglected microwave effectively and quickly, but you will have to endure its smell during the cleaning process. And one more thing - if the chamber of your microwave oven is covered with enamel, then we do not recommend using this method too often.

What will be required: water (400-500 ml), a water container and 2 tablespoons of vinegar (9%) or 1 teaspoon of 70% essence.

Recipe: first of all, open the window slightly so that the smell of acid can disappear. Next, pour water into a plate, pour a bite into it, put the solution in the chamber and turn on the microwave for 2-5 minutes, depending on the degree of contamination. Now we give the vinegar fumes a little more time to dissolve the dirt on the walls of the chamber and begin to wash the microwave oven from the inside with a sponge or soft brush. When you are done, rinse the technique from the product itself.

Method 5. Cleaning the microwave with a sponge and Fairy (for light and medium soiling)

You probably thought that we would talk about ordinary mechanical cleaning? Not at all, although you can’t do without it, but now we offer a slightly different method that is suitable for washing a lightly soiled microwave.

What will be required: any sponge (except metal, of course), water for soaking it, as well as any dishwashing liquid like Fairy, Dosi, etc.

Recipe: squeeze a detergent the size of a 1-ruble coin onto a sponge abundantly moistened with water, then lather it well, squeezing and unclenching the sponge. Next, put it in the chamber and start the microwave at minimum power for 30 seconds, making sure that the sponge does not start to melt. Now we open the door and wash off the grease and splashes softened with steam with the same sponge. In the following video, you can clearly see the process and result of cleaning in the described way.

Method 6. Cleaning the microwave with a glass cleaner (without a "bath")

And here is another good and safe for technology cleaning method using household chemicals, though without creating the “bath” effect.

What will be required: sponge, water, and any glass cleaner.

Recipe: First unplug your oven from the power supply. Next, mix a cleaning solution of glass cleaner and water in a 2:1 ratio. The solution should be enough to clean the oven both outside and inside. Next, liberally dampen the sponge with the detergent solution and wipe the inside of the microwave, including the ring and plate. Dried stains should be soaked in glass cleaner for 5 minutes. Next, thoroughly wipe the entire chamber with a clean cloth dampened with water so that no dirt, no residue of the windshield wiper, or its smell remains on the walls.

• The procedure for cleaning the chamber from the inside is recommended as follows: first we take out the ring and the glass plate from the oven, then wipe the top wall and grate, then the sides, then the bottom, and finally the door as shown in the photo below. A plate can be placed under the stove during cleaning to collect all the dirt in it.

• You should clean your microwave at least once or twice a month. During this time, the spots of fat will not have time to become old.
• In order not to run your assistant and wash it less often, use a special plastic cap that protects the microwave oven chamber from splashes of heated food. The cap can be replaced by glass transparent dishes or cling film.

• With citric acid and vinegar, it is important not to overdo it in the process of heating the solution or soaking, especially if the interior of the chamber is enameled.
• Old stains of fat that are not removed even after the “bath”, you can try to remove with a rag soaked in olive oil.
• Be careful when cleaning your microwave. Do not use metal sponges or sponges that are very crumbly. After all, the ingress of foreign particles behind the grate can cause a fire in the device. We also advise you to refrain from experimenting with household chemicals and use only specialized products or those described in our article (glass cleaner, dishwashing liquid and “home” products). The use of hazardous chemicals may also cause the device to ignite.
• Do not use abrasive cleaners on the microwave oven to avoid damaging the cabinet.
• And, of course, we recall that if the food “exploded” during cooking or heating, leaving splashes of fat and pieces of food on the inner walls of the oven, then it is better to remove them immediately.