How to Clean a Microwave in 10 Minutes

A microwave is the rare case where the work does itself. Splashes inside soften under steam in five to seven minutes and then come away with an ordinary cloth. Problems start only when they have been baked on for months, and even then chemicals are barely needed.

What you need

• One lemon, or a teaspoon of citric acid
• White vinegar 9 % — 2 tablespoons
• Baking soda — 1 tablespoon for stubborn marks

• A microwave-safe glass bowl
• Microfibre cloth or paper towels
• A soft sponge

Time: 15 minutes including dwell time.

Step by step: lemon and steam

1. Make the solution. 300 ml of water in a glass bowl, squeeze in the lemon and drop the halves in too.
2. Heat it. Put the bowl inside and run full power for five minutes.
3. Do not open at once. Leave it another five minutes with the door shut — the steam is what does the work.
4. Take the bowl out carefully. It is hot, and the water can boil again when moved.
5. Wipe the inside. Microfibre from the top down: ceiling, walls, floor, then the inside of the door.
6. Wash the plate separately. The glass turntable and the roller ring go in the sink; the ring especially, since grease collects in it.

Method 2 — vinegar

Same principle, but two tablespoons of vinegar in 300 ml of water instead of lemon. It works slightly more aggressively and suits a microwave that smells as well as being greasy. The obvious downside is that the kitchen needs airing afterwards. Lemon is pleasanter and just as good on light soiling.

Method 3 — soda for stubborn marks

If dried droplets survive the steam, mix a tablespoon of soda into 100 ml of water, apply to the mark and leave for ten minutes. Then lift it with a soft sponge. No scrubbing: if a mark resists, repeat the steam rather than press harder.

What to avoid

• Abrasive sponges on the inner coating. The enamel inside is thin and scratches are permanent.
• Water in the holes on the side wall. The waveguide is behind them, and moisture there kills the oven.
• Removing the mica plate. The pale panel on the side is never washed with water — wipe it dry, and replace it if damaged.
• Cleaning a hot oven. Let it cool to warm: temperature shock damages the coating.

Why the splashes keep coming back

The usual reason is not cleanliness but heating food uncovered. Steam rises from the dish, condenses on the ceiling of the cavity and runs back down with the grease. A lid or an upturned plate removes the problem entirely and saves that quarter of an hour every month.

The second reason is full power where medium would do. Soup at 900 W erupts; at 600 W it simply heats. It takes a minute longer and splashes a fraction as much.

The parts people forget

• The roller ring under the plate. Grease and crumbs collect in it, which is why the turntable starts squeaking.
• The door seal. Wipe it damp: more settles there than anywhere.
• The vent grille at the back. Vacuum it every few months — a blocked grille overheats the oven.
• The mica plate. Dry cloth only. Dark scorch marks mean it needs replacing.

When to call a cleaner

For a microwave this is almost always unnecessary — it cleans in a quarter of an hour with no skill. The item only makes sense as part of the kitchen: when a cleaner is already doing the oven, hood and fridge, the microwave is added from UAH 250 and done in parallel while the oven product works. Calling anyone out for it alone is not worth it, and we say so plainly. For the whole kitchen see microwave cleaning and kitchen cleaning.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get rid of the smell inside?

The same steam, but with vinegar. Leave the door open for an hour afterwards.

Can I use oven cleaner in a microwave?

No. Alkaline products eat the inner coating — steam and soda are enough here.

What about yellow marks on the cavity ceiling?

That is baked-on grease. Steam plus a soda paste applied to the spot, ten minutes, no pressure.