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Microwaves

You won't believe how easy it is to clean your microwave

No elbow grease required

A pink glove cleaning the inside of a microwave Credit: Reviewed / Getty Images / Andrii Borodai

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It’s time to address the dirty secret in your kitchen: the inside of your microwave oven. It’s easy to fall behind on cleaning small appliances that you use all the time, and before you know it they end up caked in dried food splatter.

Well, there’s good news. When it comes to figuring out how to clean a microwave, the process is quick and painless. In fact, as easy as it is to let your microwave get covered in stubborn stains, it’s just as simple to clean up the mess. What you need to do is harness the power of steam.

Cleaning your microwave is a choose-your-own adventure. You get to pick whether you want to clean the microwave with lemon, vinegar, or dish soap. If you do this right, you shouldn't get an arm workout from scrubbing away at the splatter.

Here’s how to clean a microwave.

What You’ll Need

Cleaning products sitting on a kitchen counter.
Credit: Reviewed / Leigh Harrington

Cleaning your microwave is a choose-your-own adventure.

  • Cleaning agent such as half a lemon, half a cup of white vinegar, or a few drops of dish soap
  • Water
  • Microwave safe bowl or steam cleaner
  • Paper towels, sponge, or microfiber cloth

Here's how to clean a microwave

Credit: Reviewed / Leigh Harrington

This method makes cleaning your microwave a breeze.

1. Create your cleaning solution

Fill a bowl or the steam cleaner with water and your choice of cleaning agent.

2. Steam up that microwave

Put the bowl or cleaning device in the microwave and heat on high for six minutes. Once finished, let it sit for 5 minutes.

3. Wipe all that grime away.

After 5 minutes, open the door to the microwave and remove the bowl or cleaning device. Wipe away any splatter that should now be soft. No need to rinse.

Now it’s time to admire that sparkling surface!

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