Your microwave does heavy-duty work day in and day out from reheating pizza slices, popping popcorn, melting chocolates and softening butter. That also means it can easily become stained by strong dirt and tough odours.
All that chaos and mess that have accumulated through time can make your microwave less efficient. Here are some fast and easy techniques to get your reliable kitchen appliance back to its original state of cleanliness – or almost.
Prevention first
Your first line of defense is to stop the problem from happening. Covering dishes of food before placing them in the microwave goes a long way towards avoiding most dirts and stains.
Clean it on a daily basis
Remember to clean the inside of your microwave as well, as part of your daily kitchen routine. Using a sponge, soft cloth or paper towel, wipe down the inside floor, ceiling, turntable and the sides. This will remove any stain that you might have missed, before they have a chance to harden.
Do the Steam-clean
If the stains have already dried off, try steaming the area before you apply elbow grease. Microwave 1 cup of water on high, for two or three minutes and let it stay for up to five minutes, then carefully take out the cup of water along with the turntable. Wipe clean all the surfaces with a sponge, soft cloth or paper towel.
Don’t overlook the turntable
You have to regularly clean this one, as well. Nearly all brands are dishwasher-safe, but if you’re not sure about yours, merely cleaning it with warm water could do trick.
Finish it off
Lastly, wipe down all the outside surfaces including the control panel, with a soft and damp cloth. If it is covered in fingerprints and quite greasy, clean them off again with a water-vinegar solution this time. You can dry the surface with a soft cloth for the sleek look.
It is widely recommended to steam-clean your microwave’s interior once a week or so, but this technique works even if you go longer between each cleanings.