How to Clean a Microwave

If your microwave is often splattered with icky foods and beverages, you are not alone. Microwaves offer a fast way to heat and cook food but often end up messier than conventional ovens and stove tops. Fortunately, cleaning a microwave is much easier than cleaning conventional ovens and stove tops.

Prevention is important when it comes to keeping a microwave clean. A splatter cover for the microwave can be found and most mass merchandisers. A splatter cover is made of plastic and is placed over a plate, bowl or other microwave container. The splatter cover prevents food from splattering all over the microwave walls, door and roof. It can be easily washed in the sink or the dishwasher and simplifies microwave cleaning immensely.

To clean a microwave best, get to the splatters before they dry. Fresh splatters are much easier to clean than dry splatters. Simply wipe the leftover food away with a sponge, cloth or paper towel and warm, soapy water. Using your favorite all-purpose works great to clean a microwave, too.

It is best to clean a microwave before the splatter food dries a little more work is required. When it comes to dried food in a microwave, steam is your friend. Heat two cups of water in the microwave and the steam from the water will soften the dried food well enough that it can be wiped away as if the splatters were fresh.

Heat the water for about three minutes. Five minutes may be necessary if the splatters are numerous or particularly stubborn. (If you are worried about super heating the water, simply place it in a plastic measuring cup or bowl instead of a glass one. Super heating is rare but can occur under the right conditions.) Allow the water to sit in the microwave for about seven minutes after being heated. Use a sponge, cloth or paper towel with warm, soapy water or your favorite all-purpose cleaner to wipe away the mess.

To clean a microwave with bad odors, mix a cup of water with a half cup of lemon juice. Vinegar also works well to clean microwaves with bad odors. Follow the same routine of heating for three to five minutes and letting the water stand for five to ten minutes after heating.

To clean a microwave with stains use a paste of baking soda and water to rub the stain away. Let the paste remain on the stain until it is absorbed and wash the microwave as usual with warm soapy water or your favorite all-purpose cleaner.

The glass turntable in a microwave can be placed in the dishwasher or washed by hand in the sink.