Read on to discover top tips on how to clean your microwave. This regularly used appliance tends to be forgotten when cleaning the kitchen.
Follow these quick, expert tips and you’ll have your microwave oven shining and in prime-performing condition.
Lemon is the secret all-natural ingredient used to clean many household items and appliances – and the microwave is just one of them. Follow these easy steps to refresh your microwave in minutes using lemon.
Step 1: Combine lemon juice and warm cups of water
Cut up the remaining lemon into wedges. Squeeze it and fill a microwave-safe bowl with its juice. Throw in the wedges and pour 1/2 cup water over the top.
Step 2: Microwave for 3 minutes
Place the bowl in and set the microwave on high for three minutes. Once complete, leave the bowl inside for a further five minutes to steam.
Step 3: Remove the bowl and wipe down
Carefully remove the bowl, remembering it will be hot, then wipe all internal surfaces with a damp microfibre cloth.
Read more: How to clean a washing machine
How to get burnt smell out of the microwave?
Heating up or cooking food in the microwave convenient. Just pop it in and let it heat up or cook and presto! A nice, warm meal is ready for you to devour.
But sometimes the food that you’re reheating leaves strong, burnt smell behind. And it can be unpleasant. One way to remove the stench is to tackle it as soon as possible.
For light odours like curry, air out your microwave by opening the door or place a bowl of baking soda inside. Keep the door closed for the baking soda to absorb the smell.
For stronger odours like burnt popcorn, you have to clean any leftover before you start ridding the microwave of smells. Place an odour-absorbing gel and keep it there until your next use.
Read more: How to clean an iron
How to remove food residue in the microwave
A clean magic eraser is effective in getting rid of stuck-on food residue. For foods that are stuck to the turntable, just wash it with sudsy water.
How to clean the microwave door
It’s not just the inside that counts, your microwave door gets greasy and grimy too. Here’s how to give it a good scrub and restore it back to its former glory.
First, take a clean, dampened sponge and dip it in baking soda. Then, use that to clean the rubber gasket around the microwave door. Wipe it down with a damp cloth or rinse it with a clean sponge.
For greasy window, mix a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water. Take a clean rag, dip it into the cleaning solution and wipe it down.
For heavy grease build-up, you need something a little stronger. You can either use an all-purpose, grease-cutting cleaner or mix drops of dish soap and water. Apply the cleaner with a microfibre cloth and wipe it down.
Read more: How to clean stainless steel appliances
How to keep your microwave clean at all times?
The easiest way to keep your microwave clean? Don’t let it get dirty in the first place. This will cut down your cleaning process the next time you clean. Here are some tips to keep your appliance looking fresh:
- Always cover your food before you reheat them. Use paper towels or a microwave cover for this.
- If you’re microwaving foods that leave lingering grease and smell, do a quick clean up immediately. Don’t procrastinate or you’ll have more work to do next time.
- Remember to wipe down the inside of your microwave whenever you clean your kitchen.
This article was originally published as How to clean a microwave and toaster with 2 ingredients by realestate.com.au written by Elke Keeley. Additional content by Stephanie Yap.