How to Clean a Microwave with Lemon
The microwave is one of the most hard-working appliances in your kitchen. It's perfect for heating snacks and leftovers, any time day or night. Many of us have perfected some truly delicious microwave recipes, shortcuts in the kitchen, and cool techniques for perfect dishes using the microwave. But no matter how much of a microwave pro you are - splatters happen.
The best way to clean your microwave is to heat a bowl of lemon water and then wipe down the inside. But just why does this technique work, and how can you make it work for you? Here's everything you need to know.
5 Steps to Clean Your Microwave with Lemon
- Fill a microwave-safe bowl halfway with water.
- Add 1 sliced lemon or a few teaspoons of lemon juice
- Microwave for 5 minutes
- Remove the bowl (carefully) and wipe down the inside of the microwave
- Use the lemony water to clean the plate, door, hinges, and outside of the microwave
Voiala! Your microwave is now clean and smells amazing.
Check out this video if you want to see for yourself: tiktok.com/@creative_explained/video
Why Cleaning Your Microwave with Lemon Works
Cleaning your microwave with lemon is easy to do, and the steps are simple. But why does it work? If you just tried the trick, then you know that the process softens those cooked-on splatters and makes your microwave extremely easy to wipe down.
The secret to the lemon trick is a combination of steam and acid.
When you heat the bowl of water, it releases steam, which fills the microwave chamber and works to soften the cooked-on splatters on the inner walls. The acid in the lemon juice also helps to break down organic particles, kill odors, and provide a small amount of sanitization at the same time. The steaming water makes your microwave easier to clean, but the lemon actually provides the cleansing action.
Why Lemons? Can You Use Other Things?
We use lemons or lemon juice to clean the microwave because lemons are acidic and they smell nice. But you can use any citrus fruit or non-toxic acid. If you don't have a lemon or a bottle of lemon juice, you can also use:
- An orange or fresh-squeezed orange juice (but not orange juice from concentrate0
- Lime or lime juice
- Grapefruit or grapefruit juice
Each of these will also help clean the inside of your microwave and make your microwave smell pretty awesome when you're done.
Cleaning your Microwave with Vinegar
You can also use the same trick with white vinegar. However, it doesn't smell as nice. Vinegar has a very strong and signature smell that most people don't enjoy. While the vinegar smell will dissipate in an hour or two, microwaving a bowl of hot vinegar can be intense, to say the least. After the steaming, it can be hard to lean in and wipe your microwave when it smells strongly of vinegar. But it will do the trick if you've got vinegar and a dirty microwave.
Lemon and Vinegar
If you want, you can use both lemon and vinegar for a powerful cleaning solution that smells better. Add one lemon and a teaspoon or two of vinegar or two teaspoons of each to your bowl of water.
.jpg)
Scrub Your Microwave with Baking Soda
After you do the steamy lemon trick, most of the stuff stuck to the inside of your microwave can be wiped away pretty easily. But for really tough splatters, baking soda is the answer. It's basically a non-toxic scrubbing powder that also has slightly acidic elements to help get those tough messes clean.
- Wet your cloth with hot lemon water
- Sprinkle baking soda on the cloth
- Apply the soda powder directly to the mess and scrub firmly to break down the buildup
- Wipe clean with a fresh section of your cloth
Soak the Plate
The spinning microwave plate often gets the worst of spills and messes. You can make it easier to clean by removing the plate and soaking it in the sink while you wipe down the inside of the microwave. Then you can scrub the plate like a dish or cooking pan, if necessary, before putting it back in. You can even run the plate through the dishwasher. This is often the final step to a sparkling clean microwave.
How Often Should You Clean Your Microwave?
It's generally a good idea to clean your microwave once a week. With the steamy lemon trick, the process is easy. Especially if you clean your microwave before too much buildup occurs. You can increase or decrease your cleaning frequency depending on how often the microwave is used (or messes are made) in your household.
Finding Apartments with a Built-In Microwave
One of the best things about kitchen design is a built-in microwave that doesn't take up counter space. At Forest Woods Apartments in Valley Park, MO, our apartments each have a built-in microwave for your convenience and enjoyment. Your microwave will be located above the stove, providing both an exhaust fan and a handy place to heat popcorn and sides. Contact us to inquire about availability, book a tour, and see our well-appointed kitchens for yourself.