We’ll start with the most pressing question. How often should you clean your microwave?
The majority of experts advise doing a weekly cleaning of your microwave. Don’t give up if you think that’s a lot. It’s a quick and easy task that you can check off your to-do list in the time it takes your coffee to brew.
Of course, that’s not to say you shouldn’t clean messes as they happen. If food spills or splatters, clean it up right away to avoid wasting time and energy later. Gunk, grime, and funky smells are more likely to happen if you aren’t cleaning as you go. As for a deeper cleaning, once a week is totally sufficient.
Please read on for more detailed information.
How Often Should You Clean Your Microwave?
While microwaves can be helpful when it comes to reheating leftovers, they can get quite messy over time. Food splatters, spills, and lingering odors can make this tiny oven a hot spot for grease and stains. However, frequent cleanings can help keep those little messes from turning into big ones. To find out exactly how often you should clean your microwave to stay on top of things, we spoke with cleaning experts in advance.
Frequency Matters
Much more often than you probably do now, you should be cleaning your microwave. Microwaves should be cleaned at least once a week, depending on the frequency of use. Instead of cleaning the microwave days later, it is much simpler to quickly wipe it after each use. Additionally, regular cleanings can stop leftover messes from tainting later-heated meals.
Use Non-toxic, Food-safe Cleaners
You trust your microwave to heat the things you eat, which is why you need to make sure you’re maintaining it in a food-safe way, notes Rochelle Wilkinson, the owner of Dirt Detectives Cleaning. When tackling your microwave, which sees everything from pasta sauce to bacon grease, choose something non-toxic. When using the microwave for the next time, you don’t want to leave any lingering particles or flavors. We recommend starting with a microfiber cloth and plain water. Use the wet cloth to clean the inside and the glass plate. Turn on your microwave for one minute with the cloth still on the plate. Any stuck-on grease and splatter will come loose thanks to the steam produced by heating the towel. Let the cloth rest in the microwave for three minutes, as it will be very hot,” she warns. Then, use a non-toxic cleaner; Wilkinson advises using a degreaser like Quick N’ Brite. Utilizing your microfiber cloth, scrub the microwave’s interior.
Use What You Have
Despite the many fantastic products available, you don’t need to purchase a specialized cleaner to keep your microwave clean. The microwave should be thoroughly scrubbed inside with a sponge and degreasing products like Dawn Ultra Liquid Dish Soap, it should be noted that this is best done after the damp method towel mentioned above. After a short while, rinse it with hot water.
How to Clean Your Microwave?
Here’s a quick cleaning tutorial for your microwave.
- Half a cup of vinegar and half a cup of water should be added to a bowl or mug that can go in the microwave. Microwave the mixture for two minutes or until the inside of the microwave steams up.
- Place the turntable in the dishwasher (confirm in your owner’s manual that it is dishwasher-safe) or wash it by hand in the sink.
- Let the vinegar and water mixture cool before removing the bowl or mug from the microwave. Once cooled, clean up any food spills or splatters inside the microwave with a damp sponge or microfiber cloth.
- If you have tough grime in your microwave, combine your sponge or cloth with a little bit of baking soda to create an abrasive cleaner that is effective at removing stubborn grime.
- For added power to remove those difficult-to-remove stains, try dish soap, which is known for its degreasing properties.
- Please don’t forget to clean the microwave’s exterior as well. Use a sponge that has been dampened or a microfiber cloth to clean this.
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Why Should I Clean the Microwave?
If food splatters are not cleaned up, grease and grime can quickly accumulate in the microwave. Not only will the build-up of these substances decrease the efficiency of your microwave but it can also be dangerous. The presence of harmful bacteria in the food you are cooking can be harmful to your health. Your warranty may be voided if there are food scraps and splatters left over from the previous use. It’s important to take care of your microwave to preserve not only your health and safety but also its lifespan.
FAQs
Should You Clean Microwave After Every Use?
Save yourself time in the long run and give your microwave a wipe down after each and every use. Daily wipe downs will lessen the frequency of future deep cleans, despite the fact that this may seem like a lot of work.
How Often Should You Clean Inside Microwave?
While there isn’t a fixed rule on how often to clean the microwave, it’s a good idea to clean it once a week or when obvious splatters spray the interior. Not only do microwave ovens cook quickly, but they clean quickly, too.
Should You Clean Your Microwave With Clorox Wipes?
We do not recommend this; only use Use Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes to clean the microwave’s exterior. Any time you use a disinfecting wipe on a surface that will come into contact with food, you must rinse the area with potable water before using it for food preparation.
What Should You Not Use to Clean a Microwave?
Cleaning any microwave oven can be challenging, especially if you have no idea what you should or shouldn’t do. You should never use any foil or metal objects whilst cleaning your microwave. By scratching important components and/or protection, using such objects can harm the machine.
