Have you ever had microwaved pizza sauce blow up? Then, you need to clean the microwave. Today’s post will show you how to clean a microwave with vinegar! It’s quick, simple, and effective.
How to clean a microwave with vinegar? Prepare tools & materials, then follow the instruction. Put water and vinegar in a microwaveable bowl, microwave on high for 5 minutes, let it steam for a few minutes, remove the bowl and turntable, and wipe the microwave down with a sponge.
To learn more to clean a microwave with vinegar, keep reading.
How to Clean a Microwave With Vinegar?
Here are required tools & materials to clean a microwave with vinegar:
Tools & Materials
Tools:
- a microwaveable bowlor glass measuring cup
- a toothpick
- a sponge
Materials:
- vinegar
- water
- one drop of lemon essential oil, optional
Instructions to Clean a Microwave With Vinegar
Here is an easy step-by-step guide to clean a microwave with vinegar:
Put Water and Vinegar in a Microwaveable Bowl
2 cups of water and 2 tablespoons of vinegar should be added to a microwave-safe bowl. To cover up the vinegar smell, add a drop of essential oil.
Put a toothpick into the water in the bowl to prevent the water from boiling out the sides of the bowl.
Microwave on High for 5 Minutes
Close the microwave door and zap the bowl for five minutes on high.
Let It Steam for a Few Minutes
Don’t immediately open the microwave when the timer beeps. To allow the steam to function further, keep the door closed for an additional two to three minutes. The steam will aid in dislodging caked-on food particles, and the vinegar and lemon oil will aid in removing any odors.
Remove the Bowl and Turntable
Pulling out the bowl when you open the door will be very hot; be careful! Remove the turntable tray (carefully, it will be hot as well) and wash it in the sink.
Wipe the Microwave Down With a Sponge
Use your sponge to clean the microwave’s interior; the food and dirt will easily come off!
What Kind of Vinegar Do You Use to Clean a Microwave?
When cleaning a microwave, you should typically use white vinegar or cleaning vinegar, but if all you have is apple cider vinegar on hand, you can still use that. Increase the amount of apple cider vinegar in your solution relative to the water because it is milder than white vinegar and cleaning vinegar.
You’re in luck if you have vinegar for cleaning on hand! Cleaning vinegar, which is about 20% more acidic than white vinegar, is extremely helpful for thoroughly cleaning many greasy areas of your home, including the microwave. If you are sensitive to vinegar’s smell and plan to clean your microwave with vinegar, I recommend further dilution before proceeding with the above instructions.
Why Vinegar is the Secret to a Clean Microwave?
There are actually a few different ways to clean your microwave, but vinegar is an easy (and cheap) way to get the job done without any elbow grease. Because vinegar is acidic, it works. In fact, distilled white vinegar has a pH of around 2.4, for you science nerds out there. — it needs to be diluted with water.
Vinegar’s acidity allows it to tackle all sorts of yucky messes, including glue residue, soap scum, hard water stains, and whatever that splatter is on the inside of your microwave — especially when combined with steam, which helps soften and loosen the gunk that seems like it’s a permanent fixture.
How Often to Clean Your Microwave?
Unless you like scrubbing stuck-on food off of your microwave or getting a strong whiff of whatever you’ve been reheating every time you open the door, you should clean your microwave frequently. As a general rule, once a week is sufficient, but be sure to clean up spills as soon as possible to avoid them hardening or turning into goo and making the task that much more challenging. Regular cleaning also prevents your appliance from harboring bacteria and stinky smells
Tips to Keep Your Microwave Clean Longer
Your microwave will be both easier to clean and stay clean longer if you wipe up spills, splatters, and grease spots as soon as they occur. Using a splatter cover over your food will help keep the microwave cleaner. After each use, leave the door open for a few minutes to let the smells escape in order to prevent lingering odors.
The majority of spills can be cleaned up with a quick wipe with a soapy sponge after each use. To get rid of grease and grime, place your dirty dishes and a turntable that is dishwasher-safe in the dishwasher.
FAQs
What is the Quickest Easiest Way to Clean a Microwave?
All you need is a small bowl with equal parts water and baking soda. Dip a clean cloth into the paste and wipe down the surface. If the baking soda isn’t completely removed, a chalky residue may remain, so you might want to run the damp cloth more than once. Use a Mr. Clean product on the exterior of your microwave if it is particularly dirty.
Is It Better to Clean Microwave With Lemon Or Vinegar?
You can omit the lemon juice if you don’t have any. However, I highly recommend you use lemon to clean the microwave if you can. In addition to increasing the effectiveness of all-natural cleaning, it also helps to mask the overpowering vinegar odor.
What to Avoid When Cleaning Microwave?
Avoid microwaving items that leave lingering grease and/or smells, such as bacon or microwave popcorn. If that isn’t an option, clean up quickly after cooking by placing water and lemon in a small bowl, heating it briefly in the microwave, letting it sit for five minutes, and then wiping the inside clean.
Can I Clean My Microwave With Lemon?
However, while some advise using lemon slices to get the best deep-clean, I advise saving your lemons for something tastier, like making our lemon meringue trifle, putting together a lemon poppy seed layer cake, or baking a straightforward yet satisfying glazed lemon loaf. Citrus fruit can be saved by simply adding a few tablespoons of white vinegar to water (you can eyeball it; microwaving cleaning is not an exact science), then pressing the power button.
