Essentials
Cleaning Hack: Using Vinegar To Get A Spotless Microwave
Is the inside of your microwave looking like a disaster zone? Here’s a microwave cleaner vinegar solution to make it sparkle.
January 27, 2022
Microwaves are a modern marvel.
They’re one of the most convenient kitchen appliances to grace the market, giving you the ability to quickly heat leftovers and save money on new meals.
Unfortunately, frequent microwaving will cause issues inside the machine. Your food may splatter, or liquid may spill across the turntable. Burnt-on grime can build-up and turn the whole contraption into a gunky mess.
Cleaning the microwave is a job no one wants, either, because it requires a lot of elbow grease.
Fortunately, we have some DIY hacks to turn this process into an easy chore. Here's how to make a microwave cleaner with vinegar and keep your appliance fresh.
Why vinegar?
Vinegar might seem too simple to be a microwave cleaning hack, especially if you have an aversion to its smell.
White vinegar is an excellent cleaning solution because of its strong acidic properties. It allows it to break down tough stains in a simple, safe process. And, while there is a smell to it, it's no worse than other cleaning products. Vinegar doesn’t have the same harsh chemical additives as bleach, making it environmentally friendly, too.
Combining vinegar with the steam from hot water can soften the adhesive qualities of organic material caked onto a hard surface, like glass or plastic. All in all, it’s the easiest way to clean a microwave.
How to clean the inside of a microwave: the supplies you'll need
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To polish that dirty microwave to a professional sheen, you’ll need:
White vinegar, not apple cider vinegar. Any jug from your local supermarket will do the trick. You may already have some of this vinegar stored in your pantry supplies, too.
A microwave-safe bowl or dish. Glass is preferable, but you can even use a measuring cup.
A sponge to wipe down the inside of the microwave.
Paper towel or a dry clean cloth.
Toothpicks, or a stiff rubber scraper if you have one on hand.
Water.
Once your supplies are gathered, you’re ready to attempt the best way to clean microwave residue.
The white vinegar cleaning hack
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First, grab your microwave-safe bowl and pour 500ml of water into it. Room temperature water is satisfactory.
Add 2 tablespoons of white vinegar to the water.
Put the water-vinegar mixture into the microwave. Set the timer on full heat for five minutes, or until the water begins to boil. If you smell the strong scent of vinegar, don't worry. Remember, it's far less harsh than other cleaning methods.
After the boil cycle is complete, let the water-vinegar mix sit in the machine for another 3 minutes to trap the steam from the mixture. The acidic properties of the vinegar will help lift gunk off the surface.
Open the microwave door after the steam cleaning. Remove the cup with oven mitts because it’ll be hot and you don't want to knock it over. Be careful! The container may be boiling.
Using your damp sponge, scrub off the food splatters, now loosened by the vinegar mix. Burnt-on grime may take more deep cleaning, so use your scraper or toothpick to add in some elbow grease.
Once everything is lifted from the microwave's surface, wipe it down with a clean damp cloth, followed by your dry cloth, so all residue is cleared away and the interior is dry and safe to use.
How to clean a microwave with lemon
Lemons can act as a light antibacterial solution for your microwave. Simply dilute some lemon juice with water and scrub at the grease like you would with vinegar.
Additional cleaning tips and tricks
Are you hoping to focus on preventative care instead? Here are some tips to keep your microwave spotless.
Overheated liquid can explode or "pop" upward in a microwave when jostled on the turntable, spilling its contents. This is what causes the splatter effects on the inside of the machine. To avoid these incidents, place a glass lid over an empty bowl to keep those contents from covering the inside of the microwave.
Learning how to clean microwaves with vinegar and baking soda can be helpful. However, this mixture doesn’t outshine the abilities of vinegar alone.
Sometimes, simple dish soap and warm water mixture can do the trick if the stains aren’t burnt on.
Your leftover white vinegar mixture can be used to clean other areas of the kitchen. Are there some stains along with the tile backsplash? Start scrubbing.
If you hate the scent of vinegar, store-bought microwave cleaner, lemon-scented or otherwise, can be a quick alternative to vinegar.
After you're done cleaning, you can warm up some feel-good snacks to relax and watch Netflix with. Some of our favorite suggestions? The easy mug cake or this all-in-one burger recipe.
If you’re low on vinegar or craving some microwave-only foods, Gopuff can deliver everything you need to your door in minutes.
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