How To Clean Your Microwave

If you have a microwave at home, it’s often overlooked in your regular kitchen cleaning. Even some of us at Team Delish admit to only wiping out the insides of our microwaves after a major food explosion.

It’s safe to say that we’ve all experienced the splattering of leftover food and the stench of burnt popcorn in our microwave. It left us wondering: how often should We clean our microwaves? And what is the best way to do this?

How often should you clean your microwave?

How often you clean your microwave depends on how often you use it. But according to our friends at the Good Housekeeping Institute, the best way to keep your microwave clean is to regularly service it. For die-hard microwave users, that means a wipe down at least every few days.

If your microwave is used less often, a weekly cleaning is a good place to start. Luckily, there are many methods to remove built-up dirt that don’t require a lot of scrubbing.

The best ways to clean a microwave

One of our food editors wipes down the inside of her microwave with Clorox wipes, then dries it with a paper towel. Other members of our team use a simple all-purpose cleaner or diluted dish soap with a sponge to get the job done.

One of our favorite methods uses the heat of the microwave to do all the hard work, and it’s Good Housekeeping approved. Simply place some lemon slices and water in a microwave-safe container and heat for a few minutes. The citrus-scented steam loosens stubborn stains so you can simply wipe them away with a sponge.

While the inside of your microwave can get messy, the outside also needs some TLC from time to time. This is where the placement of your microwave matters; If it’s near your oven, it can build up a lot of greasy deposits over time.

To clean the outside of your microwave, you need a degreasing cleaner. The Good Housekeeping Institute recommends products like Mr. Clean Clean Freak Mist, vinegar, or diluted dish soap. If you need something heavier we recommend using stainless steel cleaner or even oven cleaner for bigger messes. You need to put a little elbow grease in to make your microwave sparkling clean.

While the best way to keep your microwave clean is to clean it regularly, there are some products on the market that can limit the amount of splatter that hits the walls. One of our favorites is a microwaveable plate cover. So if your leftover food explodes while reheating, all you have to do is clean that plastic lid, not the entire microwave.