The microwave is one of those appliances that is easy to forget to clean. Since the door is almost always closed the nastiness that lurks inside can go unnoticed for quite some time. Luckily the microwave can be cleaned in about 5 minutes with only plain water and very minimal effort. Even if your microwave is like mine with gross caked on food seemingly baked into the walls I promise you this will only take 5 minutes.
Take a microwave safe bowl and fill it with water. Add a dash of vinegar. Set it in inside and turn the microwave on for 5 minutes. The water will turn to steam and the steam will soften up all the gunk. The vinegar helps to absorb the smells.
While it’s cooking give the outside a quick wipe down and then go do something else for 4 more minutes until it’s done. You can let the microwave sit for a few more minutes to let the steam penetrate even more if you like.
Be really careful when opening the microwave and taking the bowl out. The water will be extremely hot. Wipe down the walls with a damp cloth and remove the plate from the inside. Rinse it in the sink with hot soapy water. Put the plate back in and voila, a nice squeaky clean microwave ready for the next person to cook something and forget to cover it!
craftylittlegnome.wordpress.com 
Worked great on a very dirty microwave. No scrubbing needed. Thanks for the tip!
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Vinegar is an excellent degreaser as well, so it helps melt the crud.
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A wet rag soaked with lemon nuked works also. I love this!
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I use vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser with every wash, instead of FS. Vinegar cuts any soap residue and helps keep the washer clean. I've never noticed a vinegar smell, either. Clothes are soft, but if you still feel the need for FS, use the dryer sheets.
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I love this! I just tried it on my microwave which was gross! Pasta sauce that had 'popped' and exploded everywhere and hubby didn't tell me until AFTER it had dried! It all wiped right off without any scrubbing and no harsh chemicals! Woohoo!
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Great post. Thanks for the tip I did this in my microwave and did a pos ton it. I mentioned your blog in my post. Thanks so much.
http://www.nzecochick.com/2012/06/clean-your-microwave-naturally-in-5.html
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I just did it – works great !!! thank you sooo much 🙂
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Idk what I did wrong, but it didn't work for me:(
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love using lemon juice or vinegar…..will be trying this in the microwave in the morning…..thanks for sharing!!
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I cut up lemons into small wedges, place them in a microwave safe bowl with water and let it go for about two minutes. The results are impressive. I've never tried vinegar but have no doubt the results are the same. Lemon just smells better. 🙂
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Perhaps there was too much vinegar? You only want to put in a splash. Maybe different models deal with steam differently. Sorry to hear, this has always worked well for us.
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USE A FLAT RAZOR BLADE. wORKS LIKE A CHARM
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You dont need to use anything but water it causes the steam, and then just wipe it out..you dont need the vinegar or the smell. And i use dawnon asponge to wipe it out…the steam just loosens it for you.
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Amazing tried it tonight with lemon. My microwave was pretty nasty and it literally wiped right off no scrubbing. Try this. Trying the oven cleaning right now with the baking soda we will see how that works. Thank you for posting this you saved me a lot of time.
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Yellow mustard!! Poured boiling spiced cider on me just a couple days ago, and I've never had that instant of a relief from pain that bad.
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Oh, great idea, Adrienne Audrey! Let us know how it works…
Hand Care
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I read this tip somewhere and I agree that it works! Instead of vinegar, I use lemon or orange to take care of the smell.
cleaning tips
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Ruth
I just got rid of A thrd degree burn from steam! Not A fun thing to do. I was making chicken soup in an electic kettle and it realy
gets hot!
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I tried this a long time ago and when I opened the door to the microwave, the water exploded in my face. Just be careful when doing this. I also heard you can use a wet sponge and it will work also. Again just be careful not to burn yourself.
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that is correct.great pointers
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what a great idea. it makes a lot of sense
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This is awesome, thanks for sharing with us…
Hand Care
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you must have been using an narrow mouth container. Use a WIDE mouth container because otherwise you will get superheated water that is beyond boiling and doesn't boil because of the container used. Quite dangerous. I believe myth busters did an episode about this. Or at least about heating water in a microwave.
I've done this before using a VERY GENEROUS amount of vinegar. About a half cup to 1 cup vinegar to 1-2 cups of water in a bowl that is wider at the top than at the bottom. Usually a plastic glad (disposable/reusable) type bowl. I've also sprayed straight vinegar on entire surface of the microwave on the inside before starting it. I heat the water for 10-15 minutes though myself to create more steam and make it easier to wipe down. Works like a charm until one of the kiddo's uses the microwave and gets it dirty again…. *grumbles* but that's life as a mum with growing kids……
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It's an awesome article in support of all the internet users; they will get advantage from it I am sure.
my weblog: onurbridals.com
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I agree with the wet sponge or wash cloth idea…. you get to do more than one thing at once and it's safer than having to move the boiling water. In only 1-3 minutes the sponge/cloth gets sanitized and the microwave gets steamed. Plus they are nice and hot to use them for wiping the softened gunk off the inside of the microwave. Let them cool a bit or use gloves. This is also a great way to clean your counters, etc. with or without vinegar or lemon juice (both acids, BTW). Scrub with a little baking soda (an alkaline), if necessary. Definitely don't use 409 or other toxic household cleaners inside your microwave (or fridge).
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I was having an off day and microwaved a tablespoon of honey by itself – forgetting to put the other ingredients into the cup. My microwave is now brown inside and I have tried the cleaning methods with baking soda, vinegar, lemon, plain water, and dish soap. Nothing makes it look even the slightest bit better.
Does anyone have any ideas?
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Thanks, this was super helpful and so much easier than spending an hour scrubbing it like i usually do!!
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I used apple cider vinegar to make for a better smell. Microwave is clean and the kitchen smells good as well. ~~v Dee
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In my humble opinion Manda – if you weren't aware that someone else had invented it , I say claim it (to yourself at least) as your own personal invention and take pride in it. After all – who's to say that someone else didn't come up with it BEFORE the first one that we know of. They just may have thought to keep their handy tip to themselves.
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Perhaps wipe it down with Baking soda sprinkled on a damp cloth.
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I have and it worked quite well. Also no smell like the commercial cleaners you buy.
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I just tried this and it didn't work. The door was the only thing that got steamed up and wiped off easily. But the inside didn't come clean at all. I will stick to spraying the inside with vinegar and water (like I have been doing for years) from now on.
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Or you could just never clean it like us. Haha
😛
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Doing something like that, for years. 1 lemon + 1 orange (each cut in 4), in a bowl of water. Works great and smells, even better!!!
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I use lemon instead of vinegar, smells much better, and works great!
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I have a winter cold and flu cleaning one, when everyone is sniffling and got the flu in the house i put a 1litre micro safe container half full of water and 1 table spoon of vicks in for 8mins , the vicks clears their noses, smells fresh and also makes regular cleaning a breeze. When not in use can be stored in cupboard or left in microwave for later cleaning , i often think when i go into make a cuppa i flick it on for 3mins to freshen the kitchen and air 🙂
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I used this method once a month for about a year. The last time I did it, my microwave literally exploded. The vinegar stripped the covering off the wires and boom. Use at your own risk.
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Ammonia will work better for this cleaning task. Use in the same way as described. Also, it can be used in the same way for oven cleaning too.
Try it guys.
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You can also try just using a spray bottle to spray water onto the walls of the microwave and then nuke. No burning or exploding bowl of water and works just fine!
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It looks a bit expensive, dont you think?
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if only i saw this yesterday i just cleaned my microwave last night with soupy water and i had to scrub the dam thing ..but i might do this now coz it still smells
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This is pretty cool, def have to try it out!
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I tried this and after a few minutes I heard a loud bang. The vinegar bottle exploded. I guess I should have removed the cap?
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I Put Soap liquid and a brash inside the microwave, I turn it ON for 0.3 min and its clean ! Try it
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Pingback: The Easiest Way To Clean Your Microwave • DIY All in One
Fantastic tip! I use vanilla extract and water instead of vinegar to clean the inside of my microwave.Vanilla makes the kitchen smells like I was cooking. It is fabulous.Best regards!
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Is it expensive ?
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