How to Clean a Microwave Oven?
Inevitably when you’re heating food in a microwave oven it gets dirty: no matter how hard you try to do it accurately, something will always spill or explode in the oven, leaving behind pieces of food and dried-on droplets of fat on the walls. Over time, leftovers accumulate and stick to the surface, contaminating the microwave and creating an unpleasant smell.
Not to mention the cases where something bursts or burns while cooking. The aftermath sometimes looks and smells horrible. How to get rid of them?
Main – Do not overdo it
Trying to forcefully scrub everything with scouring powder or dirt will waste time, take a lot of effort, but alas, hardly noticeable results. In the worst case scenario, you can even damage the surface of the walls and heating elements. So put the cleaning powders away — we don’t need them for cleaning the microwave oven. The use of stiff sponges is not recommended for the same reasons – It is easy to damage the heating element and scratch the walls. Use only a soft cloth or sponge.
You can successfully get rid of dirt with the help of special products for microwave ovens, which are sprays, creams and gels. They are quite effective in dissolving dried-on grease. Buying such products is not always possible, and they are not cheap. What to do if you do not have them handy?
There is a trick to clean quickly and easily without sacrificing time and budget: Soak up plaque before cleaning. Moreover, since the kitchen dirt contains a lot of grease, you need to add a substance that dissolves this grease.
How to clean the microwave: the most proven method
So, here’s a basic way to quickly and effectively clean the microwave and get rid of the unpleasant smell:
- Put a small glass container of water in the microwave.
- Add detergent to the water.
- Leave the oven on maximum power for 2-3 minutes (depending on the volume of dishes), so that the water actively boils.
- Do not open the door for another 5 minutes after turning it off.
- Wipe the surface with a damp cloth or sponge and in very dirty areas, use a very hard sponge (obviously not a metallic one).
- If the surface remains very greasy, you can wipe the walls with a sponge soaked in an ordinary dishwashing detergent.
- Allow the oven to air dry for 30 minutes.
Now for the ingredients you need to add to the water. The best remedies have proven to be long-known and natural products that can be found in any kitchen:
- For heavy soiling, use Vinegar (2 tablespoons per cup of water or 1 teaspoon of vinegar essence);
- baking soda (about 3 teaspoons per glass of water) softens tough, dried-on food particles well;
- The juice of half a lemon Or a couple of teaspoons of citric acid will get rid of the unpleasant smell.
Unlike household chemicals, these substances are completely harmless, but acids (citric and acetic) may not be too good for enamel. Therefore, owners of microwave ovens with enameled walls should not use them often.
Do not use a large amount of water for wiping; a slightly dampened cloth is enough, because the steam has already done its job. Excess water can get into the holes and cause the oven to break down.
Soil prevention
Occasionally, if you don’t have a lot of time to clean the oven, avoid getting too much dirt on the walls. To do this, all you need to do is:
- Wash the plate immediately if something is spilled on it;
- Airing out the oven;
- periodically put a dish of water (without additives) for a few minutes, boil it, and then wipe the walls of the oven with a damp cloth;
- Use a protective cover made of special plastic for heating food.
If you give a few minutes every few days to clean the microwave, then the dirt will simply not have time to accumulate on the walls. A major cleaning is best done at least once a month.
How to get rid of unpleasant odors in the microwave oven?
Not only do small food particles constantly accumulate, but cooking strong smelling foods, such as fish, as well as burning food, can provoke a persistent unpleasant odor.
We’ve already mentioned about lemon, is a very effective remedy. However, there are other ways to get rid of unpleasant odor:
- Natural Ground Coffee pour boiling water, wait 5 minutes, wipe the walls with the solution, and after 2-3 hours remove the residue with a damp cloth;
- spicy herbs (mint, melissa, lavender) drop in a container of water and leave to boil in the oven for 2-3 minutes, then leave for an hour;
- Leaving overnight in a closed (not working) oven!) of the oven a small container with salt, activated charcoal, coffee powder;
- for 1 to 2 minutes to dry out orange or tangerine peels in the oven overnight (not in operation).
Finally, when washing your microwave oven, don’t forget about the seams: they often collect dirt which can be a smelly mess. An old toothbrush and toothpaste can help remove dirt from the hardest-to-reach places and freshen the air.
Following these simple recommendations, every housewife will be able to maintain perfect cleanliness inside the microwave oven and get rid of persistent odor. Proper microwave oven care not only keeps your microwave oven clean, but also ensures it lasts a long time.
* note that the accuracy of the information and the results of the ratings are subjective and do not constitute advertising
