Your microwave might be one of the most-used appliances in your kitchen. If you don't clean it regularly, you might have baked-on food and grease built up on the walls, ceiling, turntable, and door of the microwave. Luckily, it's quick and easy to clean your microwave using just a lemon, water, and a towel! If you have more stubborn stains, you can also use stronger natural cleaning agents, like vinegar and baking soda.
Method One of Two:
Using Lemon Water
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1
Combine the juice from 1 lemon with 1 cup (240 mL) of water. Cut a lemon in half and squeeze as much juice as possible from each half into a microwave-safe bowl. Then, pour the water over the lemon juice and stir with a spoon to mix the liquids thoroughly.[1]
If you don’t have a lemon available, you can use another citrus fruit, like a lime or an orange.
2
Chop the halves into smaller pieces and place them in the lemon water. Once you’ve squeezed all of the juice out of the lemons, use a sharp knife to cut the lemon into quarters or eighths. Put all of the pieces into the water, and stir the mixture with a spoon again.[2]
This will ensure that any juice still in the lemon will evaporate in the microwave to help remove dirt and debris.
3
Microwave the mixture for 3 minutes. Place the bowl in the microwave uncovered, and set it on high for 3 minutes. The water should bubble and boil, and may evaporate out of the bowl. After 3 minutes, leave the door closed so the steam from the water can’t escape.[3]
If there’s still some water left in the bowl, microwave it for an additional 1-2 minutes until almost all of the water is evaporated.
4
Let the water cool for 5 minutes and remove the bowl from the microwave. Keep the door to the microwave closed until most of the steam has settled and condensed on the walls of the microwave. Then, carefully open the door and remove the bowl so you can start cleaning![4]
Warning: The bowl may be very hot when you take it out of the microwave. If it’s too warm to touch, use oven mitts to safely remove it.
5
Wipe down the microwave with a clean towel. First, lift the turntable out of the microwave and wipe it with the towel. Set it aside and wipe the sides and ceiling of the microwave, using the water as your cleaning agent. Don’t forget to wipe down inside of the door, as well! The food and markings on the inside of the microwave should wipe off easily.[5]
If you don’t want to use a towel, you can use a damp sponge with a scrubbing pad to wipe the inside of the microwave.
Remember to replace the turntable once the microwave is clean!