The microwave is, without a doubt, the Swiss army knife of home appliances—perfect for everything from reheating a hot beverage or snack, to preparing a fresh roast dinner for you and your family. But that versatility can mean that your microwave needs a little tender loving care from time to time. It’s a busy home appliance and like any often-used appliance, keeping it clean can sometimes seem like a challenge.
This is especially true during the first weeks of the new year. After a season of holiday gatherings and celebrations, it’s possible that your microwave oven never quite got the cleaning it needed! No matter how careful you are, food will invariably spill, bubble, and splatter the inside of your microwave. If you wipe it away immediately, then all is good. However, few of us have the time to do that. So it’s time to clean your oven and start fresh! But how?
Microwave Cleaning: Go Natural
Before you reach for a harsh and often abrasive chemical cleaner, it is worth remembering that most Panasonic microwaves and multi-ovens have sleek stainless-steel interiors or easy-clean interiors that make them well, easy to clean! So you can leave those harsh and foul smelling products on the supermarket shelf. Keeping your combination microwave clean with simple, natural products is an easy and far more sustainable possibility, one which is better for you, better for the environment and much better for your home appliances.
Here are two of the most effective ways to clean your countertop microwave oven without resorting to harsh chemicals. So set aside those protective gloves and forget about noxious fumes and scouring pads. The natural solutions can often be the best!
The Lemon Method
Joyously simple and surprisingly easy, this method empowers your microwave or multi-oven to—dare we say it—clean itself. All you really need are three simple things:
- a microwave safe bowl or jug, large enough to hold around half a cup of water
- one lemon
- a clean dry cloth
- Pour your water into the bowl or jug, then simply slice your lemon in half and squeeze each half carefully into the water. You can even add the lemon halves themselves in after most of the juice is extracted.
- Place the bowl in your combination microwave and heat on high power for 3 minutes. After that don’t open the door just yet—all that lemon infused steam will continue to work its magic on the hardened, dry stains and spatters inside your microwave oven. Keep the door closed and let it stand for another five minutes.
- When those five minutes are up, carefully remove the bowl and set aside, all that is left for you to do is wipe free all those stains and built up splatters. Don't forget the ceiling of your microwave and if it has a turntable, feel free to remove it and wipe that clean too.
The Vinegar Method
White vinegar works similarly to lemon so you will need much the same in terms of equipment, but it is all likely to be things you already have at home:
- A microwave suitable bowl
- White vinegar
- One or two cups of water (depending on the size of your bowl.)
- Add around a tablespoon of vinegar for every cup of water and place it carefully in your microwave, heat for around three minutes and when done leave the door firmly closed for another five, again this will allow extra time for the steam to work its magic, loosening all the stubborn stains inside. Leaving you to simply wipe the inside thoroughly once again, remembering the ceiling and turntable.
- Another handy tip if you are concerned about the water boiling over in your appliance would be to simply add a wooden toothpick or cocktail stick to the water mixture to prevent it superheating and boiling over.
- For any other super-stubborn or burnt-on food debris, that most famous of natural cleaning products; baking soda is great to have in your cupboard. A little sprinkled on to the toughest stains along with a quick spray of vinegar will shift it just as well as those harsh, strong smelling cleaning products.
Next time your microwave grill is in need of a little tender loving care, reach for the natural
products and see for yourself; a much better and far more natural way of deep cleaning one of
the most often used and essential home appliances in your kitchen.
