For many who own one, microwaves are an appliance that gets multiple uses daily, resulting in the need for an inevitable clean over time. When it comes to cleaning a microwave, what products can be used and which should be avoided for such a process?
The various products you can use to clean a microwave include vinegar, white vinegar, wine vinegar, malt vinegar, apple cider vinegar, lemons, oranges, limes, and baking soda. It is most effective to combine these products with water and steam them for the easiest clean up.
Microwaves are designed to offer users a fast and efficient way of heating, and sometimes even cooking, various food items without having to deal with the process of pulling out pots and pans, turning on the stove, and waiting for items to heat through. With the accessibility that microwaves offer, their use tends to be constant, resulting in an interior that needs sanitizing. To see which products are best for cleaning a microwave, continue reading below.
Can You Use Vinegar to Clean Microwave?
Microwaves are efficient, effective, and are typically able to withstand the test of time even with prolific use, but they are no stranger to grime. With items popping, sizzling, and sometimes even downright erupting within, the interior can easily get to a point where cleaning is no longer an option, but a necessity. With vinegar being a staple product within many individuals’ cabinets, can this product be used to successfully clean a microwave in need of a scrub?
You can use vinegar to clean a microwave by adding it to water and allowing the mixture to steam the interior of the appliance. Simply add two tablespoons of vinegar to two cups of water in a microwave-safe bowl, microwave on high for 5 minutes, let sit for 3 minutes, then wipe down clean.
Can You Use White Vinegar to Clean Microwave
As previously discussed, it was noted that vinegar is a great cleaning product when it comes to a dirty microwave, but there can be some confusion in this area due to the variety of vinegars out there. For those of you with a slew of different vinegar options in your home or business who are looking for a more specific direction, take a look below to see if white vinegar is an effective product to use for cleaning even the dirtiest of microwaves.
Due to its high acidity levels, white vinegar is a very effective cleaning agent when combined with steam to clean a microwave. Add two tablespoons of vinegar to two cups of water, heat the mixture for 5 minutes within the microwave, let sit for three minutes, then wipe with a sponge.
This article was first published on May 11, 2022 by Wabi Sabi Group..
Can You Use Wine Vinegar to Clean Microwave
Used for brining, salad dressings, reductions, and brightening various food items, wine vinegar is a product that many people think of when it comes to waking up the flavor within a dish. However, wine vinegar can do even more than simply shine when it comes to items prepared in the kitchen. If you have wine vinegar lying around and are looking to find other options to clean your microwave, can wine vinegar be used?
You can use wine vinegar to clean the interior of a microwave by adding two tablespoons of the products to two cups of water. Heat the mixture for five minutes in the microwave and allow it to sit for another three before wiping down the interior with a wet sponge or cloth.
Can You Use Malt Vinegar to Clean Microwave
Malt vinegar is a product that is not as common as many other kinds of vinegars, as there is a specific purpose for this product that many don’t find themselves participating in: pickling. Malt vinegar can also be used to sprinkle on top of fish or fried items such as fries, but due to its distinct taste, many prefer a white vinegar instead. When it comes to cleaning though, if you have malt vinegar available, can it get the job done with a soiled microwave?
You can use malt vinegar to clean a microwave, but this product is not preferred by many, as the pungent smell associated with malt vinegar is rather deterrent to most. Even with the dilution of malt vinegar when cleaning, the smell can remain for quite some time once complete.
Can You Use Apple Cider Vinegar to Clean Microwaves?
Apple cider vinegar is the most versatile vinegar of all of them, with this product being used with food items, daily supplementation, resolving momentary digestive issues, and of course, cleaning. Apple cider vinegar has a sweeter and less potent smell than other vinegars, making this a great product for those looking for a natural cleaning solution without having to worry about how badly it is going to make their microwave smell.
You can use apple cider vinegar to clean a microwave, but it is most effective when combined with steam. Add a few tablespoons to a few cups of water, microwave the mixture on high for five minutes, allow to sit and steam for three minutes, then easily wipe all residue away.
Can You Use Lemon/Orange/Lime to Clean Microwave?
Citrus fruits are used in hundreds of different recipes due to the distinct zing their acidity brings to the table. When it comes to lemons, limes, and oranges, they all have differing levels of tartness, sweetness, and acidity as well. Therefore, if you are looking for a more natural method of cleaning your microwave and are wondering if a lemon, lime, or orange is up to the task, read on to see if these fruits can get the job done.
You can use lemons, oranges, and limes to clean a microwave by cutting each fruit in half, squeezing the juices into a bowl with two cups of water, heating the mixture on high for five minutes within the microwave, then allowing it to sit for three minutes before wiping the interior clean.
Can You Use Baking Soda to Clean Microwave?
Baking soda is another incredibly versatile product when it comes to its capabilities within food and around the house as well. Even more, baking soda is an item that many find themselves keeping on hand whether it is for baking or for keeping the interior of various tight spaces fresh and filtered. If you have a microwave that is in desperate need of cleaning but don’t want to jump straight to harsh chemicals, is baking soda an effective option?
You can use baking soda to clean the interior of a microwave, but it needs to be combined with water and steamed to be most effective. You can use a baking soda paste to clean the interior as well, but by allowing the mixture to steam, residue is more easily removed.
How to Clean Your Microwave Properly
Microwaves fill the gap between having to eat cold food items and having to worry about breaking out pots and pans to get items warmed through while also taking more time when this process is underway. Due to this, microwaves tend to get quite a bit of use, as they are not only effective, but incredibly convenient. With that being said, what is the best way to clean a microwave to avoid any damage or unnecessary scrubbing?
The proper way to clean a microwave includes removing the microwave plate from the appliance, inserting a natural cleaning solution combined with water, steaming the solution for five minutes, allowing it to sit for three, then wiping the interior with a clean rag or sponge.
When cleaning items that are used for cooking, you want to avoid harsh chemicals, as their residue can penetrate food items and are thus, unhealthy to consume. Using items like lemon juice, baking soda, and white vinegar are better options when combined with water and once completely steamed, you can easily wipe down the interior. Start from the back and work your way forward within the microwave to avoid having to clean pools of grime in the back.
It should also be noted that water easily boils when set at a high temperature for an extended amount of time within a microwave. This is especially true when products such as baking soda or acidic fruits are added to the water mixture such as lemons, limes, or oranges. When heating your cleaning mixture, add either a wooden spoon on top of the bowl or insert a wooden toothpick within the mixture to keep it from boiling over or exploding.
How to Use Lemon and Vinegar to Clean Microwave
For most individuals, using one or the other, lemon or vinegar, to combine with water and clean their microwave is enough to break down the grime inside and remove it once steamed for a long enough time. However, if you see that your microwave is in need of a more powerful solution due to extreme residue build up, can you combine lemon and vinegar to get a more potent clean and if so, how should this be done?
To use lemon and vinegar to clean a microwave, combine two tablespoons of lemon, one cup of vinegar (preferably white vinegar), and one cup of water in a bowl. Microwave on high for five minutes, allow the steam to saturate for three minutes, then wipe the interior clean.
How to Use Lemon and Baking Soda to Clean Microwave
With baking soda being a mild alkali and having the ability to dissolve dirt and grime more naturally, this product can be used in a variety of different ways around the house. Just the same, the acidity of lemons works to erode dirty surfaces and break up tough greases through their natural abilities. Therefore, when it comes to combining the two to create a power house cleaning agent, how should this be done?
To use lemon and baking soda to clean a microwave, combine two tablespoons of lemon with two tablespoons of baking soda into two cups of water. For a greater lemon scent, add the whole lemon to the mixture and microwave it on high for five minutes, allow it to steam, then wipe clean.
How to Use Vinegar and Baking Soda to Clean Microwave
Although lemons give a fresh, bright, and clean scent to any cleaning combination, not everyone has this acidic fruit lying around and readily available at a moment’s notice. If you are looking to clean the interior of your microwave with a potent solution but don’t have an acidic fruit to combine with baking soda, can you use vinegar combined with baking soda to tackle a tough job? To see how this can be done, continue reading below.
To use vinegar and baking soda to clean a microwave, add a cup of vinegar with one cup of water and two tablespoons of baking soda. Combine the mixture and heat it on high for five minutes within the microwave. Be sure to allow it to sit and steam for a few minutes before wiping down.
The various products that can be used to clean a microwave include vinegar combined with lemon, lemon combined with vinegar, baking soda combined with vinegar, oranges, limes, wine vinegar, and baking soda when all combined with another part of water and steamed within the microwave.
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WabiSabi Group is the owner of this article and was published on May 11, 2022 and last modified on .