Best Way to Clean out a Microwave

6.3.22

You might notice that your microwave is having a weird smell or looks gross - especially after that leftover spaghetti you warmed up uncovered.

It is important to frequently wash your microwave and it takes more than just wiping around the mess with a wet towel. In this article we will discuss why it is important to clean your microwave and how to do so properly.

Why Do you Need to Clean Your Microwave?

All appliances need to be cleaned on a regular basis. It is important to clean your fridge, your dishwasher, washing machine and everything you use to cook your food.

The reasons that you need to clean your microwave:

1. It looks bad: First of all, when you have a ton of food splattered around your microwave it just looks gross. Nobody likes cooking their food in a box with old food!

2. Smells bad: If you wait too long, your microwave will start developing a gross smell. If your microwave is starting to smell then you have waited too long to clean.

3. Decrease the efficiency of the microwave: If you have food caked on the inside of your microwave then your microwave will stop working as efficiently. Your microwave will cook slower, your food will be uneven, and it will cause quicker wear and tear.

4. Bacteria growth: The biggest reason you should be cleaning your microwave is to prevent bacteria growth. While old food is splattered on the side of your microwave it will start developing bacteria growth. Ultimately, you will be cooking your food in a bacteria infested area.

How Often Should You Clean your Microwave?

When was the last time that you cleaned your microwave? If you can’t remember, then it is time to clean it! Depending on frequency and the type of food you are cooking in your microwave you should be cleaning your microwave at least once a month. Of course, if you cook more splattered food or if you have a lot of people using it then it should be done more frequently.

How to Clean out Your Microwave

In some circumstances, there is no drawer underneath the oven. The space that the drawer would typically be is actually a second range. Many people love having an extra smaller oven because it gives them the ability to cook multiple dishes at once.

There are a couple of simple ways to clean your microwave.

Way #1:

1. Fill up two cups of water in microwave safe cups & fill with a few tablespoons of vinegar.

2. Turn on the microwave for 5 minutes.

3. Let the bowl sit for 15 minutes after the cook time is finished so that the microwave gets steamy.

4. Take out the cups of vinegar mixture and the turntable.

5. Start wiping down the inside of the microwave with a Clorox wipe.

Way #2:

Do the same thing as Way #1 except for using vinegar you can use lemon.

1. Cut a lemon in half.

2. Squeeze the juice into one of the cups of water and place the leftover lemon halves into the other cup.

3. Cook for 5 minutes.

4. Leave the mixture in the microwave for 15 minutes to ensure it is steamy.

5. Take out the cups and turntable.

6. Clean the microwave with a clorox wipe.

Way #3

This way is the same as both of the methods above, but instead of using vinegar or lemon you will be using dish soap. Pour a few tablespoons of dish soap into both cups of water and then follow the steps above.

Signs You Need a New Oven

Sometimes, it isn’t a matter of cleaning your oven, you might just need a new one. Some ways that you can tell if you need a new microwave include:

1. Food isn’t cooking evenly or correctly.

2. It makes a horrible sound when it cooks.

3. Over 10 years old.

4. Seals are broken.

5. Bad smell you just can’t get rid of.

Purchasing a New Microwave

When it does come time to purchase a new microwave you can come into your local Kelly’s Appliance store located in Salem, Corvallis or Eugene. One of our amazing staff members would love to show you our microwaves and answer any questions you may have.