Want a clean microwave without scrubbing or using fancy stuff? Use a natural microwave cleaner from your pantry and get a sparkling clean microwave in minutes –
A cup of milk for my Café Latte in my hand, I opened the microwave. It was like I saw it for the first time. When did my once clean microwave turn into a smelly flowstone cave?
A yucky one.
I sighed at this sight. Microwave flowstones are not easy ones to get rid off. Hardened by microwave radiation and life in this lazy mom’s kitchen they require some elbow grease.
Scrubbing instead of frothing milk this morning. I consider having a Homemade Caramel Frappuccino instead of a perfect microwaved Latte as posted in The Kitchn.
Could the microwave please clean itself while I prepare it? Pretty please?
How to Keep a Clean Microwave??
When I had my little girl we started using Swiss-made MAM bottles which I can easily sterilize in the microwave. (Love those bottles, by the way)
It was time to get serious about maintaining a non-yucky microwave.
At the same time, I resolved to not use fancy chemical microwave cleaners. If you can even unclog a kitchen drain with safe household items and clean a super filthy fridge, then there has to by a non-toxic way to clean the microwave, too.
But what? Scrub it for hours using ellbow grease?
I’d rather do something… well… effortless. Is that too much to ask for?
I did some research and found some crazy things regarding kitchen and microwave cleaning. I tried some but one microwave cleaner absolutely stood out: suuuper easy, frugal, and natural.
A great task to add to my Kitchen Spring Clean Action Plan (as I hate spring cleaning).
An All-Natural Microwave Cleaner
My microwave has traveled the ocean. A working horse in the kitchen, used every single day. It has definitely seen its share of food spills, morphed into various shapes.
While the poor microwave doesn’t care and keeps on keeping on, I do care! I really don’t want to throw up when I heat up a cup of milk for a nice Latte. Oh, and I really, really don’t want any yucky flavors clinging to my latte milk when it comes out of a not so clean microwave.
It’s plain to see. My microwave needed some TLC. Unfortunately, I’m not the elbow grease type of homemaker. I like the simple things that work like magic and don’t cost me lots of dolla dolla.
Here is what I found perfect for cleaning a filthy microwave. Easy, non-toxic, frugal, works like a charm and is in my house anyway.
Vinegar.
Say what? Yes, the solution to all that mess is that simple. Vinegar, water, microfiber clothe, and a few minutes of my time.
Grab the free printable “10 Cleaning Hacks Using Vinegar” here if you love natural cleaning!
Acetic Steam Cleaning A Microwave
First, mess up your microwave. I did that on the weekend when I was melting butter in there with the little one around, crafting with scissors and glue in the kitchen, and hubby next to me philosophizing away about something.
I forgot the butter until I heard it explode. …eeee…
Maybe you can skip this exploding butter step. Exploding soup or tomato sauce also works fine. 😉
Second, put vinegar and water into a bowl that goes into the microwave. I use 1/4 cup of vinegar and half a cup of water. Then, heat it up for three minutes (high setting). It is not very important how much of each liquid you use as long as you make sure you have enough liquid to not run dry.
DO NOT OPEN the microwave right when it has finished. There is hot vinegar steam floating around in the air and vinegar is nothing but an acid. A mild one, but you certainly don’t want it in your face! Acids are great cleaning agents so let it do its job as a microwave cleaner.
Sip your Frappuccino and wait for the microwave to clean itself.
Or read all about how you can clean a filthy fridge with vinegar in this post.
Finally, after a few minutes of cooling down, open the microwave, still cautiously. Don’t stick your head into it.
Take out the bowl. Mind that it is very hot! Take out the turntable plate (be careful, it is hot, too). Get your damp microfiber cloth and wipe down the interior of your microwave.
Once it is cool, clean the plate in the sink, dry it, and put it back.
Done.
See? Cleaning a microwave made easy. And frugal. And non-toxic. And fun. … er … No, not so much fun. But still easy.
Cleaning a filthy microwave with lemon juice
If you can’t stand the smell of vinegar you can use lemon juice as a natural microwave cleaner. Squeeze a lemon and fill up the juice with water. Then proceed as above.
Conclusion
Apart from a yucky microwave, you need:
- 1/4 cup of vinegar or lemon juice
- 1/2 a cup of water
- a bowl that is microwave-proof
- a microfiber cloth
Instructions: Mix liquids in the bowl, put it into the microwave, and run microwave for 3 minutes on high setting. Let it cool. Take out the bowl and plate. Then wipe down the microwave interior with a damp microfiber clothe. Clean the plate and put it back.
Nice and clean. Now, let me finally get a Café Latte with homemade Caramel Drizzle Sauce using non-smelly hot milk. Yum…
If you like cleaning naturally try this frugal homemade bathroom cleaner recipe with vinegar and essential oils! Or download the cheatsheet “10 Ways to Clean With Vinegar” for natural and frugal ways to clean your home with vinegar.
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Filip says
Absolutely true! Vinegar and baking soda are all you need for 90% of your cleaning tasks. No need from harsh chemicals.
Jessica says
This is my best cleaning friend, vinegar! I use it everywhere at home to clean almost everything. Vinegar, baking soda, lemon – they’re just great! Thank you, Carolin, for sharing! 🙂