How to clean a microwave in 5 simple steps

Need advice on how to clean a microwave inside and out? From full meal preparation to reheating leftovers, many of us rely on our microwaves daily. With heavy use, they can quickly harbour spills, stains and unpleasant odours.

'Microwaves need to be cleaned regularly to maintain the appliance and ensure that food continues tasting exactly as it should,' says Victoria Miller, small appliance expert at AO.com.

To remove bacteria build-up and keep strong smells at bay, the experts recommend you deep clean your microwave once a week to over three to four weeks (more on deep cleaning below).

If you heat up a lot of messy foods (such as those prone to spillages), you may need to clean it more often – and you should always aim to wipe up spillages or crumbs after every use. Without consistent cleaning, food will harden inside the microwave and it will become more difficult to clean.

Before you begin a thorough clean, the cleaning materials and tools you will need include:

Microwave-safe bowl filled with water

Lemons

Microfibre cloth

Kitchen towel

White vinegar

Cleaning brush

Washing-up liquid

Follow the simple steps below on how to clean a microwave:

To clean your microwave, first remove the turntable and wash it by hand using dish soap and hot water. Then, using a scrub brush or cloth remove any food debris or other discolouration inside. With a kitchen paper towel, scrape away any crumbs, splatters, and hardened dirt.

'Start by wiping out any looser food residue with a warm damp cloth and some detergent; washing-up liquid works well,' says Rosie Clarke, Product Training Manager at Miele GB. 'Be careful not to use too much water though, as this can damage the appliance.'

Creating a steamy environment in your microwave will help to loosen any stubborn food messes inside and cut through grime. Depending on what you prefer, you can either clean your microwave using lemon or white vinegar.

'A quick and easy method for cleaning your microwave is to fill a small microwave-safe bowl with water and a tablespoon of white vinegar (you can also use lemon juice). Then, put your microwave on high for five minutes to loosen any hardened grime,' explains Victoria.

Once the time is up, carefully remove the dish and let it cool down for another five minutes. Next, wipe the interior down with a wet paper towel or reusable dish cloth. Thanks to high heat levels, any grease, tough stains, and stubborn food splatters will easily wipe away.

Andrea Philips, from Airtasker's Lifestyle Editorial Team, adds: 'Using your cleaning solution, scrub the walls, top, bottom, and door of the microwave interiors until sufficiently soapy. Buff in circular motions for best results and hard-to-remove dirt.'

Don't forget to wipe the outside of your microwave. Spray the exterior with a water and vinegar solution, before wiping it down with a microfibre kitchen cloth. Long-term exposure to certain cleaning products can damage a stainless steel microwave, so always opt for a natural solution if you can.

'Proper care and maintenance for your microwave are easy and will save you time in the long run, by putting a paper towel or microwave-safe plastic cover over your food before heating will go a long way in minimising splatters and stains,' says Andrea. 'You can also opt to use a lower wattage when using the appliance to avoid rolling boils spilling over during heating times.'

Why not give your microwave that extra shine by polishing the door? For fuss-free and streak-free results, use E-cloth's glass cleaning and polishing cloth. Simply spray the door and handle with water and wipe using the cloth. You'll have a sparkling clean microwave in no time...

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