How To Clean A Microwave With A Lemon: 8 Steps (with Pictures)

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Clean Your Microwave Naturally with Lemon PDF download Download Article Steam your microwave clean and leave it smelling fresh Co-authored by Melissa Maker and Aly Rusciano

Last Updated: June 5, 2024 Approved

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  • Steaming with Lemon Water
    • |
  • Removing Tough Stains
    • |
  • How Often to Clean a Microwave
    • |
  • Quickest Way to Clean a Microwave
    • |
  • Getting the Smell Out of a Microwave
    • |
  • Things to Avoid
    • |
  • Video
    • |
  • Q&A
|Show more |Show less ARTICLE VIDEO X

This article was co-authored by Melissa Maker and by wikiHow staff writer, Aly Rusciano. Melissa Maker is a Cleaning Expert based in Toronto, Canada. She has over 18 years of professional experience in the cleaning industry, and has created multiple businesses to educate others about cleaning and provide high-quality cleaning products. She is the founder of CleanMySpace, a YouTube channel and blog with over 2 million subscribers that has been creating cleaning content since 2010. She is also the owner of Maker’s Clean, a product line of premium, professional grade cleaning products that has been in business since 2016. Maker’s Clean sells a signature cleaning cloth design, mops, bath and beauty products, and cleaning guides and tutorials. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, several readers have written to tell us that this article was helpful to them, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 467,235 times.

Your microwave is likely one of the most-used appliances in your kitchen, and not cleaning it regularly can lead to baked-on food debris and stains. Luckily, cleaning a microwave is easy peasy! All you need is a microwavable bowl, a lemon, some water, and a towel. Keep reading to learn how to quickly steam clean and wipe down your microwave in 5 simple steps. Plus, we’ve got additional tricks for removing stubborn and baked-on stains.

The Best Way to Clean a Microwave

Fill a microwave-safe bowl with 1 cup (240 mL) water and the juice of 1 lemon. Place the lemon rinds in the bowl and microwave for 3-5 minutes. Let the bowl cool for 15 minutes before removing it from the microwave and wiping down the inside of the oven with a cloth.

Steps

Section 1 of 6:

Steam Cleaning the Microwave with Lemon Water

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  1. Step 1 Mix the juice from 1 lemon and 1 cup (240 mL) of water in a bowl. 1 Mix the juice from 1 lemon and 1 cup (240 mL) of water in a bowl. Cut a lemon in half and squeeze as much juice as possible from each half into a microwave-safe bowl. Then, pour the water over the lemon juice and stir with a spoon to mix thoroughly.[1]
    • If you don't have a lemon available, use another citrus fruit like a lime or an orange.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Clean a Microwave With a Lemon 2 Chop the halves into smaller pieces and place them in the lemon water. Once you've squeezed all the juice out of the lemons, use a sharp knife to cut the lemon into quarters or eighths. Put all of the pieces into the water and stir the mixture with a spoon again.[2]
    • This ensures that any juice still in the lemon will evaporate in the microwave to help remove dirt and debris.
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Clean a Microwave With a Lemon 3 Microwave the mixture for 3 to 5 minutes. Place the bowl in the microwave uncovered and set it on high for about 3 minutes (or longer for extra dirty microwaves). The water should bubble and boil and may evaporate out of the bowl. After 3 minutes, leave the door closed so the steam from the water can't escape.[3]
    • If there's still some water left in the bowl, microwave it for an additional 1 to 2 minutes until almost all of the water has evaporated.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Clean a Microwave With a Lemon 4 Let the water cool for 15 minutes, then remove the bowl from the microwave. Keep the door to the microwave closed until most of the steam has settled and condensed on the walls of the microwave. Then, carefully open the door and remove the bowl so you can start cleaning.[4]

    Warning: The bowl may be very hot when you take it out of the microwave. If it's too warm to touch, use oven mitts to safely remove it.

  5. Watermark wikiHow to Clean a Microwave With a Lemon 5 Wipe down the microwave and turntable with a clean towel. Lift the turntable out of the microwave and wipe it with the towel. Set it aside and wipe the sides and ceiling of the microwave, using the water as your cleaning agent. Don't forget to wipe down the inside of the door. The food and markings on the inside of the microwave should wipe off easily.[5]
    • If you don't want to use a towel, use a damp sponge with a scrubbing pad to wipe the inside of the microwave.
    • If the bowl and turntable are still warm to the touch, put on oven mitts to remove them.
    • Remember to replace the turntable once the microwave is clean.
    6. Advertisement
Section 2 of 6:

Removing Tough Microwave Stains

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Clean a Microwave With a Lemon 1 Add white vinegar to the lemon juice to dissolve caked-on food. If you know your microwave is particularly dirty, add 1 cup (240 mL) of vinegar to your lemon juice and water mixture to create a stronger cleaning agent. Be sure to stir the mixture thoroughly, as vinegar can have a strong smell that may linger in your microwave.[6]
    • If you don't have any caked-on food in your microwave, you probably don't need to add any vinegar to the lemon water.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Clean a Microwave With a Lemon 2 Use baking soda to remove particularly stubborn stains. Sprinkle baking soda over a stain or piece of crusted-on food and let it sit for 1 to 2 minutes. Then, dip a cloth in the lemon water and scrub the stain vigorously. The baking soda acts as a gentle abrasive to chip away at baked-on food and the lemon water helps dissolve the food as it comes off.[7]
    • Wipe the area clean with a damp cloth so there's no baking soda left behind on the interior of the microwave.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Clean a Microwave With a Lemon 3 Dip a towel into the lemon water and scrub if the microwave is stained. If there's a spot that just won't come off, wet the corner of a towel with any leftover lemon water. Then, scrub the spot to remove the stain. If the stain won't budge, spray on a multi-surface spray for extra cleaning power.[8]
    • If you don't have any lemon water left, microwave a new batch for 2 minutes and let it stand for 5 minutes in the microwave. Then, use the leftover water to help remove the mark.
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Section 3 of 6:

How often should you clean your microwave?

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  1. Clean your microwave at least once a week. Clean your microwave at least once a week. Wipe down your microwave more frequently if you notice it collecting stains or food debris. To avoid splatters and increase the time between cleanings, cover your food with a microwave-safe cover.[9]
    • Paper towels, wax paper, plastic wrap, glass covers, and silicone lids can all be used to safely prevent splatters in the microwave.
Section 4 of 6:

What is the quickest way to clean a microwave?

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  1. Clean a microwave quickly by steaming it with lemon and vinegar. Clean a microwave quickly by steaming it with lemon and vinegar. Lemon and vinegar are both mild acids. When these ingredients are added to a bowl of water and heated, the combination of steam and acid easily and effectively loosens any food residue in the oven.
    • Using lemon and vinegar is also a healthy option, as they’re natural, food-safe ingredients that won’t affect the food you later eat out of the microwave.[10]
    • You can also opt to use lemon or vinegar. Most people prefer the scent of lemon, which is why it’s the more popular option for cleaning microwaves.
    • Baking soda also works well for baked-on items that need to be scrubbed away. However, it must be rinsed more thoroughly to remove any powder residue.
    2. Advertisement
Section 5 of 6:

How do you get the smell out of a microwave?

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  1. Remove odor by steam cleaning with a lemon and vinegar solution. Remove odor by steam cleaning with a lemon and vinegar solution. Mix 1 cup (240 mL) water with 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of lemon juice or white vinegar in a microwave-safe container. Heat the solution in the microwave for 3-4 minutes.[11]
    • Let the mixture cool slightly, then dip a cloth into the solution and use it to wipe down the inside of the microwave.
    • Use a clean, damp cloth to wipe away the solution, then use another clean cloth to dry the interior. Leave the microwave door open until the inside dries completely.
    • If your microwave odor still lingers, leave a bowl of baking soda in the microwave for about 12 hours. The baking soda should absorb any strong odors and leave your microwave smelling fresh.
Section 6 of 6:

What should you avoid when cleaning a microwave?

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  1. Avoid cleaning your microwave with abrasive cleaners or sponges. Avoid cleaning your microwave with abrasive cleaners or sponges. Avoid any harsh chemicals, cleaners, or cleaning wipes—especially those that contain bleach, ammonia, or oven cleaner. These cleaners can release toxic fumes into your microwave and potentially contaminate your food, as well as create an unpleasant smell.[12]
    • Similarly, avoid using abrasive sponges or steel wool to wipe down the microwave, as they may scratch the interior of the appliance.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question How do I get out burn smells in a microwave? Community Answer Community Answer You can get burn smells out of a microwave by cutting a lemon in half and gently scrubbing at the inside of the microwave. After a few minutes of doing this you should no longer smell that smell. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 7 Helpful 17
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Tips

  • Keep your microwave clean and avoid baked-on stains by wiping down microwave spills right when they happen.[13] Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 1
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

Warnings

  • Be careful not to tip or spill the remaining water after you remove it from the microwave. It can still be very hot for up to 15 minutes. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1
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References

  1. ↑ https://www.themakeyourownzone.com/homemade-microwave-cleaner/
  2. ↑ https://www.food.com/recipe/easy-microwave-cleaner-452969
  3. ↑ https://www.food.com/recipe/easy-microwave-cleaner-452969
  4. ↑ https://www.bonappetit.com/story/how-to-clean-microwave
  5. ↑ https://www.bonappetit.com/story/how-to-clean-microwave
  6. ↑ https://www.southernliving.com/home/cleaning-and-housekeeping/clean-microwave-with-vinegar
  7. ↑ https://www.cleaninginstitute.org/sites/default/files/research-pdfs/Alternative_Hard_Surface_Cleaners.pdf
  8. ↑ https://www.cleaninginstitute.org/cleaning-tips/clean-home/room-room/cleaning-refrigerator
  9. ↑ https://www.bonappetit.com/story/how-to-clean-microwave
More References (4)
  1. ↑ https://www.bhg.com/homekeeping/house-cleaning/tips/how-to-clean-a-microwave-281474979530474/
  2. ↑ https://www.southernliving.com/home/how-to-get-smell-out-of-microwave#toc-how-to-clean-a-stinky-microwave-with-common-kitchen-products
  3. ↑ https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/mistakes-when-cleaning-microwave-37263045
  4. ↑ https://www.cleaninginstitute.org/cleaning-tips/home/room-guide

About This Article

Melissa Maker Co-authored by: Melissa Maker Founder, Clean My Space This article was co-authored by Melissa Maker and by wikiHow staff writer, Aly Rusciano. Melissa Maker is a Cleaning Expert based in Toronto, Canada. She has over 18 years of professional experience in the cleaning industry, and has created multiple businesses to educate others about cleaning and provide high-quality cleaning products. She is the founder of CleanMySpace, a YouTube channel and blog with over 2 million subscribers that has been creating cleaning content since 2010. She is also the owner of Maker’s Clean, a product line of premium, professional grade cleaning products that has been in business since 2016. Maker’s Clean sells a signature cleaning cloth design, mops, bath and beauty products, and cleaning guides and tutorials. This article has been viewed 467,235 times. How helpful is this? Co-authors: 41 Updated: June 5, 2024 Views: 467,235 Categories: Featured Articles | Microwave Ovens Article SummaryX

To clean a microwave with a lemon, start by mixing 1 cup of water with the juice from 1 lemon in a microwave-safe bowl. Then, cut the juiced lemon up into quarters, and place the pieces in the bowl. Next, microwave the mixture for 3 minutes before letting it cool in the microwave for 5 minutes, which will be enough time for the lemon water to condense on the walls of the microwave. Finally, remove the bowl and wipe down the microwave with a clean towel. For more tips from our Cleaning co-author, like how to use vinegar and baking soda to clean your microwave, read on! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Reader Success Stories

  • Laura Lee Edwards

    Laura Lee Edwards

    Mar 15, 2017

    "I knew there was a quick, easy way to clean a cruddy microwave. The answer popped up when I was looking for..." more
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Did this article help you?

Yes No Advertisement If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Melissa Maker Co-authored by: Melissa Maker Founder, Clean My Space Click a star to vote Co-authors: 41 Updated: June 5, 2024 Views: 467,235 Laura Lee Edwards

Laura Lee Edwards

Mar 15, 2017

"I knew there was a quick, easy way to clean a cruddy microwave. The answer popped up when I was looking for..." more Faith Green

Faith Green

Aug 23, 2016

"This taught my children and grandchild that it is not hard to clean a microwave - a must if they don't cover..." more Jilly Norfolk

Jilly Norfolk

Apr 13, 2016

"The oven tips and microwave cleaning tips were awesome. Thanks." Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories

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