How To Clean a Microwave With Vinegar in 5 Minutes

It’s a fact of life — microwaves get dirty. And while you may think it’s easier to ignore the mess, the taste of your food might be impacted if you don’t clean it. Thankfully, cleaning your microwave with vinegar is an easy and effective way to remove food, grease, and grime in only five minutes.

In this article, we’ll teach you how to clean the microwave with vinegar in just a few simple steps. We’ll also share some insider tips to help you get your microwave looking spotless and smelling fresh in no time. Once you learn how to clean your microwave with vinegar, you’ll never return to scrubbing it with soapy water again. So, let’s get cleaning!

Gather the Necessary Supplies 

Gathering all the necessary supplies is essential to begin cleaning your microwave with vinegar. First, you’ll need a bowl that is big enough to fit inside your microwave. Try to select one that’s big enough to have the vinegar mixture distributed across the entire surface area without having it overflow when heated. 

The second item you will need is white vinegar. Make sure that it is white vinegar — not apple cider vinegar or any other form of vinegar. This is important not just for effectiveness but also so that it does not leave any undesirable scent behind after cleaning.

The third item you will need is a few clean rags to properly wipe down the inside of the microwave after heating the vinegar mixture during the fourth step of the cleaning process. The rags do not necessarily have to be wet before use. 

Finally, baking soda will be an important addition to the vinegar mixture before heating to make cleaning more effective. It helps to create an alkaline solution that can lift away stuck-on food residue faster and more effectively than plain white vinegar alone. While it can be optional, its addition will make this process even quicker. 

Prepare the Vinegar Mixture 

Now that you have gathered all the necessary supplies, you can begin preparing the vinegar mixture for heating in the microwave. Start by filling the bowl with white vinegar until it’s about three-quarters full. Adjust this quantity as needed depending on how large of a bowl you have selected so that there is room for the mixture to expand when heated.

If you choose to add baking soda to the mix, do so now. Add approximately one tablespoon for every cup of vinegar to achieve a paste-like consistency. Mix it so there are no visible lumps of baking soda. If needed, add more baking soda cautiously, as excessive amounts can compromise cleaning outcomes and increase the need for additional scrubbing.

Heat the Vinegar Mixture 

After filling your bowl with plain white vinegar or the baking soda-vinegar mixture, place it inside the microwave and heat it on high for three minutes. If your microwave has a rotating turntable, it’s best to remove it or secure it in place before starting the microwave. Its moving could cause the mixture to spatter onto parts of the appliance, making it more challenging to clean evenly.

Wipe Down the Microwave 

After three minutes, use oven mitts or potholders to carefully remove the bowl to prevent burns. Be cautious not to splash hot liquid from inside the bowl onto yourself or your surroundings. Next, take the clean rags that were prepared earlier and use them to wipe down all interior walls and surfaces of the appliance. For any stubborn or sticky spots, use an old toothbrush dipped in the hot liquid solution to gently scrub until all residue is removed. 

Rinse 

Once all surfaces have been wiped down and all visible signs of residue have been removed (using either just rag wiping or some old toothbrush scrubbing as noted above), take a wet rag dipped into some cold water then rinse and wipe down all surfaces inside your microwave one final time. This will remove any remaining traces of white vinegar which may have been missed during the previous step. After doing this, take another dry clean rag and dry off all surfaces inside the appliance.  

Enjoy Clean Microwave 

Set aside the used rags to clean in the washing machine, dispose of any remaining white vinegar mixture, and wash the bowl. With all the steps completed, you can now relax and enjoy a sparkling clean microwave without having spent hours scrubbing away at the stuck-on food residue.

Conclusion

Cleaning the microwave with vinegar is a simple and effective way to remove grease and grime in just five minutes. It’s cheaper and safer than buying harsh chemicals or expensive cleaners specially designed for the microwave. Simply follow the steps outlined in this article to enjoy a perfectly clean and fresh-smelling microwave in no time!