How to Clean a Microwave With a Lemon

Co-authored by Melissa Maker

Your microwave might be one of the most-used appliances in your kitchen. If you don't clean it regularly, you might have baked-on food and grease built up on the walls, ceiling, turntable, and door of the microwave. Luckily, it's quick and easy to clean your microwave using just a lemon, water, and a towel! If you have more stubborn stains, you can also use stronger natural cleaning agents, like vinegar and baking soda.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using Lemon Water

1
Combine the juice from 1 lemon with 1 cup (240 mL) of water. 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 the liquids thoroughly.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- If you don't have a lemon available, you can use another citrus fruit, like a lime or an orange.
2
Chop the halves into smaller pieces and place them in the lemon water. Once you've squeezed all of 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]
X
Research source}
- This will ensure that any juice still in the lemon will evaporate in the microwave to help remove dirt and debris.
Advertisement
3
Microwave the mixture for 3 minutes. Place the bowl in the microwave uncovered, and set it on high for 3 minutes. 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]
X
Research source}
- If there's still some water left in the bowl, microwave it for an additional 1-2 minutes until almost all of the water is evaporated.
4
Let the water cool for 5 minutes and 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]
X
Research source}

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
Wipe down the microwave with a clean towel. First, 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 inside of the door, as well! The food and markings on the inside of the microwave should wipe off easily.^{[5]
X
Research source}
- If you don't want to use a towel, you can use a damp sponge with a scrubbing pad to wipe the inside of the microwave.
- Remember to replace the turntable once the microwave is clean!

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Removing Tough Stains

1
Add white vinegar to the lemon juice to dissolve caked-on food. If you know your microwave is particularly dirty, add 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of vinegar to the lemon juice to act as a stronger cleaning agent. Be sure to stir the mixture thoroughly, since vinegar can have a strong smell that may linger in your microwave.^{[6]
X
Research source}
- If you don't have any caked-on food in your microwave, you shouldn't need to add any vinegar to the lemon water.
Tip: If it has been more than 1 month since you last cleaned your microwave, add an additional 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of vinegar to the water to loosen the stains.
2
Dip the 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 the towel with any leftover lemon water. Then, vigorously scrub the spot to remove the stain. If the stain won't budge, you may need to use a mild abrasive.^{[7]
X
Research source}
- 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.
3
Use baking soda to remove particularly stubborn stains. Sprinkle baking soda on a stain and let it sit for 1-2 minutes. Then, dip the cloth in the lemon water and scrub the stain vigorously. The baking soda will act as a gentle abrasive to chip away at baked-on food, and the lemon water will help dissolve the food as it comes off.^{[8]
X
Research source}
- Be sure to wipe the area clean so there's no baking soda left behind on the interior of the microwave.

Community Q&A

Question

How do I get out burn smells in a microwave?

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.

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!

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0