Cleaning: Microwave Oven

Photograph Credit: Flickr (Bella)

Keeping the microwave oven wiped down and clean is an on-going task. Knowing that 1 minute now saves 5 minutes later, I try to keep messes at bay by wiping up messes before they dry.

Though I am not the only one who uses the microwave in my home, I do, on occasion, choose to leave a mess. There are times when soothing a hurt finger or changing a diaper takes precedence over cleaning the microwave. 🙂

When I find a baked-on mess, here’s my simple solution:

1. Take a glass measuring cup and add about 2 cups of water.

2. Place the measuring cup with water into the microwave.

3. Zap the water for 5 minutes on high.

4. At the end of 5 minutes, allow the water to remain in the microwave for an additional 2 minutes.

5. Carefully, remove the hot measuring cup.

6. Using a sponge or rag, wipe down the microwave.

In using time wisely, I can put on the water while wiping down the counters and loading the dishwasher. This cleaning method not only results in a clean microwave, but it also saves me money (no cleaning solutions), energy (no scrubbing), and time (just wiping out the mess without working at it). If your microwave needs a cleaning, try heating water and wiping away the mess. The results are worth it. Happy cleaning!

Question: What is your best tip for cleaning the microwave oven? Please add your answer to the comments.