How do you clean microwave ovens?

You clean a microwave oven most easily by steaming it first: put a microwave-safe bowl of water (with a few slices of lemon or a splash of vinegar) inside and heat it for a few minutes until it boils and steams up the interior, then let it sit a minute so the steam softens the stuck-on food and splatters, and wipe the inside, top, sides, bottom and door, clean with a damp cloth or sponge. The steam does the hard work of loosening dried-on food so it wipes away easily without scrubbing. Also remove and wash the turntable and roller ring, clean the door, window and the seals, and wipe up spills promptly so they do not bake on. This simple steam-and-wipe method, with no harsh chemicals needed, keeps a microwave clean and odor-free. Our Best Microwave Ovens compares five of them.

The steam method

The easiest and most effective way to clean a microwave interior is to steam it, which loosens baked-on food so you barely need to scrub. Fill a microwave-safe bowl with water, add a few slices of lemon, a tablespoon of vinegar, or some lemon juice (which help cut grease and deodorize), and microwave it on high for about three to five minutes until the water boils and the inside fills with steam. Then leave the door closed for a couple of minutes so the steam condenses on the walls and softens the dried food and grease.

After that, carefully remove the hot bowl (it and the interior will be hot), and wipe the inside, the top, sides, back, floor and the inside of the door, with a damp cloth, sponge or paper towel. The softened food and splatters should wipe away easily, with only stubborn spots needing a little more rubbing. This steam method is favored because it cleans effectively using just water (and lemon or vinegar), avoids harsh chemicals inside an appliance that heats food, and deodorizes at the same time. So steaming first, then wiping, is the heart of cleaning a microwave and makes the job quick and easy.

Turntable, door and seals

Beyond wiping the interior, clean the removable and detail parts. Take out the glass turntable (and the roller ring or wheels underneath) and wash them in warm soapy water like dishes (most glass turntables are dishwasher safe too), then dry and replace them, this is important since food and grease collect there. Wipe the floor of the microwave under the turntable, which often gets dirty.

Clean the door, both the inside and the window, and pay attention to the door seals and the edges where food splatter and grime build up, wiping them with the damp cloth (a little soapy water for greasy spots). Keeping the door seal clean matters for the door closing properly. Wipe the outside too, the door front, handle and control panel (use a damp, not wet, cloth on the controls, and avoid getting water into vents), and the top if it is a countertop model. The vents and any grease filter (on over-the-range microwaves) should also be cleaned periodically. So cleaning the turntable, door, seals and exterior, along with the steamed interior, covers the whole microwave and keeps it hygienic and working well.

Stubborn stains and odors

For stubborn, baked-on spots that remain after steaming, apply a little more targeted effort rather than harsh scouring. Repeat the steaming to soften them further, or make a paste of baking soda and water, dab it on the spot, let it sit a few minutes, and wipe, the mild abrasion and the baking soda lift stuck-on food without scratching. A sponge’s non-scratch side works for rubbing; avoid metal scourers or harsh abrasives that can damage the interior surface. Most spots give way to steam plus a little baking soda.

For odors (a microwave can smell of past foods), the lemon or vinegar in the steaming water helps a lot, and you can also leave a bowl of water with lemon, or an open box of baking soda, in the closed microwave for a while to absorb smells, or wipe the interior with a vinegar solution. Cleaning up spills (especially strong-smelling foods) promptly prevents lingering odors. So stubborn stains are handled by more steaming or a baking-soda paste, and odors by lemon, vinegar or baking soda, all gentle methods suited to an appliance that heats food, keeping the microwave both clean and fresh-smelling.

Keeping it clean and safe

To keep a microwave clean with less effort, wipe up spills and splatters promptly after they happen, while they are fresh and before repeated heating bakes them on hard, a quick wipe after a messy heat-up saves a big clean later. Cover food when microwaving (with a splatter cover, lid or microwave-safe wrap) to stop it spitting all over the interior in the first place, which greatly reduces mess. A regular quick steam-and-wipe keeps build-up down.

For safety, unplug an over-the-range or built-in unit if doing a deep clean near controls (or at least avoid soaking the control panel and vents), do not use abrasive or metal scourers that could damage the interior, keep water away from the vents and electrical parts, and let the interior cool a little after steaming before handling. Make sure the turntable and ring are dry and correctly replaced. So the full answer is: steam the interior with water and lemon or vinegar, wipe it down, wash the turntable and clean the door, seals and exterior, tackle stubborn spots with more steam or baking soda, deodorize with lemon or baking soda, and wipe spills promptly and cover food to keep it clean. Done this way, cleaning a microwave is quick, easy and effective.

The short answer

Clean a microwave oven by steaming it first: put a microwave-safe bowl of water with a few lemon slices or a splash of vinegar inside and heat it for three to five minutes until it boils and steams up the interior, then leave the door shut a couple of minutes so the steam softens the stuck-on food and grease. Carefully remove the hot bowl and wipe the inside, top, sides, floor and door, with a damp cloth, and the softened food wipes away easily without scrubbing, while the lemon or vinegar also deodorizes. Then remove and wash the glass turntable and roller ring in soapy water, clean the door, window and seals where grime builds up, and wipe the exterior and controls with a damp (not wet) cloth. For stubborn spots, steam again or use a baking-soda paste rather than harsh scourers, and for odors use lemon, vinegar or a bowl of baking soda. To keep it clean, wipe spills promptly before they bake on and cover food while microwaving. This simple steam-and-wipe method keeps a microwave clean and fresh with no harsh chemicals.