How to Clean a Microwave with Lemon Juice

There are large-scale household chores and there are small tasks. Large-scale household chores take a lot of time and effort and usually involve the whole household, such as cleaning out the garage or the attic. Small tasks, like cleaning out the dishwasher or kitchen cupboard, take less time to do.

However one task that may seem small-scale but can end up involving a lot of effort, is cleaning the microwave. This is because, a microwave, if not regularly cleaned, can be layered internally with grease, oil and dirt. So you need to put a lot of elbow effort and force into rubbing the grease off.

There are natural ways to clean the microwave, that do not involve an expensive chemical cleaner and require little rubbing or scrubbing. One such way is to use lemon juice. Lemon is a citrus fruit and contains acid, which eats away at grime and grease very effectively.

• Use a damp cloth or sponge, moistened by warm water. Wipe the inside walls of the microwave, that is the top, bottom and back walls with the cloth.
• Do not rub or exert a lot of pressure. Just wipe off any crumbs or dirt that are loose.
• If there are any food particles in the microwave, take them out.
• Squeeze out 2-3 tablespoons of juice from a lemon.

• Add lemon juice to a microwave safe bowl and then add 2-3 cups of water.
• Mix the liquid well and place it in the microwave.
• Turn the microwave on and keep it on for 2 minutes.
• The lemon water must boil in the microwave. Keep the bowl in the microwave as long as it takes for the water to boil.

• Once the timer goes off, do not open the door. Let steam from the water spread in the microwave.
• Once the steam has condensed and fogged up your microwave, remove the bowl.
• Stand at least 3 feet away from your microwave, while it is cooling down, because if it gets too hot, the door may burst open and you may get steamed.

• After 10 minutes, take the bowl out. You can see the grease on the sides of the microwave has turned soft and oily.
• Use oven mitts to handle the bowl and take it out of the microwave.

• Use a damp cloth and wipe the greasy sides. If some stains are tough, repeat the procedure to soften the grease.
• You can take out the glass tray or microwave turntable and wash it separately, then leave it to dry before you fix it back.

Using lemon water to clean your microwave not only wears down the grease, it also leaves a nice citrusy and tangy aroma in your machine. It makes a nice change from a stale, greasy smell, which can sometimes be imparted to your food.

• Another lemony method for getting rid of microwave grease is using a whole lemon.
• Wipe down the microwave with a damp cloth.
• Use a medium-sized fresh lemon and cut it in half, along its length.
• Fill a plate with ½ cm of water (the plate should be microwaveable safe).

• Place the lemon halves in the plate, face down, such that their cut faces are on the plate.
• Turn the microwave on and let steam form inside it.
• After 5 minutes, remove lemon plate and use one lemon half (handle hot lemon with oven mitts) to scrub the walls and the floor of the microwave.

• Then use a damp cloth to wipe off the microwave walls.
• Keep the door open and let the microwave air-dry for a while.
• Wash the glass tray with soap and let it dry.

Lemon juice is just one non-chemical way to clean microwave grease. You can use liquids like vinegar or dish soap mixed with water, to clean your microwave. Be careful with heated substances in the microwave, such as the lemon juice in the bowl.

Prevention is better than cure, so avoid letting your microwave become very dirty through neglect. The minute it starts looking slightly greasy or you have cooked something like popcorn or nachos, that has splashed sauce onto its walls, clean the microwave immediately.