How to Clean Your Microwave the Right Way—and How Often You Should Do It

Whether your microwave has been the victim of a leftover mashed potato explosion, a bag of burnt popcorn, or just a day's worth of crumbs and spills, knowing how to get it clean—and keep it that way—is essential. We talked to cleaning experts who shared their easy tips to help you get the job done.

How Often You Should Clean Your Microwave

Wipe out the microwave with a damp cloth every day to remove crumbs and just-spilled food, and to keep it tidier between deep cleans, says Warren Weiss of Scrub!, a cleaning service in Philadelphia. "Anything that's exploded in the microwave and then has had a chance to dry will be a nightmare to remove," says Weiss. "If you stay on top of it and wipe it out after each use—especially if there's a small explosion—it will stay nice and clean."

Deep Cleaning

How often you give your microwave a deep, thorough clean depends on how frequently—and how heavily—it's used. Weiss recommends once a week. Marla Mock, president of Molly Maid, suggests cleaning once a month. If you have teenagers heating snacks after practice, a second-shift worker making late-night nachos, and someone cooking frozen pancakes every morning, you may need to increase your cleaning efforts—and be especially vigilant about spills.

"If you have stains or odors, increase the frequency," says Mock. "Since the microwave is such a popular appliance in the kitchen, it’s often used around the clock. If no one takes the time to wipe down or deodorize it, that's when messes and kitchen odors add up."

How to Wipe Down a Microwave

Since the microwave is generally one of your smaller appliances, giving it a daily wipe-down doesn't take long—just don't forget to tackle the one area most people miss.

1. Start with the top of the microwave and work your way down. "The top of the inside of the microwave is an area that everyone forgets about," says Weiss. "For some reason when we clean the microwave, we can't really see the top. I always love looking inside people's microwaves—yes, I look!—and seeing everything nice and clean, but the top is completely gross."
2. After you've wiped the ceiling and walls of the interior, take the tray out of your microwave and wash it according to the manufacturer's directions.
3. Wipe out any crumbs underneath the tray area.
4. Wipe the inside and outside of the door, the handle, and the keypad.

How to Deep Clean a Microwave With Baking Soda, Vinegar, and Lemon

If you see any stuck, burned-on food, it's time to give your microwave a deep clean.

Baking Soda Paste

Weiss uses a homemade paste of baking soda and water with a microfiber towel to loosen the after-effects of reheated Bolognese—but he has a more creative solution for melted-on cheese. "Try a plastic paint scraper," says Weiss. "Wet the area with some warm water and the cheese should come right off."

Lemon and Vinegar

Mock offers this how-to for another natural deep cleaning technique; she uses lemon, vinegar, and water, then wipes away debris with a microfiber cloth. "The lemon will deodorize and the vinegar and microfiber cloth will remove the bacteria-building food particles that have generated," she says. "The best part is that this method takes less than five minutes to complete."

1. Fill a small glass bowl with water and place on the microwave turntable.
2. Squeeze fresh lemon into the bowl for a clean scent.
3. Close the door and let the microwave run on high for two minutes.
4. When the cycle ends, remove the bowl and the turntable; make sure not to burn yourself as the bowl's contents will be hot.
5. With a clean microfiber cloth, dampen with water and white distilled vinegar and wipe away any residue from those pesky reheating spills.
   

How to Remove Odors From a Microwave

Whether it's your morning bacon or your tween's burnt popcorn, smells seem to linger in a microwave. "Who hasn't had a coworker that thinks it's a great idea to bring their leftover salmon and heat it up in the office microwave?" says Weiss. Get rid of that scent—and any others—by wiping out the microwave using a cloth dampened with water and vinegar. "I would also suggest leaving a bowl of water with about a 1/4 cup of vinegar next to the microwave overnight," says Weiss. "The vinegar will absorb the smell."