Cleaning a Microwave

Probably one of the most used appliances in the kitchen is the microwave. Almost everything can be cooked in it and it takes minutes instead of hours. Microwaves can be on the counter of above the range but no matter where they are located in your kitchen, they get dirty fast. Splattering food and sometimes even exploding food will coat the inside of the unit and can eventually turn the microwave into a germ pool from old food. Further, the more often the microwave is used without cleaning it, the more the food hardens on to the surface making it nearly impossible to remove.

There are lots of solutions to cleaning your microwave oven but I was shown a fast and easy way to clean it by my friend. It includes a microwave-safe dish, water, kitchen cleaner and a sponge.

1. Spray the inside with cleaner. Spray the inside of your microwave with a kitchen cleaner like Greenworks or Method. These are earth-friendly cleaners and don't cause clouds of chemicals around the area being clean.
2. 2. Heating up the water. Get a microwave-safe dish, preferably a bowl, and pour some tap water in it until nearly full. Place the bowl in the microwave and heat it up on high power for approximately five minutes. After it stops cooking, leave the bowl in the microwave for another ten to fifteen minutes. The steam from the bowl will interact with the cleaner on the inside, slowly steaming food remains loose.
3. 3. Clean out. Once enough time has elapsed, open the microwave and remove the bowl. Wipe the sides and ceiling down with the sponge. Food particles should be removed without any "elbow grease." Rinse the sponge as necessary and continue to clean until both the food particles and the cleaner have been thoroughly removed. Remember to remove all of the cleaner. Any residuals will be heated up with your next meal.
4. 4. Clean the bowl. If possible, run the bowl through the dishwasher. The bowl has been saturated in cleaning water and you do not want to use it for cooking if you are not certain the bowl is satisfactorily cleaned.

You can also buy cleaners at the store that are essentially the same as using your day to day items around the house. I prefer using what I already have as opposed to buying more cleaners. Also, if I make my own cleaning solution, I can control my use of non earth-friendly cleaners.