Everyone has a spot that they don’t clean as regularly as they should, and for me one of those places is my microwave. I’m into cleaning with more natural and sustainable cleaners. I saw a hack on the internet and I had to try it. Come with me to make a microwave vinegar cleaner.
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My biggest worry with my kids is germs and getting sick. Researching for this post, I found that white vinegar can clean 80% of germs! WIN!! Here’s how to clean a microwave oven with vinegar:
How To Clean A Microwave With Vinegar
- Find a microwave safe bowl, glass works well for this.
- Fill the bowl with equal parts water and vinegar. If it’s been a while since the microwave has been cleaned, I would do up to a cup of each.
3. Microwave the solution for 5 minutes at full power.
4. Let stand in your microwave for 2-3 minutes for the steam to loosen dirt and grime
5. Remove glass bowl from the microwave. Don’t forget it will be HOT!
6. Take a damp sponge or cloth and wipe the microwave vinegar cleaning solution off all the sides, top and bottom of the microwave.
Pro-tip: Consult your microwave for the wattage to see the duration of heating the vinegar. If the wattage is higher, it doesn’t have to be heated for as long where as a lower wattage microwave may need more time.
Why Clean My Microwave With Vinegar?
Vinegar is naturally acidic which makes it a great for cleaner with many uses. I use vinegar to clean my shower and vinegar to clean my toilets as well. Vinegar is also a great option for cleaning dry paint brushes. My favorite thing is it is cheap and a great degreaser.
White distilled vinegar or household vinegar is what I usually use and what I recommend for cleaning your microwave with vinegar. Apple cider vinegar works in a pinch and won’t smell as strong as the white vinegar. It is also a bit more acidic which will provide a deeper clean.
How Often Should A Microwave Be Cleaned?
Now that you have a clean microwave, how can it be maintained? Cleaning your microwave regularly. When I say regularly, I mean about once a week. Say What? My microwave is lucky if it gets a deep clean once a month. One thing I use regularly is a food cover when heating up my food.
Another way to not have to deep clean it so often, is to make a conscious effort to wipe it out after any spills, stickiness, dirt, or mess happens. This will give your deep cleaning the microwave with vinegar some longevity.
How To Prevent Mount Vesuvius In The Microwave
We’ve all seen the little angry mama tool you can buy online that is super cute. Fill the mom with water and vinegar and heat her up so she “steams.” A lot of time what ends up happening is they explode because they are heated too long.
To prevent this from happening to you, place a toothpick in the solution before heating. It forms bubbles before the heating begins and keeps the vinegar solution from bubbling over.
Other Ways To Clean A Microwave
Some other methods that are worth a try if you don’t have any vinegar on hand. The process is the same for all, but the ingredients are different:
- Water + Lemon Juice
- Water + Baking Soda
- Water + Dish soap
- Water
- Angry Mama Microwave Cleaner
I like to use an e-cloth to wipe my counters in my kitchen as well as other surfaces in my home. All you need to add is water!
Final Thoughts
In my opinion, you don’t need fancy chemicals to clean your home. Look for natural solutions you can use to clean your home with things already in your home!
Vinegar is one of my favorite ways to clean things because it is a natural degreaser and grime breaker downer.
I’ve cleaned many things with vinegar, the latest being the microwave. What should we try next?
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