Clean Your Microwave in 5 Minutes with Lemon Steam
Heat a bowl of lemon water until the microwave fills with steam, and baked-on splatters wipe off in a few strokes.
What you need
Supplies
- Half a lemon (or 1 tbsp vinegar)
- 250 ml (1 cup) water
Tools
- Microwave-safe bowl
- 1 wooden chopstick or spoon
- 2 cloths
- Oven mitt
How to do it
- 01
Make lemon water
Pour 250 ml (1 cup) of water into a microwave-safe bowl, squeeze in half a lemon and drop in the peel. Rest a wooden chopstick or spoon in the bowl to stop the water from suddenly boiling over.
- 02
Heat until it steams
Microwave for 3–5 minutes until the water boils and the door glass fogs up. Add 1–2 minutes for lower-wattage models.
- 03
Keep the door closed for 5 minutes
Do not open the door right away. Leave it closed for about 5 minutes so the trapped steam softens the food stuck to the walls and ceiling, and you will not need to scrub.
- 04
Remove the bowl and turntable
Wearing an oven mitt, carefully take out the hot bowl. Remove the turntable and wash it with dish soap like any other dish.
- 05
Wipe from top to bottom
Dip a cloth in the lemon water, wring it out and wipe the ceiling, then the sides, then the floor. The softened grime slides right off. Finish with a dry cloth, including the inside edge of the door.
Be careful
- Never run the microwave empty. It can damage the appliance.
- Steel wool and abrasive cleaners scratch the interior coating and can lead to rust.
- The square panel on the side wall (waveguide cover) is sensitive to water. Wipe it lightly with a dry cloth only.
- Do not use bowls with metal rims or foil trays, which can spark.
Malkkeum tips
- No lemon? Use 1 tbsp of vinegar instead. Lemon is better for odors, vinegar slightly better for grease.
- Using a microwave cover when reheating cuts your cleaning in half.
- If fish or curry leaves a smell, heat just the lemon peel with a little water for a minute.
Why steam cleaning works
Most microwave stains are oil and sauce splatters that have been reheated over and over until they harden. Scrubbing them dry only damages the coating. Softening them with steam first means a few wipes are enough, and the lemon also masks lingering food smells.
If stains remain
If hard spots are still stuck to the ceiling after steaming, repeat the process once more. The second time, add 1 tsp of baking soda to the lemon water to loosen grease further. Anything that still will not budge may be discoloration of the coating itself, so do not scrape it.
FAQ
Do I need to do this often if I use it daily? Wipe with a dry cloth after each use and steam clean once a week. That is plenty.
Will it smell of vinegar? Leave the door open for about 10 minutes and the smell fades. If you dislike it, use lemon.
