Cleaning the microwave

They do make a lovely little kit that contains envelopes which automatically open up and steam the crud off, and I do think they are a bit nicer than just steaming with lemon water or whatever, but truly, if it were my home, the boys would a) listen to me, and b) use the oven properly or not at all. My first thought was that if they won't listen to you then you could get them their own small inexpensive MW and let them live with the mess, but then I thought more on it and decided that would only encourage them to continue disrespecting other people's property and when they get a bit bigger, they will find out that not everyone is as forgiving as mom. In college we used to have two friends in our group who decided to room together until they found out that one guy was a neat-nik and the other was a messy widget. Their relationship fell completely apart and it was a sad thing to watch. I must say, though, that most people ended up siding with the neat-nik. As teachers, though, we noticed a trend that got much worse as we mercifully neared retirement, and that was that students now tend to littler the classrooms something awful. Again, this is something our students hardly ever did, in fact, they would even help out when they saw us picking trash up from the floor. But I must say, we wondered what kind of homes some of the other teacher's students came from.

Here is an easy way to clean your microwave oven: 1. Take out the removable tray or glass if your oven has one. 2. Soak or wash tray in regular dishwashing liquid 3. With a damp paper towel, wipe out the crusties and crumbs that are on the floor of the microwave 4. Soak a clean sponge in plain tap water or fill a microwave bowl with 1/2 cup of water and put either sponge or dish in microwave. Heat on high for about 2 minutes. 5. Use an oven glove or pot holder and remove the sponge or bowl 6. Use a damp dish rag or sponge to wipe away the gunk off the microwave 7. If you still are left with some tough stains, use some white vinegar on the cloth 8. Once you have it cleaned, let it air out for a few minutes before closing Never use bleach or other chemicals to clean your microwave or the tray. Rule of thumb is, if you wouldn't eat it on it's own, don't use it to clean the microwave. Hope this helps. Have a great night, Char :-)

I have had my microwave for ten years now. I always cover everything up too when I heat something up. I usually use a papertowel over my plate or bowl. I am constantly telling my husband and my 16 year old daughter to cover stuff up. I get tired of cleaning the microwave out.They say they do not see the messes they make. Well I sure do and I go behind them and clean it out every time, even if they tried to cover what they are heating up or cooking. I have never heard of any kind of microwave cleaner. My microwave still looks brand new because I am the one who makes sure it stays clean here.

Trace, awhile back someone on myLot posted a response to this question. I believe they said to fill two cups(or small bowls) 3/4 full, one with water and one with white vinegar. Place in microwave, do not cover. Turn on M/W until these things boil and steam generates. 3-5 minutes maybe. The steam loosens the dirt in M/W and you just have to wipe it down. I have tried this and it works marvelously. I think you could probably mix the water and vinegar, in equal parts, together in a larger bowl too. Good luck!! PEACE

I never forget to cover things simply cause if I don't, I am the one that has to clean up the mess the splattering causes! But I just soak it all down with 409 or something like that and then wipe it all away.

Here is the best way to clean the microwave. And NO chemicals. Unless you want to be eating them next. In a glass measuring cup put one cup water and microwave on high for several minutes until the water boils. If you want a fresher smell, add a little lemon juice to the water first. After the timer goes off leave the door shut for 10 minutes while the steam builds. Then go in and wipe it down. The steam will loosen any stuck on food and its really easy to wipe clean.

I take a coffee mug and put in a squirt of dishwash soap and a little vinegar, then turn it on until it's steaming hot, then I shut off the micro and let it sit in there a while. This seems to soften up the gunk and make it easier to get off. I use one of those foam scrubbers with the teflon safe scratchy pads on one side, that seems to help too. I've heard others say that you can do the same thing with water and lemon juice, but I've never tried it. One thing I did get the family to use was one of those big plastic splatter covers. It's big enough to cover a plate with lots of food piled on it. I leave the cover inside the microwave so they have to either move it, or cover their dish when it goes in.

21 and 41 are pretty big boys to have to clean up after. After You get it cleaned I think that I would put a very big note on the door saying cover the food or don't use the microwave because your tired of cleaning it after them or something to that effect. someone mentioned one of those food covers for the microwave but then they probably wouldn't wash that up ether. But a big note might help to remind them to cover the food..

heat a little water in it for a short time then the gunk will come off easy

put a bowl of water, with a little lemon in it and nuke it for 5 minutes, let it sit for a little bit to allow the steam to soften the stuck food and then take it out and use the water on a rag or dishcloth and wipe it out.

Hi Trace, What I usually do is soak a dishtowel in water then twist it to get most water out but leave just enough on it so it's saturated and dripping a bit with water. Put it in the microwave and set on high for five minutes. When it's finished be careful because the steam can hurt you so let it cool a bit then when you can handle the heat, wipe your microwave out with that dishtowel that is still steaming. If you need to do it again then just repeat the steps. I do this everytime my microwave has food baked on and it works like a charm! Have fun

For the most difficult last parts that don't want to yipe away with anything, I normally place a soaked paper towel over the spot to let it rest there for 5 or 10 minutes. If it starts working just keep repeating. (Sometimes using a flat heat screw driver helps get those areas to start breaking apart with the soaked paper towel treatment.) If something is vertical, than just hold the soaked paper towel over it without squeezing the water out of it. Plus repeat as needed.

hello Trace yes there is cleaner in microwave a lot faster.thats also i used for oven.you just spray on it and then after few minutes it will clean very fast you just wipe it of a piece of cloth.i dont know whats in english word but if you look in supermarket in kitchen stuff you will find it.if you spray in it, it looks like snow and its very effective!!!try it!

I had two boys too! The best way to clean the microwave is to have them do it every time they use it, no exceptions. I'll bet after just a few days they will cover their food. If not, restrict them from using it for a while, the will get it I am sure.

There was or is an Easy-Off for microwaves, but I wouldn't trust anything that might be toxic in any way. I use a solution of vinegar, water and lemon juice to clean my microwave. In fact, a real easy way to do it, is just put a small bowl of the mixture in the microwave and heat it up. Let it sit in the microwave for a while. The evaporation from the mixture will cling to the stuck food. You can then swipe the food off with a damp sponge. This is a very effective, economical and safe way to clean your microwave.

I'm not sure if there is an Easy-off for microwaves! I always tell my kids to cover their stuff too. It sure is frustrating when they don't cover up their stuff or clean the mess they leave behind because they didn't!

If you read your manual, it will probably tell you not to use cleaners. The best way is to put a bowl of water in the mikie for about 5 minute - the steam will loosen all the junk and it will wipe off for most part. Make sure that you use hot pads to remove the bowl it will be hot. For small messes you can wet a couple of paper towels and nuke them for a minute or two and it will have the same effect that a big bowl of water will have...

Hi Trace You have to wipe off all the solid food particles from the microwave and then boil a bowl of water for a few minutes and then after removing the bowl of water wipe off the interior again with a piece of cloth. Now the interior will become clean.

Thanks for the BR. I appreciate it! Have a good night, Char

Warm water on paper towels, and some vinegar, not much, cleans the inside of my microwave right up! Oh yes, and some elbow grease!