Cleaning The Microwave With Lemon & Hot Water
By schulzie
@schulzie (4061)
United States
July 13, 2008 3:22pm CST
Inevitably when you use a microwave you will end up with food and debris splattered everywhere inside. Sometimes even if you try to cover everything it sometimes splatters or leaks anyways.
In order to clean up the yucky mess that is left behind I use a little dishwashing detergent and hot water and clean the walls and entire inside of the microwave. Then I wipe with water until rinsed. Then I follow this up by putting a bowl of water with cut up and squeezed lemons in there. I microwave until boiling then stop. I let the steam deodorize and finish cleaning the microwave. I remove the bowl when it has cooled off and wipe the inside clean.
Voila! A safe and enviornmentally friendly way to freshen up the microwave. Then I grind up the lemons in the garbage disposal to make that smell fresh too.
Hope you enjoyed this tip!
9 people like this
17 responses
@welikemoney (383)
• United States
13 Jul 08
They used to make these little microwave packs that you put in the microwave, and put it on for like a minute. The heat opens the pack, lets the steam and lemon and water out, then you take the cloth that is enclosed in the pack and wipe the microwave down inside :) Same theory as yours!
2 people like this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
24 Jul 08
I just heat up a mug of water in the microwave then wipe it out. I don't use detergent and certainly not lemon...at 75 cents each that's a bit over the top. Maybe when my lemon tree grows. If I was to use anything I would use a few drops of vanilla on a damp cloth. I keep a shot glass in the fridge with a few teaspoons of vanilla to keep smells at bay.
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
14 Jul 08
That is an awesome tip! Thank you so much for sharing!!! I've only used the soap and water method. I love the lemon idea!!! My husband has an unnatural ability to smell odors that most people can't. (Maybe he's part Bloodhound!) I'm constantly trying to "extra" clean everything! (Drives me batty, sometimes!) This is an easy way to deodorize and to satisfy hubby's canine snout!
Thanks again for the great tip!
1 person likes this
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
14 Jul 08
And you know, if you cook alot with garlic or fish or anything else very strong smelling this really does help to neutralize the odors!
P.S. I'm the one in this family who has the hypersenstive smelling ability. So this should work for him since it does for me!
1 person likes this
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
14 Jul 08
Wow! Another person with that ability! I really wish I was like that... no more guessing games when it comes to whether or not hubby can smell it!
Well, at least ONE of us has that ability! I have to drag him around the house asking, "Can you smell this?" "Is this clean enough?" "What about this?" 
1 person likes this
@RDugas (247)
• United States
14 Jul 08
To clean my microwave I usually just put plain water in a microwave safe bowl and let it boil for a few minutes. It takes everything off without scrubbing hard. I'll have to try the lemon thing to get rid of the food smell in it. Thanks for the tip!
@lucy02 (5015)
• United States
4 Aug 08
Thanks for the tip! I am trying not to use as many chemicals as I use to in the house. I suffer from allergies and sinus trouble. I thought it might help to use more natural cleaning agents. I have started using baking soda and vinegar on my floors. Seems to be working pretty well.
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
6 Aug 08
I have allergies too! I think that is great that you are trying to use natural means to clean as opposed to chemicals. I think it is better for the environment too in the long run! I had never heard of baking soda and vinegar for the floors before. That's a good idea!
1 person likes this
@doubleloveyou (2466)
• United States
6 Aug 08
That is a really good idea. My wife uses a liquid cleaner that works great even on OLD OLD stains and bake on stuff. I started another discussion to tell about that stuff and what she uses it for.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (178112)
• United States
14 Jul 08
I saw a tip like that on GMA or one of those type shows. In fact, I think you can just steam clean your microwave without doing the first step. I think the cut up lemon idea is cool though. I would like it if my microwave smelled fresh. I hate it when the debris gets splashed all around. I may do some more micro cleaning today, it is a little splattered.
1 person likes this
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
14 Jul 08
I always use vinegar and it does the trick very easily. No need to get the water to boiling either.
I just put a microwave save bowl or glass measuring cup, put about half and half vinegar and water and nuke it for about a minute or two.
No need for scrubbing at all, just a quick wipe and you're done. Vinegar is wonderful for neutralizing odors, and the smell of the vinegar itself only lasts for a few seconds.
1 person likes this
@patms1 (521)
• United States
14 Jul 08
I have found the best way to clean my microwave is to put a sponge that I use in my kitchen for my dishes or counters filled with water and some dish detergent. Put the microwave on high for five minuets and after it stops give it a minuet to cool then take a paper towel and wipe it down. Ever thing comes off leaving the microwave clean and bright plus you now have clean fresh spongers.
@metschica25 (5399)
• United States
14 Jul 08
Hey ,
You know what all of those tips sound easy and wonderful My microwave is a mess since my brother spent the weekend here eating . Usually , I will use vinger , but that dont smell to good , and the smell will last , and last , and make me sick . I like the smell of lemons so clean and fresh , and anything to make the can smell better , I am in . Thanks for the tips
@tamarafireheart (15384)
•
14 Jul 08
Hello schulzi,
I wonderd why my microwave still smell of stale food after I cleaned it, thanks so much for the tip.
Tamara
1 person likes this
@crazy_ol_lady (1014)
• United States
14 Jul 08
hi schulzie,
I just cleaned my micro wave today. I just read your post and decided to add a bowl of lemons cut up and squeezed. I heated the water and wah la, my micro wave smells so nice and clean. Thank you for a great idea.
Have a nice day..
1 person likes this
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
14 Jul 08
wow. that sounds really nice and clean. thats a great tip thank you schulzie
@soyporteno (406)
• United States
17 Aug 08
I think I have heard of this before. I'll have to try this later. I always try to put a white paper towel over my food when I microwave to avoid all the messy splatters and spills.
Thanks for the advice.
