How to Clean a Microwave Without Vinegar or Lemon

With an army of cleansers to use it should be an easy task to find a cleaner that will get rid of the grease, dirt, and grime build-up in your microwave. However, not all cleaners are made equal. You will reduce those options immensely once you start eliminating those abrasive cleaners and chemical-laden ones.

Then when you remove both vinegar and lemon from the mix, your options are not so great. Those are two very good solutions to use when your microwave is really dirty. To learn what you can do in this predicament, just continue to read our article.

It provides safe alternatives you can use when you do not use either vinegar or lemon as your cleaning solution.

Cleaning a Microwave Without Using Vinegar and Lemon

Liquid Dish Soap and Essential Oils

It is a unique combination especially when many of those liquid soaps come with a very nice fragrance added to them. However, if that fragrance is a little too harsh for your or your family’s nose then you may want to tone it down some and add some of your favorite oils.

If you do not have any essential oils handy, then choose a liquid soap that does not have a strong smell. Once you have made your decision, take a microwave-safe bowl add a large portion of the soap and add about a cup or a little more of warm water.

Place the bowl inside of your microwave and turn the power to high. Then set the timer for about 5 minutes and turn it on. After the appliance stops working, leave the bowl inside for another 5 to 10 minutes. That will allow the steam to loosen up any hard and fast stains.

When that time period is up, remove the bowl, the plate, and the ring and moisten a cloth. Once that is done, wipe away all the dirt and your microwave should be clean again. When you make your mixture don’t forget to add a couple of drops of essential oils to the mix.

Glass Cleaning Solution and Water

This method does not require you to boil any water. What you want to do is mix 2 parts of glass cleaning liquid and 1 part water and use a bowl big enough to get your hand into easily.

When the mixture is ready, you can take a non-abrasive sponge and dip it into the mixture. The sponge does not have to be soaking wet. But it should be moist enough to remove the stains inside the appliance.

After you have the sponge ready, remove the ring and the plate so you can clean easily. Wipe down the entire interior of the microwave and do not skip any portion of it. While you are wiping you can put some of that mixture in a larger bowl and soak the plate and ring.

When you are finished wiping, take another clean cloth and moisten it with water only. Then wipe the interior down once again for the rinse portion of this process. Keep wiping until the smell of the cleaner is gone. Let the microwave dry before using it again.

Damp Paper Towels

The principle is the same. Wet the towels and place them in the center of the revolving plate in your microwave. Then turn the microwave on for about 5 minutes and let the steam do its work.

One reason you want steam to come up out of the towels or bowls is to make sure the interior of your appliance is sterilized. Once the towels have cooled, use them to wipe away all the dirt and crime or use a clean cloth of non-abrasive sponge to do that step.

Baking Soda and Water

This is another good alternative you can use when you do not want to use lemons or vinegar. You can do this in two ways. The first method will be to sprinkle the baking soda inside the microwave and then use a damp cloth to wipe away all the stains and dirt. The baking soda should absorb any odors inside as well.

The second way is to mix a couple of spoonfuls of baking soda with a cup of water in a microwave-safe bowl. Once mixed, place the bowl inside the appliance and use maximum power and 5 minutes to bring the mixture to a boil.

Let the steam do its job and when the heating is done, wipe the interior with a damp clean cloth. Rinse a few times with another cloth to get all the baking soda out.

Some Final Words

While lemons and vinegar are go-to cleaning solutions, you have alternatives. They work just as well as those two natural items do and will help keep your microwave germ-free.