How To Clean Your Microwave, According To Kitchen Experts

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If you have a microwave at home, odds are it often gets overlooked during your regular kitchen cleaning. Even some of us at Team Delish admit to only wiping down the interior of our microwaves after a major food explosion.

It's safe to say we've all experienced the splatter of leftovers and the stench of burnt popcorn in our microwaves. It led us to wonder: how often should we be cleaning our microwaves? And what's the best way to do it?

How often you clean your microwave depends on how much you use it. But according to our friends at the Good Housekeeping Institute, the best way to keep your microwave clean is with regular maintenance. For die-hard microwave users, that means a wipe down every few days, at least.

If your microwave gets used less frequently, a weekly clean is a good starting point. Thankfully, there are plenty of methods to remove built-up grime that don't require much scrubbing.

One of our food editors wipes down the inside of her microwave with Clorox wipes, then dries it with a paper towel. Other members of our team use plain-old all-purpose cleaner or diluted dish soap with a sponge to get the job done.

One of our favorite methods uses the heat from the microwave to do all the hardwork, and it's Good Housekeeping-approved. Simply place some lemon slices and water in a microwave-safe container and heat it up for a couple minutes. The citrus-scented steam will loosen up the stuck-on stains so you can easily wipe them away with a sponge.

While the inside of your microwave can get messy, the exterior also needs some love from time to time. The placement of your microwave matters here; if it's near your stove it can accumulate lots of greasy build-up over time.

To clean the outside of your microwave, you'll need some a grease-cutting cleaner. The Good Housekeeping Institute recommends products like Mr. Clean Clean Freak Mist, vinegar, or diluted dish soap. If you need something more heavy-duty, we recommend using stainless-steel cleaner or even oven cleaner for major messes. You'll need to put in a little elbow grease to get your microwave squeaky-clean.

While the best way to keep your microwave clean is with consistent cleanings, there are some products on the market that can limit the amount of splatter that hits the walls. One of our favorites is a microwave-safe plate cover. So if your leftovers explode while reheating, you only have to clean this plastic lid and not the entire microwave.

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