EASY Chem-free microwave cleaning. Really.

November 23, 2010 | Author Jane

Here’s an insanely quick and easy way to clean the microwave – without using a drop of cleaning detergents. Yet again, I forgot to get a “before” photo. But after I tried my inspired cleaning idea, and it worked, I did it again so that I could take a few pics for you all.

Take a folded rag and wet it with water. Just water. Not soaking and dripping, but pretty wet.
Place it in the microwave.
Microwave on high for 2 minutes.
Open microwave door, and watch the steam pour out. Can you see the steam? It’s the blurry white areas:
Using a rubber glove or oven mitt to protect your hand from the heat, grab the steamy hot rag (that sounds funny, but do it anyway) and wipe down the ceiling, walls, floor, and tray of the microwave. The grunge should come right off.

See this rag that I’m holding up? That chocolatey-brown stain is, in fact, all the grunge that I wiped off the base of the machine after steaming it. And see how clean the rest of the microwave is? Only minutes earlier it had been splattered in spaghetti sauce, chocolate, soup, and a million other things. Trust me.

It’s really that simple. And if it worked on my grunge-encrusted microwave, then it’s sure to work on yours.

Do you have any cleaning cheats that are almost too easy to be real?

Share it!

Posted in Eco-Conscious Living

http://sunnyslifeinrehab.blogspot.com/ Sunny’s Life in Rehab

I use the exact same method at home, and you’re right, it works like a charm. I also use a combination of water, rubbing alcohol, and white vinegar on our floors, and they dry fast to a streak free finish. The only downside is the house smells like salad.
http://www.twenty-six-to-life.com/ Kate

Super easy. I haven’t heard of using a rag like that (but it does make sense!). I’ve always heard about using lemon too to make it smell nice.
lynzee

That is such a freaking brilliant idea! Trying it out as soon as I get home!
http://www.smallchichome.com/ Jeannine @ Small & Chic

You can also add a little lemon juice in a dish. I don’t know where I read that, but it’s how I clean my micro. It smells yummy.
http://theborrowedabode.myopenid.com/ Jane

Ha! I got sneaky and refilled my swiffer wetjet with that combo and smelled salad too! :)
http://peasandcrayons.blogspot.com/ Jenn L @ Peas & Crayons

ahhhhhhmazing! thanks for the tip girly girl <3
http://sunnysideshlee.com/ Ashley @ sunnysideshlee.com

I’ve heard what Jeannine above has posted about lemon juice working like a charm and smelling great!
http://www.bonbonrosegirls.com Kristin

That is brilliant. I absolutely will be trying that. Thank you!
http://iheartorganizing.blogspot.com/ Jen

I totally love this! Am will be doing this today! Thanks so much for the great tip!

xoxo,
Jen
http://www.withagratefulheart.com/ Adrienne

I’ve used a similar method since I got my first microwave a million years ago. I put a glass measuring cup filled with at least one cup of water, microwave it for at least a minute and viola – everything wipes clean with a damp cloth. I’ll try your method soon.
~Adrienne~
JoDi

I’ve been using a similar method of heating a cup of water in the microwave and then wiping it down with a rag, but heating the wet rag is genius. I tried it today, and it worked great! Thanks!
Kalanicut

Thank you for reminding me about this method. I had completely forgotten. Making it this easy, however, may be frustrating for The Man, who feels there should be a nobel prize associated with the efforts he has made to scrub down the microwave a few times. Haa-haa. I’ve already forwarded to him this link.
Anonymous

Haha, that’s awesome. Sometimes men feel very proud of their domestic
accomplishments. Please give him my sympathies if this removes the sense of
triumph from the cleaning task. :)
http://www.cleaninghouselondon.co.uk/ end of tenancy clean

really? I have to try this. I’ve read about this method in several forums but every time I have to clean the microwave it just doesn’t come up to my mind. I can’t open the pictures you uploaded. Is there something special I have to know about the rag.