Cleaning the microwave with vinegar: quick and easy

If you don’t want to spend money on specialized microwave care products, you can use what you have at hand: soda, salt, citric acid or vinegar. It is the latter that we devoted our review to. You will learn how to easily care for your microwave oven without spending much time and money. How to clean a microwave with vinegar? It's simple: the recipes are listed below.

Cleaning features depending on the type of internal coating

Any microwave oven is coated inside with a special special layer that protects the walls from destruction, repelling fat. Damage to the shiny enamel can lead to gradual failure of the device.

Chips and deep scratches are especially dangerous, so when cleaning the microwave oven, you should not use metal tools or hard brushes.

The composition of the internal and external surface of the microwave is very important when choosing a cleaning method. Each material has its own properties and requires different care.

Types of coverage:

Enamel and acrylic. The most susceptible to scratches and damage option. Requires careful handling. The aggressive effects of household chemicals gradually erase the protective coating, and without detergents, grease is difficult to wash off from the enamel surface. Cleaning with vinegar, as a gentle method, is ideal.
Stainless steel. The material is capricious, easily absorbs odors, and is susceptible to the formation of greasy deposits and scratches. Changes color due to exposure to steam and temperatures.

Important! Metal surfaces cannot be washed with vinegar. The coating will lose its aesthetic appearance due to oxidation.

Ceramics. Easy to clean, withstands exposure to chemicals, including organic acids (acetic, citric). Requires careful handling due to fragility and risk of chipping.

Rules of care

Before you start cleaning, read the general rules for using a microwave oven:

Do not wipe with rough cloths or hard brushes. Hard bristles can leave scratches, which subsequently neutralize the protective layer of the microwave oven.

When washing, carefully bend around the ventilation grill so that no drops of water get into it. Failure to do so may result in a short circuit.
Before cleaning, unplug the oven for safety reasons.
To prevent stubborn stains on the interior surface, do a weekly “general” cleaning.
Wash (wipe) the inside surface of the electrical appliance every time after use.
To avoid stains, cover dishes with a special lid.

Do not place anything on the case, especially containers with liquid contents, so that they do not tip over and flood the equipment.

What is the secret of vinegar's effectiveness?

Table vinegar perfectly cleans most surfaces. Even stubborn contaminants easily dissolve in an acidic environment.

This universal cleaner will help you deal with many stains without external damage. The advantages of using this tool are as follows:

Cost-effective and accessible. Vinegar is easy to buy at any store and is inexpensive.
Environmentally friendly, relatively safe for health. The product does not poison the body and does not pollute the environment. Natural composition reduces the likelihood of allergies.
Eliminates odors. All extraneous aromas disappear along with vinegar vapor.
Cleans most organic contaminants. Vinegar breaks down fats, making them soluble in water.
Surface safety. All microwave coatings, except stainless steel, withstand contact with acetic acid perfectly.
Kills germs. Vinegar has disinfectant and antifungal properties and works well against mold.

Step-by-step instructions for cleaning a microwave oven with vinegar

Cleaning surfaces with vinegar does not require much effort and will take no more than 15 minutes. Methods for cleaning a microwave are divided into “cold” and “hot”. The second option is suitable for particularly heavy soiling.

Note! When heating the mixture of vinegar and water, the cleaning effect increases, but you will need to thoroughly ventilate the room to remove the strong odor.

Classic way

The method is suitable for light and moderate dirt. Procedure:

Remove removable parts from the microwave oven.
Dilute 2 tablespoons of 9% vinegar in a glass of warm water.
Use a sponge soaked in the solution to wipe the walls and door of the microwave oven.
Leave for 10 – 15 minutes and then rinse with warm water.
Wipe dry.

Steam bath method

This method will help cope with the most severe stains. To prevent the smell of vinegar from spreading throughout the apartment, you should open the window or turn on the hood before starting work.

Dissolve a tablespoon of vinegar in a glass of water.
Pour the solution into a deep microwave-safe bowl. The plate should be wide - the larger the surface area, the faster the liquid evaporates.
Place in the microwave and turn on as normal for 15 minutes.
Leave for 30 minutes.
Open the door and remove the removable parts.
Remove dissolved dirt with a damp sponge.
Leave the door open for ventilation.

Note! To remove old stains, treatment can be carried out several times.

“2 in 1” method: a mixture of soda and vinegar

Baking soda quenched with vinegar will help more effectively deal with stains inside the microwave, removing the most stubborn dirt and adding shine to the surface. This method is similar to the previous one:

Dissolve 2 teaspoons of baking soda in ½ cup of water.
Fill a wide plate with the mixture.
Add a tablespoon of vinegar.
Place in the microwave and turn on as normal for 15 minutes. Leave for 20-30 minutes.
Rinse the surface well with warm water and wipe dry.
Leave the microwave oven with the door open for ventilation.

Note! Due to the fact that the solution foams strongly, it is better to choose deep dishes.

Preparation

The microwave oven has a fairly simple design, but even it needs to be prepared before washing:

Unplug the plug from the socket and completely turn off the power to the device. If the steam cleaning method is used, it will be possible to power the unit again later.
Remove removable parts from the chamber such as glass and metal stands, rollers and food lid.
Wash removable parts with soapy water and pre-soak. Rinse off the foam under running water and wipe the parts dry.
Leave the oven door open to allow unwanted odors to begin to dissipate.

If desired, you can move the microwave completely away from the wall or remove it from the brackets to gain access to all surfaces.

How to get rid of unpleasant odor inside the microwave

An unpleasant odor inside the microwave oven is formed due to the habit of tightly closing the door. Remains of food on the walls and lack of air circulation create a favorable environment for microbes. There are 2 options for how to easily clean a microwave from odors using vinegar.

The first method will take about 2 minutes:

Mix 2 tablespoons of vinegar in a glass of water
Wipe the walls with a soft cloth soaked in the solution.

Important! When using vinegar, unpleasant odors are not masked, but are completely destroyed. The disinfectant effect of the solution stops the development of bacteria.

The second method is very simple, but will require 12 hours.

Soak a piece of stale bread or a cotton swab with a 9% vinegar solution.
Place in the microwave oven, closing the door tightly, and leave overnight.
Remove the bread and ventilate for 30 minutes.

Useful tips

When organizing a steam bath, fill the container halfway with the solution so that when it boils, the liquid does not flood everything around.
Do not try to scrape dried fat from the walls with a knife or scraper - you will damage the coating.
Do not neglect to use the microwave hood - cover heating dishes with it to prevent splashing.
After each use, open the door for ventilation - this will get rid of unpleasant odors.
Immediately remove drips, greasy splashes and crumbs from the walls and plates - this will help keep the device clean and require less frequent deep cleaning.
If liquid gets into the oven vents during cleaning or cooking, do not turn on the unit for the next 5 hours.

You won’t be able to get rid of stubborn stains with vinegar in 5 minutes – you’ll have to spend time organizing a steam bath.

The best option is preventative “cold” cleaning using the same vinegar solution - it’s quick and safe.

How to clean the outside of a microwave oven

After cleaning the inside of the microwave, you should think about its appearance. A special solution will help quickly dissolve greasy stains.

Mix a tablespoon of baking soda and vinegar in ½ cup of water.
Gently apply foam to the surface with a sponge (you can also use a spray bottle).
Wash off after 5 minutes.

Important! Vinegar should not be used to clean metal parts to avoid discoloration due to oxidation.

Fine table salt will help remove stubborn stains from the outside. To do this you need:

Mix salt with table vinegar until a paste forms.
Apply the resulting mixture to a damp soft cloth or sponge.
Carefully wipe the microwave oven body and door.
Rinse the sponge and remove any remaining salt.

We recommend reading: How to properly clean an automatic washing machine with vinegar

Mustard powder

One of the folk recipes based on mustard is also quite good for cleaning the microwave cavity. To a glass of water (100-150 ml) add 1-1.5 tbsp. l. mustard and stir to a paste. Rub the oven walls with this mixture and leave for 15 minutes. After contamination, rinse with warm water. You can also use ready-made mustard. Then add a small amount of water, or apply thick mustard.

Mustard is a natural antiseptic that effectively removes fat.

Rules for safe and effective microwave cleaning

Be sure to unplug the device before cleaning.
Give preference to liquid cleaning products. Powders have an abrasive effect and can leave scratches, depriving the surface of its shine. Vinegar combined with baking soda works great.
Use a soft sponge or damp cloth to apply and remove detergent. Water should not get into the technical openings of the microwave oven.
Wring out the sponge well. Excess moisture can damage an electrical appliance. The grates must be wiped especially carefully.
Remove the glass tray and wash it under running water as you would a regular dish.
Wash your microwave at least once a week to prevent stains from becoming embedded in the surface.

Note! If you have sensitive skin, use rubber gloves when working with vinegar solutions.

This method will help restore the surface to its original color and remove the most stubborn dirt.

Remember that regular cleaning of the microwave, as well as the use of a special hood for heating food, prevents the appearance of stubborn stains. But, if they do appear, ordinary table vinegar will help you get rid of them, as it perfectly dissolves old fat and removes unpleasant odors inside the microwave oven.

Wiper

You can clean the microwave oven chamber without creating a water bath. Glass cleaning liquid will help remove grease and food debris from the inner surface.

Cleaning is carried out step by step:

Disconnect the electrical appliance from the network.
Dissolve liquid glass cleaner in a small amount of water, maintaining a 1:2 ratio.
A foam sponge is moistened in the resulting liquid.
They wipe the inside of the device chamber with it. Pay special attention to the ring and plate.
Difficult places are moistened generously with the solution. Leave it to work for 5 minutes.