When you’re cleaning the kitchen, there are certain jobs that get forgotten about more than others. One of these is the inside of the microwave, which can get covered in food stains if it’s not cleaned regularly.
Things like soup and porridge can be really difficult to clean off if they’ve been left for a while. So if you want to give your microwave a satisfying deep clean with minimal effort, there’s one little-known product that can really help. Experts at The Kitchn say your microwave will be ‘sparkling’ if you place one thing inside – and it’s not a lemon.
A simple dishwasher tablet is all you need to take your microwave from dirty and stained to spotless, and it takes minutes to work – with no hard scrubbing involved either.
Dishwasher tablets, which can be used for a number of different cleaning jobs around the home, can also work wonders when it comes to the microwave.
By placing one in some water and dissolving it, it creates a powerful cleaning solution that will help to break down any baked-on grease stains, leaving your appliance looking ‘shining’ again.
How to clean your microwave
First, you’ll want to place a dishwasher tablet in a microwave-safe bowl. Pour in some boiling water and allow the tablet to dissolve.
While you’re waiting for this to happen, clear out any stray crumbs or food from inside the microwave. Take out the turntable as well, so that you can wash this separately.
Then, when the water has cooled a bit, dip a cloth in, wring it out and start to wipe down the interior of the microwave. Go from top to bottom, cleaning the ‘ceiling’ first before tackling the walls and base.
You might need to rinse the rag under the tap a few times and re-soak it, but the cleaning power of the tablet should mean you don’t have to scrub too hard at any lingering stains.
The cleaning expert said her microwave ‘shone’ after cleaning it in this way, adding: “I was quite surprised by how dirty the rag got, and this made me realise, in addition to the cleanliness of the microwave, how much dirt the solution was lifting from the microwave interior.”
Then, use a dry paper towel to wipe away any remaining water marks, and you’re done. Any baked-on grease stains will have wiped away with ease, leaving your microwave looking as good as new.
