This cleaning hack is simply the zest
Cleaning a microwave with lemon works because lemon's natural acidity breaks down grease and grime while leaving your appliance smelling fresh and clean.
You can boost stubborn stain removal by dipping your cloth into the leftover lemon water and scrubbing until the spot disappears completely.
Steam from the heated lemon-water mixture loosens hardened food, so let your bowl sit for a few minutes before wiping down all surfaces.
Hiring a local housekeeping professional keeps your kitchen sparkling when you need regular deep cleaning or help tackling tough microwave buildup and grime.
Have you ever put off cleaning the microwave for weeks on end? Scrubbing down this appliance likely isn’t your favorite task—especially when it's full of forgotten spaghetti sauce—and it’s easy to close the door and forget about it.
Luckily, there’s a way to clean your microwave and leave it smelling like a fresh lemon tree. The key to cleaning your microwave effectively and efficiently? Lemons. By following the simple steps below, you’ll have a sparkly clean microwave in no time.
Difficulty: ⅕ No experience? No problem.
Time to Complete: 20 minutes
Tools:
Microwave-safe glass, bowl, or dish
Gloves
Cloth or sponge
Supplies:
Water
Lemons
To start cleaning a microwave with lemon, first, fill a microwave-safe glass, bowl, or dish halfway up with water. Cut a lemon in half and squeeze the juice into the water. Then, drop the lemon halves in gently so you don’t have another mess to clean.
Next, microwave your lemon-water mixture on the microwave’s high setting for three minutes or until the liquid starts boiling. The power of steam will loosen some of the hardened bits of food and grime, making your work that much easier.
Leave the bowl in the microwave for a few minutes so the solution can work its magic.
After a few moments, remove the bowl, making sure you use gloves to protect your hands since the water may still be quite hot. In addition, take out any removable parts, such as the turntable.
Wipe down these removable parts using a cloth or a sponge. You can also use a dish wand for an even easier clean. Then, wipe the entire interior of the microwave clean using a damp cloth or sponge.
Pro tip: If you’re finding stubborn stains, dip your cloth or sponge into the leftover lemon water and scrub until you’ve removed the spot(s).
Finally, wipe down the exterior portion of the microwave with a cleaner of your choice, taking care not to miss any spots or gunk in corners. Make sure you scrub the handle, as this is where you’ll find fingerprints, as well as some other food stains.
What makes lemon one of the best natural cleaners is its low pH and high acidity. Plus, lemons can help get rid of stinky smells in your home, thanks to their naturally pleasing scent.
In addition to lemons, you can use vinegar to clean your microwave. Simply go through the steps above, just substituting lemon juice for vinegar (around 2 tablespoons of vinegar combined with water).
In addition to homemade cleaners, you can also go over your microwave with a suitable store-bought cleaner or disinfectant if that’s what you’d prefer.
Yes. Both bottled lemon juice and fresh lemons will work as cleaning agents.
If you’ve gone through the above steps and your stains are not gone, you can try using a mix of equal parts baking soda and water to remove the spots.
Cleaning with baking soda can loosen even the most stubborn hardened grime. Spread the paste around the stain(s) and let it sit for around five minutes. Afterward, use a sponge or damp cloth to scrub.
I had FabClean 614 clean my apartment, and she did an outstanding job. She was so professional and efficient. My apartment looks absolutely spotless every surface, every corner, all cleaned to perfection. Definitely highly recommend FabClean 614 if you're looking for top-notch cleaning...
Fab Clean 614Best cleaning I've had at my property
Fantastic group, very communicative, and they really did a great job cleaning my condo. Will be hiring them for recurring cleaning!
eMaids of Northern Columbus100% satisfied with the work done by Supreme Brick & Chimney. Josh responded to my Angi request very quickly and squeezed our house into his schedule only a couple business days out. The chimney cleaning process was extremely clean with ZERO dirt going anywhere besides in Josh's vacuum. Very...
Supreme brick & chimneyOn time, clean and finished fast. Windows seem sturdy and the finish is good. Caulking was done with no smudges. Would recommend.
Window Depot USA of Central OhioGreat job...edging and pre clean up went well with a great job with seal coat. Friendly, efficient and professional.
All Star Paving and SealingMary Cleaning Service is fantastic! The entire team is professional and pay a great deal of attention to detail. They do such a thorough job of cleaning my house. I would definitely recommend!
It was just fine. They did a good job. They cleaned what needed to be cleaned.
Dezired Cleaners LLCThey cleaned my very dirty basement. They were prompts, quick, thorough and their price was fair.
JDE House Cleaning LLCExcellent! We were very satisfied with the service provided and the entire experience from start to finish. Very friendly and professional staff. I was able to instantly get in contact with them for a quote and the response time and overall communication remained quick and easy throughout the...
Prime Cleaning ServiceFrom average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Microwave replacements are relatively affordable compared to other appliances. Use this guide to learn how much they cost based on factors like type and labor.
It’s tempting to turn a blind eye to the mess in your microwave, but there’s no need to procrastinate. Find out the easiest ways to clean a microwave.
Looking for tips for microwave cleaning? We’ve assembled seven that’ll have your favorite kitchen shortcut looking (and smelling) as good as new in a flash.
Lemon is a cleaning powerhouse. Washing white clothes with lemon juice is a one-way ticket to a brighter load of laundry, and we’ll show you how to make it happen.
If your microwave comes on when the door is opened, there are several potential causes to address. Find out the culprits with this guide.
Learn why a microwave’s wattage is important, the wattage number you should look for in your home appliance, and how much energy wattage requires.
