How to Clean a Microwave in 5 Minutes

A microwave gets grubby faster than almost anything in the kitchen, with sauce splatters baking onto the roof and walls every time you use it. Scrubbing it is a chore, but you do not have to. Steam does the work for you, and the whole job takes about five minutes.

Why steam works

When water boils inside the microwave, the steam settles on every surface and softens dried-on food. Grease and splatters that would need hard scrubbing simply wipe away with a cloth. Adding lemon or vinegar cuts the grease further and leaves it smelling fresh.

What you will need

• A microwave-safe bowl
• Water, about a cupful
• Half a lemon, or two tablespoons of white vinegar
• A cloth or sponge

The five-minute method

1. Make the steam

Half-fill the bowl with water. Squeeze in the juice of half a lemon and drop the peel in too, or add two tablespoons of white vinegar. Place the bowl in the middle of the microwave.

2. Heat it up

Run the microwave on full power for three to five minutes, until the window steams up and the water is boiling. Leave the door shut for two more minutes so the steam keeps working. Do not open it straight away, as the bowl and water will be very hot.

3. Wipe it clean

Carefully lift out the bowl, using oven gloves as it will be hot. Take out the glass turntable and wash it in the sink. Wipe the inside of the microwave with a cloth, starting from the roof and working down. The softened food should come away easily.

The door, seals and outside

Wipe the inside of the door and the rubber seal, where splashes collect. For the outside and the touchpad, use a barely damp cloth so no water gets into the buttons. A drop of washing-up liquid handles any greasy marks on the handle.

Keep it clean for longer

• Cover food with a lid or a piece of kitchen roll to stop splatters.
• Wipe up spills as soon as the microwave has cooled.
• Steam-clean once a week so grime never bakes on.

If the whole kitchen needs the same quick refresh, you can book a GlowSpark cleaner from £19 an hour, with your first hour for £9 on your first Home Cleaning booking.