how to clean a microwave.

19 Jan 2026

Microwaves. They’re brilliant for reheating soup. Terrible for staying clean.

Bolognese bombs, egg explosions, and don’t get us started on that mysterious popcorn smell from 3 weeks ago.

So let’s clean up our microwave in just 5 smol steps. No bleach. Zero elbow grease. Just a sparkling interior with a lemon, some smol and about 10 minutes.

1. citrus steam clean.

Everyone deserves a spa… so let’s give one to your hardworking microwave.

Pour 1 cup of water into a microwave-safe bowl.

Add a few slices of lemon, lime, or orange (bonus points if you squeeze juice in too).

Pop it in the microwave for 3 minutes on a high setting (or until it steams).

Leave the door shut for 5 minutes (so the steam can work its magic).

Wipe everything down with a damp sponge or cloth.

Top tip: don’t stress if you haven’t any citrus fruit to hand. Swap it out for a tablespoon of white vinegar instead added into your cup of water. Yes, there will be a vinegary smell, but it won’t last for long and your microwave will thank you (promise).

2. sorting splatters.

Once you’ve wiped the interior down you may well still see some crusty bits, clinging on for dear life. In which case, it’s time to bring in the big(ger) guns.

Spray the inside with smol multi purpose spray. It’s a powerful degreaser and leaving it to work for a few minutes is its greasy super power.

Wipe with a soft cloth or sponge (no need to scrub like you’re mad at it).

Repeat this process on the microwave plate, or if you prefer, it can go in the dishwasher for a proper soak.

3. on the outside.

You’ll want your microwave looking good on the outside too so don’t forget the door and the buttons.

Mix a squirt of smol washing up liquid with some warm water.

Dip your cloth or sponge into the suds and wipe the door, edges, handles and seals.

For fingerprints on the window, a 50/50 vinegar, water mix works wonders.

Top tip: you can also use smol multi purpose spray for the outside of your microwave, but remember… never spray directly onto the buttons. Spray onto your cloth first, then wipe (we want our electronics to keep on working)!

4. scents of smell.

Bad smells really do hang around it’s true, so if your microwave is not smelling as fresh as it should here’s what to do next:

Leave the door open to air it out.

Place a bowl of bicarbonate of soda inside overnight to soak up the stench.

5. keep it clean.

We’re not saying you have to clean your microwave every week. But we are saying it’s less grotty that way.

And an easy change to adopt? Get a microwave cover for your leftovers. They stop splats in their tracks, so you clean less often because nobody enjoys scrubbing spaghetti off the microwave roof.