This post shows how to clean a microwave with vinegar and water - so easy! This is the best way to clean a microwave with natural ingredients.
When it comes to cleaning things that get really hot, I don't love using harsh chemicals or cleaners. Sometimes, the simplest cleaning supplies are the most effective.
When it comes to my microwave, I use one incredibly simple ingredient:
...plain distilled white vinegar. I actually keep a big bottle of vinegar with the rest of the cleaning supplies under my sink.
It's a great all-purpose cleaner when diluted with a little bit of water and can be super effective for disinfecting, cutting grease, and making surfaces shine. It's an incredibly valuable (and inexpensive) cleaning tool to keep around for even heavy-duty messes.
Here's how I use vinegar to clean my microwave! This is a process I follow once per month.
Supplies Needed
½ cup white distilled vinegar
½ cup water
microwave-safe bowl
reusable kitchen cloths or scour sponges
Step 1: Steam everything up.
Start (obviously) with a dirty microwave.
This is what mine looked like before cleaning - not terrible, since I schedule a microwave cleaning once a month during kitchen week of Journey to Clean, doing touch-up cleanings as needed. But it needs a little TLC after not being deep-cleaned for a month.
Fill a microwave-safe bowl (no special tools needed!) with about ½ cup of vinegar and ½ cup of water.
Set your microwave for around 4 minutes - you want to give the vinegar mixture plenty of time to boil and let off steam. Steam is the key here.
Once the microwave stops, don't open the door for an additional 5 minutes or so (again, to give that steam lots of time to break up dirt and grime).
(Note: Microwaving liquids too long can be dangerous. I've tested this 4-minute cycle to ensure it's safe in my microwave. If you are unsure of your microwave power, start with 3 minutes and check after 10 minutes of sitting to ensure the microwave is steamy inside. If it's notthe , increase microwave cycle by a minute at a time.)
Once you open the microwave up, everything inside of your microwave will be nice and steamy. From there, your spills and gunk should lift very easily.
Step 2: Wipe everything down.
After you steam clean the microwave, wipe!
Get all of the steam off of the inside surfaces of the microwave. You can very carefully get a little bit of the vinegar/water mixture on your rag to clean it if needed - just make sure it isn't too hot first.
I wipe down all of the interior surfaces of the microwave with the damp cloth as well as the inside of the microwave door, giving any gunk or splatters a little bit of extra elbow grease. You can also use this mixture on the outside of the microwave - vinegar is great for streak-free cleaning!
I love these reusable kitchen cloths for everyday cleaning.
The microfiber is much more effective at scrubbing than paper towels, and they're reusable. You simply have to throw these reusable microfiber cloths in the washer once they get dirty.
Another great option for scrubbing your microwave is a sponge - I love Mr Scrub sponges for almost any kind of cleaning in the kitchen! They're great for tougher messes.
Step 3: Give the turntable some TLC.
Finally, take your turntable out and wipe it down well.
Check your microwave manual to see if yours is dishwasher-safe - mine is. I'll throw it in the dishwasher if it's especially dirty, but normally a good wipe-down is all it needs.
Final Result
And just like that, your microwave is clean and shiny until next month's cleaning. It takes just a few minutes to maintain a clean microwave each month!
Video: Clean a Microwave with Vinegar
Bonus Tips & Tricks
- Use a microwave-safe cover like this one to keep monthly cleaning to a minimum.
- Wipe any spills as soon as they happen to avoid baked-on messes.
- While cleaning, add a little bit of lemon juice to your vinegar and water mixture to really brighten up the smell of the mixture. I'll admit, the vinegar mixture doesn't smell amazing once microwaved. Adding a little bit of lemon juice does help!
- I recommend following the above tutorial once per month, with quick cleans after each use as needed.
More Kitchen Cleaning Tips
I'd love to see some of your microwave cleaning tips in the comments!
Leslie Lambert is a lifestyle writer and content creator specializing in home organization, family recipes, and intentional living. With 16 years of experience in blogging and digital storytelling, she helps busy women create calm, purposeful homes they love.
