Natural Ways Of Cleaning A Microwave

Microwaves present some of the most challenging stains and odors in the house, given the food splatters that occur under high heat in an enclosed space. People often hesitate to use harsh chemicals in the home, especially in food preparation areas. Fortunately, natural ways of cleaning a microwave exist, and you're bound to have at least one of the ingredients close at hand.

Vinegar

Use the heat of the microwave to make the natural cleaning power of vinegar even more effective. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine ½ cups each of water and distilled white vinegar. Set the timer on high for about five minutes or until the liquid boils. Carefully remove the bowl and wipe down the inside of the microwave with a sponge or paper towel. The splattered-on food will be much easier to wipe off, and the vinegar will have reduced the smells.

Lemons

The powerful natural acids in lemon slices or lemon juice work equally well to clean and deodorize a microwave. Squeeze the juice of a lemon into a bowl of water and boil the liquid for five minutes. Alternatively, add lemon slices to the bowl of water and boil for five minutes. Carefully remove the bowl. Wipe down the inside of the microwave. For really stubborn stains, use the leftover peel of the lemon itself, which combines abrasive action with lemon acids.

Baking Soda

After steaming the microwave's interior by boiling plain water or water mixed with lemon juice or vinegar, sprinkle baking soda onto a sponge and scrub stubborn stains. The food splatters will be loosened by the steam from the boiled liquid, and the abrasive, cleansing action of the baking soda should remove any remaining stains.

Leftover Herbs

Save the discarded stems and leaves of rosemary, lavender and thyme after using the choicest parts of the herbs for your meal. These herbs contain disinfectant properties that clean and deodorize the microwave's interior, notes Barbara Griggs in "The Green Witch Herbal." Toss the leftover herbs in a bowl filled with about a cup of water and place in the microwave. Boil for five minutes, then proceed as in the lemon juice or vinegar methods. If desired, strain and cool the herbal infusion, and dampen a sponge or paper towel with it for a second wipe-down.

Essential Oils

Several essential oils contain antimicrobial and deodorizing properties, Griggs reports. Place a few drops of tea tree, cinnamon, clove, thyme, rosemary or lavender essential oils in a bowl of water. Heat the fragrant mixture for five minutes, remove the bowl and wipe down the interior of the microwave. Additionally, add up to 25 drops of one or a mixture of these essential oils to a squirt bottle of plain water, and use this mixture on a sponge or paper towel to wipe down the microwave.

Crumpled Newspapers

If cleaning and deodorizing with other natural methods doesn't chase away the smell of burned food, crumple newspapers and leave them in the microwave overnight. Use fresh newspapers on successive nights for really bad odors. Always remove and discard the papers before heating anything in the microwave.