How to Clean a Microwave With a Lemon

Pure lemon juice can be used if you don't have a lemon to clean the microwave.

Your days of scrubbing, scouring and scraping the inside of your microwave are over. You can get your microwave to gleam in a much easier manner. One of the best methods is to clean a microwave with a lemon. No, you don’t peel the lemon and then use it as a steel wool pad, but rather follow a few simple steps.

Things You'll Need

• Cup
• Water
• Lemon
• Sponge and towel

Instructions

1. Fill a microwave safe cup, like a ceramic coffee mug, with one cup of water.

2. Cut the lemon in half and squeeze the juice out of one side of the lemon into your cup full of water.

3. Place the cup in the microwave and set on high power for three minutes.

4. Remove the cup after the three minutes and wipe the inside of the microwave with a damp sponge. Rinse the sponge regularly to remove any debris that easily comes off in its wake.

5. Wipe the inside of the microwave dry with a clean towel, dump the lemon water, and save the other half of the lemon for a recipe or hook up some iced tea.

Tips & Warnings

• If three minutes is not enough to soften the caked-on debris inside your microwave, sponge off what you can then repeat the process as necessary.

• If you don’t have a lemon, you can use a few drops of lemon juice.

• Do not use harsh lemon-scented cleaners as a lemon substitute. Remember, you eat things that get cooked in there and some vestige of harsh cleaners may remain.

• Don’t forget to wipe down the outside of the microwave while you have a hot cup of lemon water. Dip the sponge in the concoction and wipe it on the front key pad, door and handle.

• Microwave handles are one of the germiest places in the home or workplace. Ick.