How to Use Vinegar to Clean a Microwave Naturally

It's easy to clean a microwave naturally!

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By mommierose
eHow Community Member

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We're all more conscious of our environmental impact these days. This article will explain an often-overlooked strategy to clean the microwave using an all-natural cleaner. It is easier than you might think!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

a kitchen sponge
a bowl
half-cup of vinegar

Step 1

Put between one quarter-cup and one half-cup white distilled vinegar into a microwave-safe bowl. Rinse the kitchen sponge with tap water and put it into the vinegar in the bowl.
Step 2

Put the bowl, sponge and all, into the microwave and heat for 30 seconds. This will not only cause steam in the microwave, which will loosen the stuck-on dirt, but will also sanitize your sponge.
Step 3

Wait about a minute or longer after you are done microwaving your sponge. This allows the vinegar and the sponge to cool down, and also gives the steam in the microwave from the vinegar more time to work. Practice extreme caution- contents will be hot!
Step 4

Open the microwave door after you are sure the bowl is cool enough to handle. Open away from your face, as you may find the smell to be strong (after practicing this method for a while, you will find you don't even notice the smell anymore). Squeeze excess vinegar from the sponge and proceed to wipe the inside of the microwave, starting at the "ceiling" and working your way down.
Step 5

Rinse the sponge with tap water, dip it in the vinegar, squeeze excess vinegar, and wipe the outside of the microwave. If you prefer, you can wipe the outside and/or the inside with a dry towel afterward to avoid streaking. I usually avoid this step. You are done!

Comments

DreamsInBloom said

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on 4/26/2009 I had heard of microwaving water and vinegar or lemon juice tips before...but have not ever heard of adding the sponge to liquid being microwaved. Nice tip! Thanks.