eHow launches Android app: Get the best of eHow on the go.

How To

How to Use Vinegar to Clean a Microwave Naturally

Member
By mommierose
User-Submitted Article
(6 Ratings)
It's easy to clean a microwave naturally!
It's easy to clean a microwave naturally!

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
  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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!

  4. 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.

  5. 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!

Tips & Warnings
  • Once you are done cleaning the microwave, you can use the vinegar to clean other parts of your kitchen- no need to toss it out!
  • Remember, vinegar is naturally anti-bacterial and anti-viral. It is a perfectly safe, very cheap multi-purpose cleaner!
  • Again, practice extreme caution when opening the microwave door after heating the bowl of vinegar! It can get extremely hot!

Comments  

| View All 6 Comments

mteuzi said

Flag This Comment

on 11/7/2009 What a great way to tackle two tasks at the same time. There's not much worse than a smelly kitchen sponge.

Flag This Comment

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.

Flag This Comment

on 1/6/2009 Great article on how to clean the microwave naturally. Thanks! 5*

rodjon said

Flag This Comment

on 12/22/2008 This is a great tip try it and it worked Thanks a bunch keep up the articles

Flag This Comment

on 12/9/2008 great tips

Subscribe

Post a Comment

Post a Comment

Related Ads

  • Have you done this? Click here to let us know.
I Did This
Get Free Personal Finance Newsletters

Copyright © 1999-2009 eHow, Inc. Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the eHow Terms of Use and Privacy Policy .   en-US Portions of this page are modifications based on work created and shared by Google and used according to terms described in the Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution License. † requires javascript

eHow Personal Finance
eHow_eHow Business and Finance