The only microwave cleaning hack you'll ever need uses two ingredients and works in minutes
The microwave is on high rotation in most homes, which means that it tends to get quite dirty.
All those splurts and splatters can go all over the appliance and if not cleaned soon after can become baked and burnt on bits of food that can be hard to clean off.
Even if you cover food when you cook and re-heat it, the microwave can still build up residue and grime.
READ MORE: A $1.79 Aldi buy has topped Choice's 2024 detergent review
This is what's lurking in your microwave if you haven't cleaned it in a while. Getty Images/iStockphoto
READ MORE: Pantry hack transforms grease-stained dish clear again
Fortunately cleaning the microwave is just as convenient as the appliance itself, with a tried and tested cleaning hack all you need to deep clean it.
All you need for this super simple cleaning method is a heat-proof bowl, water and lemon.
How to deep clean the microwave:
Pour a cup of water into a bowl and add a sliced lemon.
Turn on the microwave for five minutes.
Once the five minutes is up leave the bowl of hot water and lemon inside for 15 minutes.
Carefully remove the bowl, turn off the microwave at the power point and wipe the surfaces inside the microwave. You can dip a microfibre cloth into the lemony water in the bowl if you need more oomph while cleaning.
Remove the microwave turntable for easier cleaning. If this needs an even deeper clean, you can wash it by hand with warm soapy water or put it in the dishwasher.
It's a simple hack but it works. Getty Images/iStockphoto
READ MORE: Top rated and reviewed air fryers on Amazon under $150
This method works because the steam from the bowl of water helps loosen all the bits of baked on food, while the citric acid in the lemon helps kill germs.
But if you have super stubborn baked-on stains, try a paste of baking soda and water and scrubbing with a microfibre cloth.
The frequency of cleaning your microwave depends on how often you use it and what you heat in it.
Wiping it with a damp cloth and mild detergent every few days or once a week should suffice, but there's no harm in doing it during your nightly kitchen clean while wiping the bench.
A deep clean can be done weekly or monthly depending on your needs.
If you want to avoid having to deep clean it, then wiping up spills and splatters straight away will save you a lot of time and effort later.
FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.
Most viewed in Homes
Filthy floor not cleaned in 10 years transforms back to sparkling with four-letter method
The best paint colours for making small rooms look bigger
Habit after every dishwasher cycle making it mouldy and ruining the machine
This common potting mix mistake could be the reason your plants aren’t thriving
