Why steam works better than scrubbing
Most microwave mess is food that has splashed onto the ceiling and walls, then been reheated dozens of times until it hardens. Scraping at it dry risks scratching the interior coating, and some of the dirtiest spots – the ceiling and the area around the waveguide cover – are awkward to reach.
Heating a bowl of water until the cavity fills with steam softens that residue in a few minutes. Once it's loose, most of it wipes away in one pass. It's the method many professional cleaners use when a microwave is part of a deep clean or an end of tenancy job, because it's fast and gentle on every type of interior.
What you'll need
Nothing specialist – most of it is already in the kitchen:
- A microwave-safe bowl or jug (glass or ceramic, not metal)
- Water and either a lemon, white vinegar or a teaspoon of washing-up liquid
- A microfibre cloth and a non-scratch sponge
- A small soft brush or old toothbrush for vents and door seals
- Bicarbonate of soda for stubborn stains or smells
Step by step: the steam method
Unplug or switch off the microwave at the wall if you can reach the socket, then take out the turntable and the roller ring underneath it. Wash these separately in warm soapy water – the glass plate can usually go in the dishwasher, but check the manual first.
1. Make the steam
Half-fill the bowl with water and add the juice of half a lemon (drop the squeezed halves in too), two tablespoons of white vinegar or a squirt of washing-up liquid. Put a wooden spoon or chopstick in the bowl: it gives the water something to bubble around and reduces the small risk of superheated water erupting when you lift it out.
Heat on full power for three to five minutes, until the window is fogged up. Then leave the door closed for another five minutes so the steam keeps working.
2. Wipe from the top down
Open the door carefully – the bowl and the air inside will be very hot. Remove the bowl with oven gloves, then wipe the ceiling first, followed by the side walls, the back and finally the floor of the cavity, so anything that drips lands on an area you haven't cleaned yet.
Rinse the cloth often. If a few spots are still stuck, dip the sponge in the warm lemon water and work them in small circles rather than scraping.
3. Door, seal and outside
The inside of the door and the rubber or metal seal around its edge collect grease that can stop the door closing neatly. Wipe them with a cloth wrung out in warm soapy water and use the soft brush in the corners. Clean the outside, the handle and the control panel with a barely damp cloth – never spray liquid directly onto buttons or vents.
Dealing with stains, burnt patches and smells
Yellowing on a white interior is usually fat that has been heated repeatedly. A paste of bicarbonate of soda and a little water, left on for 15 minutes and then wiped off with a damp sponge, lifts most of it. Burnt popcorn or fish smells respond well to a bowl of water with a few tablespoons of vinegar heated for five minutes, followed by leaving the door ajar overnight.
If a smell persists, put an open bowl of dry bicarbonate of soda inside the closed microwave for a day. Avoid bleach, oven cleaner and abrasive powders: they can damage the interior coating and leave residues that you would then be heating up with your food.
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Combination microwaves and grills
Combination microwaves that also grill or bake behave more like small ovens. The steam method still loosens most of the mess, but the grill element area can collect carbonised fat. Let the appliance cool completely, then work around the element with a damp non-scratch pad – never wrap anything around it or spray it directly.
Some combination models have a steam-clean or auto-clean setting. If yours does, use that first. A microwave built into a tall kitchen housing is cleaned exactly the same way, but take extra care not to let water run into the gaps around the trim.
How often to clean it
A quick wipe of the inside once a week, and a full steam clean every two to four weeks, keeps most household microwaves easy to manage. Covering food with a microwave cover or a sheet of kitchen paper prevents most splatter in the first place.
In shared flats and offices, the microwave is often the dirtiest thing in the kitchen. A simple rota – or adding it to the task list of your regular cleaner – stops it becoming a job nobody wants to touch. Office kitchens are covered in our guide to what is included in office cleaning.
When to leave it to a professional
A microwave on its own rarely needs a professional, but it's almost always on the list when you book a kitchen deep clean or an end of tenancy clean. Inventory clerks open the door at check-out, so a greasy interior can end up as a line in the report. If the microwave belongs to the landlord, make sure it's cleaned inside and out before you hand back the keys.
