How to clean a microwave with dish soap? Quick & Easy

The microwave is a busy workhorse in most kitchens, and while it’s fantastic for quickly heating food, it’s also prone to accumulating splatters and grime. If you’re looking for a simple, effective, and readily available solution to tackle a dirty microwave, look no further than dish soap! This everyday household staple is excellent at cutting through grease and loosening dried-on food. This guide will walk you through a quick and easy method to clean the inside of your microwave using just dish soap and water, ensuring it’s fresh and ready for your next meal.

Why dish soap works for microwave cleaning

Dish soap, a staple in every kitchen, is surprisingly effective for cleaning microwave interiors. Its power lies in its chemical composition, making it ideal for tackling the common types of messes found inside your appliance.

• Grease-Cutting Power: Microwaves often accumulate greasy splatters from reheating oily foods. Dish soap is specifically formulated to break down and emulsify fats and oils, making it excellent at dissolving these greasy residues. The surfactants in dish soap reduce the surface tension of water, allowing it to penetrate and lift grease more effectively.
• Loosening Dried Food: When combined with hot water and steam (as in this cleaning method), dish soap’s properties help to rehydrate and loosen dried-on food particles. The soap penetrates the hardened food, making it easier to wipe away without harsh scrubbing.
• Gentle Yet Effective: Unlike some abrasive cleaners, mild dish soap is gentle on the microwave’s interior surfaces, including plastic and painted metal, reducing the risk of scratching or damage.
• Readily Available: There’s no need for special, expensive cleaners when a bottle of your regular dish soap can do the job effectively and economically.

By leveraging the grease-cutting and grime-loosening abilities of dish soap, you can achieve a sparkling clean microwave with minimal effort.

Tools and ingredients you’ll need (vinegar, lemon, soap)

For this dish soap-centric microwave cleaning method, you’ll only need a few basic items, most of which you likely already have on hand.

• Heat-safe bowl or microwave-safe measuring cup: To create and heat your soap solution.
• Water: The base for your steaming solution.
• Mild dish soap: Any common brand like Dawn, Palmolive, or your preferred eco-friendly alternative will work.
• Microfiber cloths (2-3): Essential for wiping away grime and buffing for a streak-free finish. They are lint-free and highly absorbent.
• Non-scratch sponge (optional): For more stubborn areas that might need a gentle scrub.
• Small scrubbing brush or old toothbrush (optional): Handy for getting into tight corners or around the door seal.

Step 1 – Prepare a soap and water solution

The first step is to create your simple yet effective cleaning solution that will generate the steam needed to tackle the grime.

1. Remove the Turntable and Roller Ring: First, carefully remove the glass turntable plate and the roller ring (the plastic ring with wheels underneath the turntable) from your microwave. Set them aside in your sink for separate washing later. This ensures you can clean all parts of the microwave thoroughly.
2. Fill Your Bowl with Water: Take your heat-safe bowl or microwave-safe measuring cup and fill it with approximately 1 to 2 cups of water. The exact amount isn’t critical, but ensure there’s enough water to create ample steam.
3. Add Dish Soap: Add 1-2 tablespoons of your chosen mild dish soap to the water in the bowl. You’ll see some suds form as you add it. There’s no need to stir extensively; the microwave’s heat will mix it further.

This simple soap and water mixture is now ready to be transformed into grime-loosening steam!

Step 2 – Heat bowl to create steam and loosen stains

This is where the magic happens! Heating the soap and water solution will create powerful steam that works to rehydrate and loosen all the dried-on food splatters and grease.

1. Place Bowl in Microwave: Carefully place the bowl containing your soap and water solution inside the microwave.
2. Heat on High Power: Close the microwave door and set the appliance to heat on high power for 3-5 minutes. The goal is to bring the water to a rolling boil and create a significant amount of steam inside the microwave. You should see the inside of the microwave becoming foggy and steamy.
3. Let it Sit (Crucial Step): Once the microwave automatically stops, do not open the door immediately. This is a critical step for maximizing the steam’s effect. Allow the bowl to sit undisturbed inside the closed microwave for an additional 5-10 minutes. This “resting” period allows the steam to deeply penetrate and soften all the dried-on food particles, making them much easier to wipe away.

After this steaming process, the stubborn grime inside your microwave will be significantly loosened and ready for removal.

Step 3 – Wipe interior and remove odors

Now that the steam has done its job, it’s time for the easy part: wiping away the softened grime and addressing any lingering odors.

1. Carefully Remove Hot Bowl: Open the microwave door and, using oven mitts or a towel, carefully remove the hot bowl of water and soap. Be mindful of the steam that may escape. You can discard the water in the sink.
2. Wipe Down Interior Surfaces:
   • Grab a clean, damp microfiber cloth or a non-scratch sponge.
   • Starting from the top (ceiling) of the microwave, wipe down all interior surfaces: the ceiling, walls, and the inside of the door. You should find that most of the splatters and food residue wipe away with remarkable ease thanks to the steaming.
   • For any more stubborn spots, apply a little extra gentle pressure with your cloth or sponge. The dish soap residue left by the steam will help in cleaning.
   • Don’t forget to wipe around the door seal and in any crevices, using a small brush or old toothbrush if needed.
3. Clean Turntable and Roller Ring:
   • Take the glass turntable plate and roller ring that you removed earlier to the sink.
   • Wash them thoroughly by hand in warm, soapy water (using a fresh squirt of dish soap if needed) with your sponge.
   • Rinse them completely under running water to remove all soap residue and dry them with a clean cloth before placing them back inside the microwave.
4. Buff Dry and Address Odors:
   • After wiping, use a second clean, dry microfiber cloth to buff all interior surfaces, including the door, for a streak-free shine.
   • Odor Removal: The dish soap steam often helps to neutralize odors. However, if any stubborn food odors linger, place a small, open bowl with 2-4 tablespoons of baking soda inside the microwave overnight. Baking soda is excellent at absorbing and neutralizing smells. Alternatively, a bowl with a few slices of lemon or orange peel can also help.

With these steps, your microwave will be visibly clean, fresh-smelling, and ready for use!

Extra tips for tough stains and grease

While the dish soap and steam method is highly effective for most messes, occasionally you might encounter exceptionally tough stains or persistent grease. Here are a few extra tips to tackle those challenges.

• Pre-Scrub with Baking Soda Paste: For very hard, caked-on stains, especially those that look burnt, you can create a gentle abrasive paste. Mix a small amount of baking soda with a few drops of water until it forms a thick paste. Apply this paste directly onto the stain and let it sit for 5-10 minutes before performing Step 2 (steaming). After steaming, gently scrub the area with a non-scratch sponge or damp cloth.
• Repeat the Steaming Process: If the microwave is heavily soiled, one round of steaming might not be enough. Don’t hesitate to repeat Step 2 (heating the soap and water bowl) to generate more steam and further loosen the grime.
• Dish Soap Directly on Sponge: For highly greasy areas that don’t come clean with the initial wipe, put a small amount of undiluted dish soap directly onto a damp non-scratch sponge and gently scrub the greasy spot. Follow up by wiping with a clean, damp cloth to remove all soap residue, then buff dry.
• Razor Scraper (Use with Extreme Caution): For truly carbonized, burnt-on spots that no amount of scrubbing can remove, a specialized flat-edge razor scraper designed for glass cooktops can be used. This should be a last resort and used with extreme caution. Hold the scraper at a very low, acute angle (about 20-30 degrees) to the surface and gently push forward to lift the burnt residue. Never scrape perpendicular or side-to-side, as this can scratch the microwave’s interior.
• For External Grease and Grime: Don’t forget the outside! For the exterior, especially around handles and buttons, a damp cloth with a tiny drop of dish soap works wonders for cutting through grease. Wipe clean with a damp cloth and dry with a microfiber cloth. For stainless steel exteriors, finish with a stainless steel cleaner for a streak-free shine.

Remember, patience and gentle persistence are key. Avoid harsh abrasives or metal scrubbers, as these can permanently damage your microwave’s interior.

How to keep your microwave clean longer

Preventing messes is always easier than cleaning them. By adopting a few simple habits, you can significantly extend the time between deep cleans and keep your microwave looking pristine.

• Cover All Food: This is the most crucial tip. Always use a microwave-safe cover, plastic wrap, or even a paper towel over your food before heating. This prevents splatters from coating the interior walls and ceiling.
• Use Deeper Containers for Liquids: When heating soups, sauces, or other liquids, choose a bowl that is larger than the contents. This provides ample space for bubbling and helps prevent boil-overs.
• Wipe Up Spills Immediately: Make it a habit to wipe up any fresh splatters or spills as soon as they occur and the microwave is cool enough to touch. Fresh messes are incredibly easy to remove; once they dry and bake on, they become much harder.
• Perform Quick Weekly Wipes: Even if your microwave looks clean, a quick wipe down of the interior with a damp microfiber cloth once a week can catch any minor buildup before it becomes a problem.
• Check Cook Times: Overheating food often leads to boil-overs and explosions. Start with shorter heating intervals and add more time if necessary, rather than setting a long time initially.
• Leave the Door Ajar After Use: After you’ve finished heating food, leave the microwave door slightly open for a few minutes. This allows any residual steam and food odors to dissipate, preventing moisture buildup and trapped smells.
• Deodorize Proactively (If Needed): If you frequently cook strong-smelling foods, consider leaving an open bowl of baking soda in the microwave when it’s not in use. Baking soda is a natural odor absorber.

By consistently following these simple preventative measures, your microwave will stay cleaner and fresher for much longer, saving you time and effort on future cleanings.

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