How to Use a Lemon to Clean Your Microwave

microwave lemon

Your microwave is a powerful tool, but it’s also an easy place for food and bacteria to hide.

A little cleaning will help keep your microwave spotless and in tip-top shape, but what is the best way to do that? 

Well, I’m glad you asked! Because it turns out that lemons are just about the most amazing microwave cleaner of all time.

In this article, I’ll teach you how to use a lemon to naturally clean your microwave. 

Let’s begin.

What You’ll Need:

  • Lemon
  • Microwave oven-safe bowl
  • Knife
  • Water (enough to cover the lemon)
  • Sponge or paper towel
  • Clean cloth

Steps:

  1. Cut the lemon in half. Fill a bowl about halfway with water. Drop the lemon into the bowl.
  2. Place the bowl in the microwave. Heat on high for 3 to 5 minutes, depending on the size of the bowl and the power of your microwave. 
  3. Let stand for another 2-5 minutes before opening the door to allow steam to escape.
  4. Remove the bowl from the microwave and discard the liquid and lemon. Clean the interior with a damp cloth or sponge. Don’t forget to wipe the microwave tray and window.
  5. Use a clean cloth to dry the inside of your microwave.

How Often Should You Clean Your Microwave?

For the most part, weekly cleaning is all you’ll need to keep your microwave in top shape

After every use, give your microwave a quick wipe down with a damp cloth or paper towel. This will remove any lingering food residue or grease that might otherwise build up over time. 

If you have particularly greasy or messy cooking habits, it’s recommended that you clean the inside of your microwave after every time you use it.

Why Lemon Works So Well

If you’ve ever noticed how your cutting board or countertop smells after you’ve used lemon to remove stains, it’s because of the same properties that make it a great cleaner: Lemon is a natural disinfectant. 

It kills bacteria, which is why it’s so effective at removing odors, especially when paired with baking soda.

Lemon also has antibacterial properties that can help fight mold and mildew growth in your microwave. 

So if you’re dealing with any type of food-related issues in there (like leftover spaghetti sauce), lemon juice can be a quick fix for getting rid of those nasty smells and making sure they don’t come back!

That same antibacterial effect makes this trick even more efficient at cleaning other surfaces around your house as well—you can use lemons to clean cutting boards and counters without worrying about them staining from the acidity in lemons’ juices! 

You’ll be amazed at how well this works on cutting boards too—sometimes, I will even use lemon juice instead of water when washing my knives so that I don’t dull them as quickly (and get less rust).

See my article on How to Clean a Plastic Cutting Board with Baking Soda.  

Conclusion:

By now, you should have a better understanding of how to clean your microwave with a lemon. 

It’s not only an effective way to clean your microwave in just minutes, but it has many other benefits as well. 

From preventing mold growth to killing germs and bacteria, there’s no doubt that it’s worth trying out for yourself! 

So what are you waiting for? Give it a try!

Thanks for dropping by my blog!

-Baking Soda Guy

Photo by Mike B from Pexels