How to Clean a Microwave

Match the method to the mess

If you're looking at a few fresh splatters, we'd start with a damp, soapy cloth because most spills will come away without a heating step. For dried-on food, we'd soften it with steam first because that helps loosen the residue before you wipe.

Check your model's use and care instructions before choosing a cleaning method, especially its liquid-heating precautions and removable-part care. The job here is the cooking cavity, door, turntable, exterior and controls, with a separate steam option when food odors need attention.

Choose gentle supplies

Set out mild dishwashing liquid, a soft cloth or clean paper towels, and a soft, lint-free drying cloth. Choose a nontoxic, fragrance-free detergent for the interior. You don't need a special microwave cleaner to clean the cavity and door.

Keep commercial oven cleaner and abrasive cleaners off every part of the microwave. Avoid cleaners containing ammonia or bleach too, because they can make plastic parts brittle. Use the mild detergent on your cloth instead.

GE permits a plastic pad or scrubber for cooked-on interior soil; FDA and USDA guidance prohibits scouring pads, steel wool and other abrasives. Our method uses a soft cloth throughout, with steam to help loosen stuck food.

For heavier interior soil, baking soda and water are another option. On GE microwaves, that combination is suitable for interior finishes including painted metal and stainless steel. Keep this interior-cleaning option separate from the exterior care below.

Check the door and vessel before heating

Before a powered cleaning treatment, look at the door, hinges, latch and seals. A door that closes firmly and has no visible damage is part of safe operation, so this check comes before heating your cleaning liquid.

Use cookware specifically made for microwave use, such as a microwave-safe glass measure. Skip metal pans, aluminum foil and plastic containers that aren't suitable for the microwave: metal can damage the oven, and unsuitable plastic can melt. Keep the cleaning liquid in the vessel during the treatment and don't run an empty cycle.

While the microwave runs, don't stand directly against it for long periods, and keep children from doing so. If sparks appear, turn it off immediately to prevent prolonged arcing from damaging the oven or container. Remove the offending utensil and substitute a microwave-safe one.

Steam stubborn residue and food odors

For food odors or baked-on residue, the following treatment uses steam to help loosen food and remove odors. Follow your model's heating precautions and maximum recommended times, even when using a recipe with a stated time range.

1. In a microwave-safe glass measure, combine 1 cup of water with either 6 tablespoons of baking soda or 1/2 cup of lemon juice. Choose one addition so you have a single prepared mixture.
2. Microwave the mixture until it boils, staying within your model's heating limits. If you reach that limit first, stop heating.
3. Leave the door closed until the mixture cools. Then open it carefully to release any remaining steam and use pot holders or a dry kitchen towel to remove the vessel. Glass and ceramic can become hot during heating, so protect your hands when handling them.

On GE microwaves with cooked-on food, the water-only treatment is 1 cup of water at full power for 3 minutes, followed by 5 minutes of standing time before ordinary cleaning. The heat and steam soften the food. Keep the heating and handling precautions above in place for this option too.

For Whirlpool microwaves, an alternative mixture is 1 cup of water with 1 tablespoon of vinegar, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or several tablespoons of baking soda. Heat for 2 to 5 minutes within your model's limits, let the dish cool before removing it, then wipe with a damp cloth. Choose one complete recipe and carry its cooling step through to the end.

Wipe the cavity, edge and door

Once any powered treatment is finished, unplug before wiping, washing removable parts or cleaning the outside. On GE microwaves, unplugging before manual cleaning is an explicit precaution against electric shock. Keep the appliance unplugged throughout the hands-on work, including any damp wiping near the cord or outlet.

Dampen a soft cloth with water and a little mild dish soap, then wipe away the loosened residue inside. Include the cavity's outer edge and the inside of the door, not only the obvious food spots. For light soil, a soft cloth or clean paper towel dampened with warm water is also suitable.

If the interior is stainless steel, move the cloth in the direction of the metal's grain. For remaining heavy soil, use the mild soap or baking-soda-and-water option with your soft cloth.

Rinse the cleaned surfaces with clean water, then dry them with a soft, lint-free cloth. After steaming, the useful result is food residue you can wipe away, followed by clean, dry surfaces. If you can still see residue, give those areas attention before moving on.

Let the turntable cool before washing

Wait until the turntable is completely cool before washing it, including after a steam treatment. Putting warm or hot glass into water can make it shatter, so being cool enough to touch isn't the finish line for this step.

Wash the cooled turntable by hand with soapy water and a dishcloth. If you'd prefer to put it in the dishwasher, first confirm that your microwave's manual specifically permits it for that turntable.

Dry the turntable and put it back immediately after cleaning. Don't operate a microwave that uses a turntable without it in place. The part should be back inside before your next use, not left drying beside the sink.

Clean the outside without spraying the controls

Apply mild, non-abrasive soap or detergent with a soft cloth to clean the outside. Use it to remove the everyday grease and smudges, then dry with a soft cloth.

For the control panel, use a soft damp cloth and dry immediately. Put the moisture on the cloth, never spray a cleaning solution directly onto the controls.

Keep vinegar and other acidic cleaners off a stainless-steel exterior because they can corrode the metal. Use the mild-soap method for that surface, even if you chose vinegar for the interior steam treatment.

Catch spills before they dry on

About once a week is a useful cleaning rhythm, adjusted for how much you use the microwave. Frequent cleaning helps keep food from becoming caked on, so future wipe-downs require less work.

Between those cleanings, take care of spills and splatters promptly, following the cooling and unplugging precautions above. Give large spills immediate attention instead of leaving them until the weekly clean, so the residue doesn't dry onto the surfaces.