How to Clean a Microwave

Pair of hands operating a microwave. One hand holds the door open while the other presses a button.

If the inside of your microwave is getting icky with food stains, it may be time to clean and disinfect with cleaners and disinfectants that are safe to use around food.

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By Mary Gagliardi

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Use as directed.

Group shot of Clorox disinfecting bleach, wipes, toilet cleaner and multi-purpose spray products.

Harsh or abrasive cleaners — including products with bleach or ammonia—should never be used to clean the interior of a microwave. The trio of products in the Clorox® Free & Clear line are a great option. They're formulated without bleach, ammonia or dyes, and they’re safe to use around kids, pets and food.*

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Cleaning and disinfecting with Free & Clear products

What you need

Steps to clean and disinfect a microwave with Free & Clear Products

  1. Cut the lemon

    Use the knife and cutting board to cut the lemon into quarters. Set the lemon slices in the bowl.

    Woman cutting lemon on small wooden cutting board on marble countertop.

  2. Add the water

    Measure 1 cup of water and add it to the lemons in the bowl. Place the bowl in the microwave.

    Tip

    If you don't have a lemon, substitute 3-4 tablespoons of distilled white vinegar.

    A simple closeup shot of clear liquid being poured out of a clean glass.

  3. Heat the lemons

    Use high power to heat the lemons for at least 3 minutes. When the microwave stops heating, wait 5 minutes before opening the door.

    Tip

    If your microwave has a turntable, leave it in place while heating the lemons and water.

    Lemon halves inside and out of glass bowl inside microwave oven.

  4. Wipe away steam

    Use the hot pads to carefully remove the bowl with the lemon water before wiping out steam on the inside with the paper towels. Remove any racks and wipe them down, and be sure to wipe under the carousel tray.

    A fair-skinned hand uses a white paper towel to wipe small black splatters off a shiny surface.

  5. Clean away remaining gunk on the inside

    Spray Clorox® Free & Clear Multi-Surface Spray Cleaner onto a microfiber cloth and use it to wipe the inside of the microwave to remove remaining spills. No rinsing is required.

    Tip

    Reposition the microfiber cloth before spraying additional cleaner so you continue to work with a clean section of the cloth.

    A hand cleans the inside of a microwave with a blue fabric sponge, a white bowl of water in the foreground.

  6. Clean the outside

    Use Clorox® Free & Clear Compostable* Cleaning wipes to clean the outside of the microwave, including the handle and the control panel. No rinsing is required.

    A person wiping a stainless steel oven door handle with a white textured cleaning wipe.

  7. Hand wash the carousel tray

    Hand wash the carousel tray in hot soapy water. Rinse thoroughly and wipe dry before placing back in the microwave.

    A hand holds the clear glass microwave tray up in front of an open microwave, putting it back into place after cleaning.

  8. Disinfect

    Hold Clorox® Free & Clear Disinfecting Mist 6-8 inches from both interior and exterior surfaces and spray until thoroughly wet. Surface must remain visibly wet for 2 minutes for disinfection before air drying. No rinsing is required.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you heat the lemon water again if the inside is really dirty?

Yes. If you haven’t cleaned the inside of your microwave in a while and the stains are really baked on, you will need to repeat heating the lemon water and wiping out the inside a few times to get it clean.

Can you use Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes to clean the inside of a microwave?

Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes are not for use on the inside of a microwave, but can be used to wipe down exterior surfaces, including the control panel. Use Clorox Disinfecting wipes to clean the outside of a microwave after cleaning the inside with lemon and water.