The Lemon Steamer Cleaner

The microwave really needs a washing.  This is what happens when children heat food until it explodes. I won't use cleaners that are full of chemicals because I don't want those fumes seeping into our food. Here's what I do instead.

I remove the tray and give it a wash in hot soapy water. (I love Mrs. Meyers dish soap!)

Sparkley!

Next, I slice a lemon in half and squeeze it into a little microwave safe bowl of water.

I place it into the microwave and cook it on high for 4 minutes. The lemony water boils and steams.

When it stops, I don't open the door for 10 minutes, allowing that citrusy steam to loosen up the grime.

When I open the door, I wipe everything down with a clean cloth, and just like that, it's lemony clean.

Hooray!

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Between posts on my website, I document my life on Instagram. You can follow along with me there.

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Comments

[Antoinette Seminario-Skinner]

Great tip! I actually need to do this today, thanks for sharing!

[cowroad]

Excellent tip! I'll give it a go! :-)

[Laura Walker]

Great idea. I will definitely try this.

[June g.]

I do this too! It's the best:)

[Bernie]

Does it smell as good as it sounds? I usually just boil a cup of water in a pyrex measuring cup, and basically do the same thing, but I love the smell of lemon.

[Nancy]

I've done this for years. Perfect use for those not quite edible lemons :-) Thank you for letting everyone know about this!

[Shug In Boots]

Great idea! I was JUST thinking the other day, "What can I clean this with besides these fumes?" I will have to try this soon! Thanks!

[alice]

I use vinegar, but a lemon would smell so much nicer!

[teresa]

Good tip- I have a couple guys at my house that don't know how to use a plate =)

[Dolly Sarrio]

Thanks for the tip!

[Frances]

Wow. Now that is a handy tip. Thank you so much! You have actually inspired me to WANT to clean my microwave! (smile)

[heather @ new house, new home, new life.blogspot.com]

That's exactly what I do with my microwave - it works every time.

[Briana]

Interesting! I will have to try that!

[Lauradphotography]

Awesome! Thank you for sharing....going to try it this weekend

[Kelly]

I bet it smells yummy too. Like grinding orange peels in the garbage disposal :)

[Noelle]

I do this too!! It works wonderfully and smells good too! I used to use apple cider vinegar, but it's kinda stinky! :(

[Ellen]

wow, amazing. off to try it!
did you know you can prob use that same "lemon juice" to rid a drain of nasty odors (like the smell from the liquid from tuna cans when you drain?)

[Joan]

Thank you.

[Barbara Nelson]

Yes this is the best way to clean your microwave, I toss one piece of the lemon into the garbage disposal let it run and that smells amazing.

[Tracy]

Wonderful suggestion - and one of my favorite scents!

[Indiana Lori]

Love! Thank you for sharing!

[JuliP]

Love this! great thing to try with those lemons that are almost ready for compost.....wish there was a self cleaning microwave, my husband sure thinks that ours is.

[jamia]

Oh this incredible, I some lemons in the fridge!!!! I am so glad that other microwaves look just like mine, I feel a whole lot better *U*

[jamia]

Typingfrom the phone bites, I can actually make sense REALLY I can!

[Margaret Wright]

Excited to clean the microwave because it won't take long and will be sparkling.
Thanks,
~M~

[Monica]

Hooray is right -- great idea!!

[Camilla]

With 4 kids I know this all to well. Great idea, will defintly try this!

[Caroline]

Thanks for reminding me of this tip....heard about it awhile back. Today I got a lemon and freshened up my microwave...so sparkly again!

[Tanya @ Lovely Greens]

That's a brilliant tip!

[Jessica]

Interesting trick. I'll have to try that. Thanks for sharing!

[Julianne]

OK this was an awesome idea, thank you...I used my about-to-go-bad lemon on my gross microwave and now all is right with the (microwave) world again. Thank you!

[Kate in NY]

Hi Serena, I am looking forward to reading more of your homekeeping tips during the month of January. Your house always looks so clean, inviting, downright sparkling! I hope this isn't too nosy, but I'd love to know a bit more of how you juggle your house cleaning alongside all your other responsibilities without losing your mind! :) Do you have a weekly routine? Do you have any outside help? Do you involve your kids? I am a (newly-working-again) mom of 4, and I could use some inspiration in this regard!

Cheers!

[Donna Bradley]

I tried your lemon steamer cleaner this afternoon. I must say, it worked great! Thanks so much for taking time to share this tip with us. Have a great week and happy cleaning!

[Amy]

Here's a great tip for you: Place wax paper over the food that is being cooked in the microwave. I've been doing this for quite a while and it saves me tons of time cleaning up after my boys.

[cherry]

why not jusy buy the plastic mrcrowave food covers at the dollar store>? then just wash them - they work great!

[Lisa]

Great tip...I didn't have a lemon so I used 1/2 a grapefruit and added a little lemon juice and worked like a charm!

[Carrie Rowe]

Thanks for this tip! I just tried it today and it worked great!

[A Facebook User]

Thank you so much!! My microwave is in desperate need of cleaning and I didn't know what to use.

[Judy]

LOVE! I, too, have a family that cook food until it "foodsplodes" all over my microwave!

Another tip: Use Restaurant Papers To Cover Food In The Microwave: Get a box (500 count) of those restaurant papers they use to line burger baskets, etc.; they pull out like from a tissue box. Before cooking something uncovered in the microwave, pull one out and place it over the uncovered dish. These are also creased down the center so you can make a "tent" over the dish. This helps it from sticking to your food or coming off while cooking. They are also easily folded to cover small items (coffee cups, etc.)or folded in two and placed across a dish if you feel it would fall in. LOVE them! No fuss, no muss - just toss when done.

[mom]

Holly cow ..... thought this was a big crock of poo poo till I tried it!! AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[carla baker]

Love this idea. My son explode a sausage in microwave and i was furious. Thank you for the tip!

[Joc]

This worked well except on dried oatmeal. That's a real tough one.