A microwave can quickly become dirty with food splatters and dried-on grease, but a simple lemon hack can clean it in under five minutes. The method uses a lemon, which costs as little as 30p, and water to create steam that softens stubborn marks.
How microwaves get dirty so fast
Food can bubble, splatter and spill while heating, leaving tiny droplets across the walls, ceiling, door and turntable. If these aren’t wiped away immediately, they can dry and harden, making them much more difficult to remove later.
In one case, a microwave had many food splatters left to build up, turning a quick wipe-down into a proper cleaning job with layers of grease and grime inside.
Lemon cleaning hack
Instead of using a strong cleaning product, a lemon was placed in water and microwaved. The heat created steam inside the appliance, which helped to soften dried-on food and loosen grease.
Once the lemon had softened, it was used to tackle greasy areas, working over stubborn marks before wiping everything down with kitchen paper. The combination of heat, steam and lemon loosened the grease, creating a pleasant smell and a super clean interior.
Affordable and chemical-free
Lemons retail for as little as 30p each, making this hack super affordable and free of chemicals. Lemons can also clean other areas like wooden chopping boards, and they are antibacterial thanks to their high citric acid content, which helps stop harmful germs from growing.
