How to Clean a Microwave in Ten Minutes

Open most microwaves and you will find a small crime scene. A spatter of tomato sauce on the ceiling, a ring of something brown on the turntable and a faint smell of last week's popcorn. It builds up because nobody wants to spend their evening scrubbing a box they only use for ninety seconds at a time.

Here is the thing: you do not have to scrub. Steam does almost all the work. Set aside ten minutes, put the kettle on for a cup of tea while you wait, and the microwave will be fresh again before the tea has cooled.

What you need

• A microwave-safe bowl or large jug
• Water
• Half a lemon, or a splash of white vinegar
• A wooden spoon or chopstick
• A soft sponge or cloth and a dry tea towel
• Oven gloves

The ten-minute steam method

1. Fill the bowl. Add about a cup of water to the bowl. Squeeze in the lemon and drop the halves in, or add a couple of tablespoons of vinegar instead.
2. Add the spoon. Pop the wooden spoon or chopstick into the bowl. It gives the water something to bubble around, which helps it boil more evenly.
3. Heat it up. Run the microwave on full power for around three to five minutes, until the window is properly fogged up. Every model is different, so keep an eye on it the first time.
4. Wait with the door closed. Leave it for another five minutes. This is where the steam softens all the dried-on splatter.
5. Remove the bowl carefully. Use oven gloves. The bowl and the water will be very hot, and you do not want to slosh it.
6. Wipe it all down. Lift out the turntable and set it aside. Wipe the ceiling first, then the walls, then the floor, so drips fall onto areas you have not cleaned yet.
7. Finish the turntable. Wash it in the sink with warm soapy water like any other plate, or check if your model says it is dishwasher safe.
8. Dry and air. Give everything a quick wipe with a dry tea towel and leave the door open for a few minutes.

Lemon or vinegar?

When the mess is really stubborn

If a spot refuses to budge after the steam, run the bowl again for a couple of minutes and give it another wait. For truly baked-on marks, make a thick paste of baking soda and a little water, spread it on the spot, leave it a few minutes and wipe it away with a damp sponge. Skip steel wool and harsh scouring pads, as they can scratch the inside coating.

Keep the cleaning away from the little vents and the grille on the side wall, and never spray liquid directly into them. A damp, not dripping, cloth is all you need there.

Safety corner: stick to one cleaner at a time. Never mix bleach with vinegar or ammonia, even for a really grim microwave, because the fumes are harmful. And always unplug the microwave before wiping the outside, the control panel or the door seals with a damp cloth.

Smells that hang around

Burnt popcorn is the classic one. After cleaning, leave a small bowl of baking soda inside with the door closed overnight. Some people swear by a few coffee grounds in a dish too. Either way, keep the door ajar for a while after cooking anything strong, and the smell fades much faster.

Keep it clean for longer

• Cover food with a microwave-safe lid or a plate to stop splatter in the first place.
• Wipe up spills while they are still fresh. Thirty seconds now saves ten minutes later.
• Give it a quick steam once every week or two, before the mess has time to bake on.
• Leave the door open for a minute after heating anything steamy, so moisture can escape.

Once the microwave sparkles, the kettle next to it might be looking a little cloudy by comparison. Our guide on how to descale a kettle uses the same cupboard staples. And if the gym kit waiting in the laundry basket still smells stale after a wash, here is how to get sweat smell out of clothes.