How to clean a stainless steel microwave convection oven

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When it comes to the weekly cleaning routine, it's easy to forget the microwave. Yes, the outside gets a frequent wipe down along with all the other surfaces, but what lurks within stays out of sight, out of mind, behind the door.

Don't like having dirty appliances and find it hard to find the time to clean them? You're not alone. According to research by cookware store Oliver's Kitchen, 80% of us never deep-clean our microwaves...

Without a regular wipe down, microwave ovens can end up covered in dried-on food stains and cling onto the odour of yesterday's lasagne. But cleaning it really is very simple and here are some of our top tips to remove the dirt and grime from your microwave.

Use lemon to remove microwave smells

To remove smells and loosen dried-on stains, add some slices of lemon or 2 tablespoons of white or cider vinegar to 500ml of cold water making sure the bowl is no more than half full. Heat on high until the water boils and the window gets steamy.

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Leave to cool

Leave it to cool for about 15 minutes before opening the door. Wipe dry with absorbent kitchen paper. Don't forget to wipe down the dials and knobs and the top of the microwave, if they are exposed. A damp e-cloth will also do a good job.

Be gentle

If you have a microwave with an acrylic or painted interior, wipe it out with a cloth and a solution of warm water and washing-up liquid. Never use anything abrasive.

GHI Tip: Always disconnect the microwave before cleaning.

Cleaning combination microwaves

Combi microwaves generally have stainless-steel interiors and as such can get coated in burnt on grease like any conventional oven. Regular surface cleaners will clean the inside of your microwave, but will leave behind a fragrance which can mingle with your food so if you’ve got one of these, we recommend using a specialised microwave cleaning spray. Make sure to spray on to a cloth first to avoid it getting into vents.

Clean the glass turntable regularly – these can usually go into the dishwasher but check the manufacturer’s guidelines for your specific model. Make sure the kitchen is well ventilated while you're cleaning your microwave.

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Clean microwave seals with vinegar

Don’t forget to clean the rubber seal with a damp cloth, as dirt and grease can become trapped. Dip the damp cloth in bicarbonate of soda and rub gently over the seal. Wipe off any residue with damp kitchen paper.

Microwave cleaning equipment

Lazy Lemon, Lemon Juice 1l - 6 pack

Lazy Lemon amazon.co.uk

£18.40

Golden Swan White Vinegar, 5l - 4 pack

Golden Swan amazon.co.uk

£18.88

Plenty The Original One Kitchen Rolls

Plenty amazon.co.uk

£10.98

E-Cloth General Purpose Cleaning Cloths, Pack of 2

E-Cloth johnlewis.com

£9.49

How do I clean the inside of my stainless steel convection microwave?