Whether it was the microwave in your office, in your home, or in your RV, we’ve all been greeted by someone else’s splattered lunch. Even the most vigilant of microwavers have endured the mess of a well-intentioned meal gone wrong. It can be daunting taking on a three-week-old spill, especially if you’re not quite sure what it was. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of four tried-and-true ways to quickly clean the microwave without having to break a sweat.

Remove cooked-on food from the walls by combining one cup of water with one cup of vinegar in a microwave-safe bowl. Cook on high until the mixture begins to boil and steam. Leave the solution in the microwave for 15 minutes and then wipe down the interior with a paper towel. Any cooked-on spills from the sides or ceiling should easily wipe away.

If you don’t have vinegar on hand, you can substitute with a chopped up lemon, lime, or orange, or a little bit of dish soap.

Make your greasy window shine using your leftover water-vinegar solution. After it has worked its magic on the walls of the microwave, apply the same mixture to the window with a dishcloth or paper towel. Use a dry towel to wipe it down afterwards. You should have a great view of your food the next time you go to warm up some leftovers!

Remove cooked-on food from the bottom of the microwave by combining two parts baking soda with one part warm water. Stir the mixture until it forms a paste and apply to spills. Let the paste sit for five minutes before wiping it clean with a paper towel.

Clean the microwave turntable with the rest of your dishes. Most glass turntables can be set in your dishwasher and cleaned with the rest of your dishware. If you don’t have a dishwasher though, you can clean the turntable with warm soapy water. For those truly tricky messes, let the turntable soak in warm soapy water for 30 minutes before wiping it down.

 

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