UK households urged to put vinegar in microwave in March

Spring cleaning is upon us, and with it, a number of jobs are on people’s lists to get done over the next few weeks. Among them is a deep clean of the kitchen, which includes appliances such as ovens, fridges and indeed, microwaves. Most UK households have microwaves nowadays, and they are used regularly to heat up meals and even cook things like scrambled eggs and baked beans.

But how often do you clean your microwave? If it hasn’t had a scrub-down in a while, spring might be a good time to get it done. Dirt and grime can build up on microwaves over time, and the longer you leave it, the harder it can be to get sparkling clean. But there are some easy tricks you can employ to get your microwave in tip-top shape, according to cleaning and consumer experts. If the microwave is on your to-clean list this spring, then use vinegar to help loosen up the dirt.

The consumer and lifestyle experts at Which? have shared their spring cleaning hacks, including this one that works wonders for the microwave. They suggest placing a bowl of vinegar in the microwave and heating it.

More specifically, those cleaning the appliance should place a bowl of water mixed with a couple of spoonfuls of white vinegar in the microwave and heat it for a few minutes.

Leave it for a few minutes after that to cool, then remove it from the microwave. Then wipe the microwave’s roof and walls, and remove the plate to clean it separately.

Vinegar is acidic, and when it is placed in a hot and steamy environment, it helps to melt away built-up, hard dirt that can be difficult to scrape off when not softened first.

While the steam from the water helps loosen hard dirt, the vinegar breaks through the grease. The two together make for a magic formula for microwave cleaning.

If you don’t have vinegar or you’re not a fan of its smell, there are other alternatives. The consumer experts also said a slice of lemon and some lemon juice in the bowl should do the trick.

But white vinegar is quite a handy agent to have when cleaning the home, and it can also make other jobs easier, such as cleaning kitchen ovens and bathroom tiles.

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