During the Second World War, the American army discovered that microwaves could be used to heat food. It is therefore very recent since these ovens have made their entrance into the average home. Among others, microwaves reduce the cooking time (and dishes!).
Plastic containers are dangerous in the microwave, but what about cleaning products? It is possible that your health and that of your family is at risk because of the methods used to clean your appliance. There exists a technique to clean your microwave that is simple, safe and inexpensive. This method does not involve the use of any chemical products and only two ingredients are required: water and lemon. Therefore, here are the steps to naturally clean your microwave oven.
1. Pour a Half a Cup of Water Into a Container
It is preferable to choose a glass container without a lid for this procedure. It is not necessary that it be exactly half a cup of water but keep in mind that the more water there is, the longer the cooking time.
2. Squeeze Half of a Lemon Into the Water
You can also simply use concentrated lemon juice for this step. The fruit’s acidity eliminates odours and leaves a fresh scent in your kitchen. Lemon is also a natural way to eliminate bacteria and mould if present. If your microwave is very dirty, you can add a small quantity of white vinegar to the mixture. Don’t worry about the odour. It will disappear after passing a cloth in the microwave oven.
3. Heat the Water in the Microwave
Place the container in the microwave and heat it at maximum temperature for about 3 minutes. Since the power of all appliances varies, the necessary time may differ. However, it is important that the vapour’s condensation covers all sides of the oven. If your microwave has an automatic ventilation system, the process can take up to 10 minutes. Be patient, the waiting time will make you save considerable energy! Make sure not to let all of the liquid evaporate from the container since you could damage your appliance.
4. Let It Rest
Do not open the microwave door right away and let the vapour rest on the sides of the oven for 5 minutes. The dirt particles will soften even more. The secret to this technique is to give the vapour enough time to do the cleaning for you. It is important not to wait more than 5 minutes since the water will cool and you will have to start the process all over again.
5. Remove the Container
You can now remove the container from the microwave oven. You must be very cautious when doing this step since the water may still be close to the boiling point. Put on oven mitts or gloves and carefully remove the container from the oven. You can keep the water to wash the interior of your refrigerator or you can dispose of it.
6. Wipe the Inside of the Microwave
The dirt and food are now softened and all you need to do is pass a damp or dry cloth in the oven, according to your preference. Start by the top, followed by the sides and finally with the bottom part. It is preferable that you remove the tray so that you can properly clean the bottom. Do not forget to also clean the door! If you’re dealing with stubborn stains, dip a sponge in the lemon water and attack the problem area. Remember that it is important that you not use any strong products in your microwave, regardless of how tough the stain.
7. Enjoy!
Great work, your microwave oven is ready to be used, without danger to your health. By adjusting your routine to eliminate harmful products, you are protecting yourself as well as the environment. Congratulations!
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