I avoided cleaning my microwave for about three weeks once. The ceiling looked like a war zone — splattered tomato sauce, exploded soup, something yellow I could not identify. I kept meaning to buy microwave cleaner, which does not exist, and kept putting it off because scrubbing dried-on food off the inside of a small box is miserable.

Turns out you do not need to scrub. You need steam.

The Bowl of Water Method

1. Fill a microwave-safe bowl with water. About two cups. Add a few slices of lemon or a splash of white vinegar — the acid helps cut grease and the lemon leaves a fresh smell instead of the weird chemical smell of microwave cleaner (which, again, does not exist).
2. Microwave on high for five minutes. Let it boil. The steam fills the microwave and loosens every bit of dried food on the walls, ceiling, and turntable.
3. Do not open the door yet. Let it sit for two to three minutes with the door closed. The steam keeps working. This is the part I used to skip because I was impatient.
4. Open the door, remove the bowl carefully — it is boiling water — and wipe everything down with a damp cloth or sponge. The grime wipes off like it was never stuck on in the first place.

The whole thing takes about eight minutes, most of which is the microwave running by itself. The actual wiping takes maybe two minutes. I was genuinely annoyed at how easy it was after avoiding it for three weeks.

Extra Dirty? Add Baking Soda

If the steam alone does not get everything — and I have had sauce explosions that laughed at plain steam — make a paste of baking soda and water and scrub the stubborn spots after steaming. The baking soda is a mild abrasive that breaks up the last bits without scratching the interior. Do not use anything scratchier than baking soda. Steel wool and abrasive cleaners leave micro-scratches where food and bacteria hide.

Prevention That Actually Works

• Cover your food. A microwave splatter cover — a plastic dome with vent holes — costs about five dollars and catches the explosions before they hit the walls. I bought one after the three-week-avoidance incident and my microwave has stayed clean since.
• A paper towel works in a pinch. Lay one loosely over the bowl or plate. It catches most splatters. It is not as good as a cover but it is better than nothing.
• Wipe spills when they happen. Fresh splatter wipes off in five seconds. Dried splatter takes steam and scrubbing. I am not good at this one either, but I try.

The bowl-of-water trick has become my standard method. I do it about once every two weeks. It takes less time than a single episode of a show I am half-watching. The microwave smells like lemons afterward and I do not flinch when I open the door anymore.