When did you last actually scrub the inside of your microwave? If the answer is that you try not to look, this is for you. You can get it clean without scrubbing, and it takes about five minutes of mostly waiting.

Steam Does the Work

Dried on food softens when it sits in steam. That is the whole trick. You are not cleaning with the steam, you are loosening the grime so a single wipe finishes the job.

1. Fill a microwave safe bowl with about a cup of water.
2. Add a few slices of lemon or a splash of vinegar if you want a better smell.
3. Microwave on high for three to five minutes until the window fogs up.
4. Leave the door closed for another five minutes. This is the part people skip and then wonder why it did not work.

Then Wipe

Take the bowl out carefully, it is hot. Wipe the walls, ceiling, and floor with a damp cloth. Most of the grime comes off in one pass. The turntable goes in the dishwasher or gets hand washed.

The Stuck Spots

If something is truly baked on, make a paste of baking soda and water and let it sit a few minutes before wiping. Do not use abrasive pads on the interior walls. They have a coating you do not want to scratch.

I do this roughly once a week now, right before I heat up lunch. The steam from my actual food does half the work anyway, so I just wipe it while it is already loose.