Dos and Don’ts to Maintain Your Microwave

Did you know that it’s been almost sixty years since the first countertop microwave was sold? It’s hard to believe, especially since the microwave is now considered to be an absolute necessity in most kitchens up and down the country, being used regularly to reheat food such as homemade soups in the winter through to cooking beans and jacket potatoes.

However, while regular use of your microwave helps to shorten your cooking time, it will also have an impact on your appliance. So, to help you look after your microwave and extend the life of your appliance, there are a couple of dos and don’ts that you should bear in mind each time you use it in any capacity.

• Don’t: Use bleach to clean your microwave! Bleach doesn’t actually clean the area it is being used on. Instead it “bleaches” the area, but leaves the dirt behind. That’s why you should always make sure that, when using cleaning products, you choose the right ones for your appliance.
• Do: Give your microwave a clean after every use. By this, we don’t mean always getting the cleaning products out and giving it a thorough clean… but do use a damp cloth to give the inside panels, the door, and the glass turntable a quick wipe to help remove any possible build up of bacteria and dirt.
• Don’t: Clean your microwave the very instant food comes out, however! Although you should clean your microwave after each use, make sure you give your microwave time to cool down before cleaning to prevent any nasty burns.
• Do: Clean your microwave with a dedicated microwave cleaner every now and again, such as the Oven Mate Steam Clean Wipes or the Dirt Devil Microwave Oven Cleaner. As part of the thorough clean, you should remove the glass turntable and leave this to soak in warm soapy water while you clean the rest of the rest of your microwave. Then, with the inside of your microwave clean, give the glass turntable a scrub to ensure all the dirt and food debris has been removed before putting it back into the microwave.

Following these simple dos and don’ts when it comes to your microwave, and using dedicated cleaning products to clean the appliance, will help to ensure your appliance lasts for as long as possible and keeps working at its full potential!