Jan222010

How to Maintain Your Microwave Oven

Write by Reese

You’ve bought your microwave oven. Now, the next step is to make this great convenience last for the maximum of its life span. To be honest, it’s quite simple. All you have to do is maintain a clean kitchen and clean your microwave oven! The main thing is to clean it regularly in order to prevent potentially future pricey repairs.

Why Do You Need a Consistently Clean Kitchen?

• Avoid insects & bugs which love to reside inside your microwave ovens.
• Remember, an ideal home for an insect is a warm power board.
• So, the cleaner your kitchen is, the cleaner your microwave will be.

How to Clean Your Microwave Oven?

What You Need:
• Bowl
• Water
• Dish Soap
• Kitchen Cleaner/Detergent
• Damp Cloth
• Paper Towels

Cleaning the Interior
1) Wipe excess crumbs from the microwave’s interior after each & every use.
2) Wipe clean with a damp cloth and some detergent.

Removing Food Deposits that have Built Up
If these food deposits have been caked on to the inside of your microwave, loosen it through the following steps:

1) Fill a microwave-safe bowl with 1-2 cups of water.
- Tip?
- Add lemon juice or a tablespoon of vinegar into the water before heating
- Purpose? Fresher smell.

2) Next, set the microwave on ‘high’ to boil the water inside the microwave for approximately 2-3 minutes.
- Why? The steam from the water should loosen all the food particles.
- Hint? Time varies between microwave ovens. Some need 5-10 minutes.

3) Carefully remove the bowl of hot water.
- Preferably, use a cloth to protect your hands to avoid scalding.

4) Then remove the tray from the microwave and set it aside.

5) With a damp cloth, wipe the interior of the microwave.
- Task is easier now that the food particles are loosen

6) Wash the tray in the sink with dish soap. Dry and return it to the microwave.
- Ensure that it is thoroughly dry to avoid molding.

Cleaning Food Spills
Why? Minimize risk of arching & sparking inside your microwave.

If your microwave has burn SPOTS in the internal cavity:
• Sand them smooth
• Paint over them with microwave touch up paint

If your microwave has any burn HOLES in the cavity:
• Call an appliance repair technician
• REFRAIN from USING the unit.

If there are burn SPOTS on your WAVE GUIDE:
• Replace it
• Conduct a thorough cleaning

If you think food has slipped through the perimeter of the wave guide cover into the roof or walls of the oven cabinet:
• Remove the waveguide cover
• Conduct a thorough cleaning in the area BEHIND it AS WELL.

CAUTION: Even if your microwave oven is unplugged, it is capable of giving you a SERIOUS ELECTRICAL SHOCK. So, it is advisable to seek the assistance of an appliance repair technician when repairing any microwave oven.

Cleaning the Exterior
Clean it as regularly as you clean the interior and it should be cleaned in the same manner as the interior using a damp cloth and detergent.

1) Spray it with kitchen cleaner and wipe with paper towels.
- If you use a spray bottle, don’t use it near:

• Door latches
• Ventilation holes
• Anywhere else where liquid can seep into the cavity.

- Similarly, don’t use a dripping wet cloth for cleaning

2) Use extra caution when cleaning on & around the touchpad as well as the area surrounding the touchpad.
- If any liquid finds its way underneath the touchpad, it will result in:

• Unresponsive keys
• Stuck buttons
• Erratic operations

3) Refrain from utilizing STRONG solvents.
- If you need to remove sticky residue, a small amount of isopropyl alcohol will suffice.

4) You’re done! That should take roughly 15 minutes for normal cleaning.

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