Steam does most of the work when you clean a microwave, so I'd never start by scrubbing. Heat a cup of water inside it, with vinegar or lemon if you like, and let the steam soften the dried splatter. Then wipe the inside with mild soap and water, wash the glass tray, and finish with the door seal. On an over-the-range model, the metal grease filter underneath gets washed too, about once a month.
A microwave oven is a cooking box that heats food with microwave energy. The parts that get dirty are its cavity, door seal, turntable and, on models mounted over a range, its filters. I'm Michael Ruhr, and I co-own Merit Home Furniture on Vancouver Island, where I work the floor in Duncan. Every step that follows comes from a maker's own cleaning page (Whirlpool, Frigidaire, Samsung, LG and Midea, all appliance brands Merit lists) or from Health Canada.
How to clean a microwave with steam, step by step
Steam cleaning works the same on countertop and over-the-range microwave types. Whirlpool's cleaning page for its countertop microwaves gives the plain-water version: 1 cup (250 mL) of water, heated for 2 to 5 minutes, softens heavy soil before the wipe. Midea's Canadian guide runs it on high for 3 to 5 minutes, until the window steams up, then keeps the door shut about 2 minutes more.
- Switch it off and let it cool. Whirlpool starts every cleaning job with the controls off and the oven cool. Midea says to unplug it before cleaning the outside.
- Heat the water. Use a microwave-safe bowl or a 2-cup glass measuring cup with 1 cup of water in it.
- Keep the door closed after the timer, so the trapped steam keeps working on dried food.
- Lift out the bowl and the tray. Both come out hot, so an oven mitt is worth having nearby.
- Wipe the walls, ceiling and inside of the door. A soft cloth with mild soap and water does it. Rinse with a clean damp cloth and dry with a soft, lint-free one.
- Do the door seal last. Health Canada's microwave safety page says, "Always keep the oven door and seal clean; do not use abrasive cleansers." Whirlpool also names the strip where the door touches the frame.
One round of steam covers a microwave that gets wiped now and then. A really dirty microwave oven may need a second round of steam before the cloth goes in, and that beats pressing harder. That steam is only for cleaning; ovens that cook with steam are a separate appliance.
How do I clean the inside top of my microwave?
The inside top of a microwave softens under the same steam, so wipe it right after the bowl comes out, while it's still damp. Many microwaves have a small flat panel on a wall or the ceiling covering the opening the microwaves come through. Frigidaire's Canadian page calls it the wave guide cover and says, "Never remove the cover." Wipe it gently in place. Health Canada also asks owners never to push any object through an opening in the oven or around the door seal.
How to clean a microwave with vinegar, lemon or baking soda
Vinegar, lemon and baking soda are add-ins to the steam method, and each maker writes its own recipe.
| Add-in | What the maker says | Maker page |
|---|---|---|
| White vinegar | 1 cup of water with 2 tablespoons of white vinegar, on high for 3 to 5 minutes | Midea Canada |
| Lemon | 1 cup of water with the grated peel and juice of one lemon, several minutes on full power | Frigidaire Canada |
| Lemon juice or vinegar, for smells | 1 cup (250 mL) of water with 1 tbs (15 mL) of either, for 2 to 5 minutes | Whirlpool, microwave drawers |
| Baking soda | A little on the cloth for buildup the steam leaves behind | Frigidaire Canada |
For a microwave oven with vinegar, Midea's ratio is the one I'd start with, since it's a cup of water and a splash, not a bowl of straight vinegar. Baking soda goes on a damp cloth, never as a dry scrub.
Is it better to clean the microwave with lemon or vinegar?
Midea's own answer is that both work: lemon leaves a fresh scent and suits light cleaning, while vinegar cuts through grease and tough stains more effectively. Its recipe takes half a squeezed lemon in place of the vinegar, and Whirlpool's drawer page treats lemon juice and vinegar as one line for smells. I'd reach for vinegar when the cavity is greasy and lemon when the smell is what bothers you. Hot vinegar has a sharp smell of its own, one more reason to keep it to a splash.
What if the microwave still smells burnt?
A burnt smell that survives the steam often means something is still stuck, on the ceiling or under the tray. Wipe again, then try Midea's overnight fix: an open box or small bowl of baking soda inside, with the door closed.
Cleaning the microwave turntable, door glass and outside
The microwave turntable is the easiest part, because it comes out. Frigidaire's Canadian page says to wash it by hand in warm, soapy water or on the top rack of the dishwasher. Midea adds a warning worth taking: let the glass cool first so it doesn't crack, and dry it before it goes back.
The outside of a microwave is where the makers part ways. Frigidaire allows mild soap and water or "a 50/50 mix of water and vinegar" on its metal surfaces, and rules out store-bought stainless-steel cleaners. Midea allows a stainless-steel cleaner or a vinegar-and-water mix, wiped along the grain. Whirlpool also says to rub stainless in the direction of the grain.
The touch panel gets only a lightly damp cloth, by Frigidaire's page. Midea's guide says not to spray cleaner straight onto the buttons, so the spray goes on the cloth first. Several models Merit lists, from Samsung and Whirlpool, have a fingerprint-resistant stainless finish, and I'd keep strong cleaners off those coatings altogether.
How to clean a microwave oven over the range: grease and charcoal filters
An over-the-range microwave stands in for a separate range hood, so it has filters a countertop model doesn't. Grease filters are the metal mesh panels on the underside, above the cooktop, and they wash clean. A charcoal filter sits behind the vent grille at the top front, by Whirlpool's description. It's used only when the microwave recirculates air into the kitchen instead of venting outside. Charcoal filters can't be washed: they're replaced.
| Maker page | Grease filter | Charcoal filter |
|---|---|---|
| Whirlpool | Clean monthly, or when the filter light says so | Replace about every 6 months |
| Samsung Canada | At least once a month on one-filter models; at least once every four months on two-filter models | Replace every 6 to 12 months |
| Midea Canada | At least once a month | Not covered on its cleaning page |
To wash a grease filter, Samsung's Canadian page says to soak it in hot water with mild detergent, rinse, and loosen stubborn grease with a soft brush. Midea suggests about 10 minutes of soaking, then 1/4 cup of baking soda in fresh water if it's still sticky. Whirlpool says most grease filters can go in the dishwasher, but to check the owner's manual first. On a Samsung with a filter reminder light, holding the 0 button resets it.
Whether a charcoal filter matters depends on the installation. Of the over-the-range models Merit carries at a store, the Amana 30 in. listing says it vents outside or recirculates through a charcoal filter. The Frigidaire 1.7 cu. ft. can be ducted or ductless, and the Whirlpool Steam model lists exterior or recirculating venting. Replacing the whole microwave means checking over-the-range microwave sizes against the space above the stove. The rule I give for fitting an under-counter wine cooler, measure the opening and not the old unit, holds over a range too.
Can I use Windex or Clorox wipes inside a microwave?
None of the maker pages I read asks for glass cleaner or disinfecting wipes inside a microwave. Whirlpool, Frigidaire, Samsung and Midea all point to water and mild soap or detergent. LG says its EasyClean interior needs a damp cloth, "no chemicals, no scrubbing." Midea's guide says to stay away from harsh cleaners like bleach, ammonia, or strong chemicals. Whirlpool's page asks owners to follow the label on any cleaning product they do use.
A disinfecting wipe is made for counters and door handles, so read its label for what it says about surfaces that touch food. If it calls for a rinse, a cloth and plain water afterwards does that. Glass cleaner sprayed inside can drift onto the control panel, so if it's used at all, it goes on the cloth first.
Microwave interiors on Merit's listings, and how each one cleans
A microwave interior can be bare painted metal, enamel or a non-stick coating, and the listing usually says which. The table shows what a few of Merit's microwaves list, with prices read on November 1, 2026, before applicable taxes. Merit lists 76 over-the-range microwaves, and 38 of them are carried at our Campbell River or Port Alberni store; the rest are special orders. None is listed at Duncan.
| Microwave | Interior or vent, as listed | Price and store |
|---|---|---|
| Whirlpool Steam over-the-range, 2.1 cu. ft. | CleanRelease non-stick interior; exterior or recirculating vent | $1,049.00, Port Alberni |
| Samsung over-the-range, 1.9 cu. ft. | Ceramic enamel interior; 400 CFM vent | $549.00, Port Alberni |
| Whirlpool 30 in. over-the-range, 1.7 cu. ft. | Dark powder coat cavity, 12 in. turntable | $449.99, Campbell River |
| LG over-the-range, 1.8 cu. ft. | EasyClean; 300 CFM vent | $399.99, Campbell River |
| Frigidaire over-the-range, 1.7 cu. ft. | 300 CFM vent, ducted or ductless | $379.00, Port Alberni |
| Amana 30 in. over-the-range, 1.6 cu. ft. | Vents outside or recirculates through a charcoal filter | $349.99, Campbell River and Port Alberni |
| LG countertop, 1.5 cu. ft. | EasyClean interior; no vent filters on a countertop model | $219.99 to $239.99, Campbell River |
Enamel and non-stick interiors still take the same soft cloth. The coating is the reason to skip the scouring pad, since a scratch in it doesn't come back. The rest of the range is with every microwave Merit lists, countertop to built-in, and each listing names the store that carries it.
Microwave cleaning and food safety in a Canadian kitchen
Health Canada's food safety tips for microwaves happen to keep the cavity cleaner too. Its advice reads, "Cover food with a microwave-safe lid or plastic wrap that does not touch the food." A cover also keeps sauce off the ceiling. It asks for leftovers reheated to 74°C (165°F), checked with a digital food thermometer and stirred partway through. It also says not to reuse the trays that come with microwave dinners or takeout.
LG's support page on sparking makes the other half of the case, saying food crumbs and spill overs "can overcook and cause sparking". Wiping a spill while it's still warm and soft, as Midea suggests, stops it baking on.
How to clean a sponge in the microwave
A wet sponge can be cleaned in the microwave. In a 2007 study by the US Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service, one minute in a microwave killed 99.99999 percent of the bacteria on test sponges. A dishwasher with a drying cycle came close. The University of Minnesota's CIDRAP report on the study adds advice from a separate University of Florida study: the sponge goes in wet, with no metal parts. I'd still throw out a sponge that smells, whatever the microwave does to it.
Microwave cleaning mistakes that can damage the oven
- Scouring the cavity. Whirlpool lists "soap-filled scouring pads, abrasive cleaners, steel-wool pads, gritty washcloths, or recycled paper towels" as things that damage it.
- Running it empty to dry it out. LG says food or water has to be inside to absorb the microwaves, or the cavity could be burned or scorched. Once the steam bowl comes out, leave the door open to air it instead.
- Leaving metal inside. LG names metal utensils and wire twist ties among the causes of sparking; whether foil can go in is a question with its own answer.
- Prying off the wave guide cover. Frigidaire's page says never to remove it.
- Using a microwave with a damaged door. Health Canada says not to use the oven if the door does not close or is bent, warped or damaged in any way. It asks for qualified service technicians for every repair.
- Letting spills bake on. Whirlpool says regular cleaning helps prevent damage from arcing caused by soil buildup.
A cavity scratched or burned through is a repair question, not a cleaning one. Merit has written up how a maker's warranty and the store's backing work together, and the maker's own terms decide what a microwave's cover includes.
Where these microwave cleaning steps come from
- Whirlpool Product Help, Cleaning the Interior or Cavity, Countertop Microwave, checked November 2026.
- Whirlpool Product Help, General Cleaning, Microwave Drawer, checked November 2026.
- Whirlpool Product Help, Cleaning the Filters (Grease and Charcoal), Over-the-Range Microwave, checked November 2026.
- Frigidaire Canada, How do I clean my microwave?, checked November 2026.
- Samsung Canada, How to replace and clean Samsung microwave filters, checked November 2026.
- Midea Canada, How to Clean Microwave: Easy Steps and Maintenance Tips, checked November 2026.
- LG Canada, 1.7 cu. ft. Over-the-Range Microwave Oven with EasyClean (LMV1751ST), checked November 2026.
- LG, Arcing or Sparking, Microwave Oven, checked November 2026.
- Health Canada, Microwave ovens (radiation safety), checked November 2026.
- Health Canada, Food safety tips for microwaves, checked November 2026.
- USDA Agricultural Research Service, Best Ways to Clean Kitchen Sponges, April 23, 2007, checked November 2026.
- CIDRAP, University of Minnesota, news report on microwaving and dishwashing sponges, checked November 2026.
- Merit Home Furniture's live microwave listings, with prices read November 1, 2026.
Asking our stores about a microwave
The microwaves Merit carries at a store are at Campbell River, 1300 A Homewood Rd, and Port Alberni, 2935 Third Ave. Call either one to ask which filter a model takes, or about anything its listing leaves out. Delivery terms differ by store, so ask the one that has the model when you call.
Phone Campbell River about a microwave, (250) 286-0868
Phone Port Alberni about a microwave, (250) 724-6644
A microwave listed with no store is a special order, and its page gives (250) 746-5527 as the number to call to order it.
Merit's guides to ranges, fridges, laundry and the rest of the kitchen are gathered on one page.