How do I clean a microwave?

[Elpenor]

I’ve got a new microwave so I’d like to try and clean the admittedly grim old one in the hope of selling it for £10 / giving it away.

How do I do this?

Here are some pictures of the old one



Any ideas? I don’t want it to go to landfill, but I really don’t feel I could even give it away free in this state.

 

[cupid_stunt]

That looks like rust to me, if so, no point trying to do anything with it.

Take it to your nearest 'tip', it'll go for recycling not landfill.

 

[Epona]

Yeah that's rust, the coating on the metal has come off in places and is bubbling up in others, that's beyond saving.

 

[surreybrowncap]

I’ve got a new microwave so I’d like to try and clean the admittedly grim old one in the hope of selling it for £10 / giving it away.

How do I do this?

Here are some pictures of the old one

View attachment 316789View attachment 316790

Any ideas? I don’t want it to go to landfill, but I really don’t feel I could even give it away free in this state.

Put some water in a bowl. Cut lemon in half and squeeze juice in to it. Put the lemon in the bowl and microwave for about 3 minutes.
The steam loosens the dirt.
Yeah it does look like rust.
Use the lemon tip for your new microwave...

 

[maomao]

Heat soapy water till it becomes soapy steam then scrub the inside. Won't get rid of rust though. Keep it to put your electronics in when the bomb goes off (faraday cage).

 

[Saunders]

I don’t know much about microwaves but it looks as though it’s rusty in places and the paint coming off, dunno if it’s all that safe and so may not be suitable to pass on to someone.
But to clean it I would use Cif or other cream cleaner, hot water and a scratchy cloth, or a microfibre cloth if the scratchy cloth takes more of the enamel off. Give it a wipe with a not too wet cloth, to soften the grubby bits, then use cream cleaner. Rinse wipe it to get rid of the cleaner. Wipe dry with a paper towel.

 

[Elpenor]

Ah; well at least saved me a job cleaning. It will go to the tip next week.

How would the rust have formed? I noticed a small pool of water at the bottom of the microwave which I poured away.

How do I stop the new one from rusting?

 

[Elpenor]

Put some water in a bowl. Cut lemon in half and squeeze juice in to it. Put the lemon in the bowl and microwave for about 3 minutes.
The steam loosens the dirt.
Yeah it does look like rust.
Use the lemon tip for your new microwave...

I’ve seen a similar tip involving white vinegar. Cheers

 

[nogojones]

Ah; well at least saved me a job cleaning. It will go to the tip next week.

How would the rust have formed? I noticed a small pool of water at the bottom of the microwave which I poured away.

How do I stop the new one from rusting?

If you put an whole, uncracked, raw egg in the microwave and heat at full power for 3 mins it's helps preserve the inner coating of a new appliance.

 

[cupid_stunt]

If you put an whole, uncracked, raw egg in the microwave and heat at full power for 3 mins it's helps preserve the inner coating of a new appliance.

No!

Never microwave eggs in shells. If you cook an egg in shell in the microwave, it's likely to explode. Microwaves heat so quickly that steam builds up faster than an egg can 'exhale' it through its pores and the steam bursts through the shell.

 

[nogojones]

No!

Never microwave eggs in shells. If you cook an egg in shell in the microwave, it's likely to explode. Microwaves heat so quickly that steam builds up faster than an egg can 'exhale' it through its pores and the steam bursts through the shell.

 

[StoneRoad]

Elpenor - your local "tip" should have a skip or other means of recycling "electrical / electronic waste" ...
Drop it off there.

That case is too badly rusted for an easy repair, unless you know someone that breaks / repairs "white goods" ...
{if it still works, the cyclotron might be worth salvaging ... }

I've kept a couple of the plates, from ones we've scrapped - they make good serving dishes on which you can warm scones / croissants or similar.

 

[cupid_stunt]

I just didn't want Elpenor to bugger their new microwave.

 

[Mogden]

Ah; well at least saved me a job cleaning. It will go to the tip next week.

How would the rust have formed? I noticed a small pool of water at the bottom of the microwave which I poured away.

How do I stop the new one from rusting?

When you've used it leave the door ajar for any steam to disperse. Stops it staying so damp and starting the rust.

 

[weltweit]

It could be rust or it could just be baked on crud, which would look similar to rust.

I would attack it with hot soapy water and a non metallic scouring pad.

My microwave frequently looks like that and worse and such treatment returns it to almost new condition.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

How would the rust have formed? I noticed a small pool of water at the bottom of the microwave which I poured away.

[edits]

i was about to say something akin to

When you've used it leave the door ajar for any steam to disperse. Stops it staying so damp and starting the rust.

my microwave was a house-warming present from mum-tat in 1994 and it isn't rusty.

i leave the door open when it's not cooking (it helps that it's the sort where the light only comes on while it's cooking, not whenever the door is open)

 

[Elpenor]

Elpenor - your local "tip" should have a skip or other means of recycling "electrical / electronic waste" ...
Drop it off there.

That case is too badly rusted for an easy repair, unless you know someone that breaks / repairs "white goods" ...
{if it still works, the cyclotron might be worth salvaging ... }

I've kept a couple of the plates, from ones we've scrapped - they make good serving dishes on which you can warm scones / croissants or similar.

Good shout about keeping the plate

 

[gentlegreen]

A shame I don't live near.
I would take it in its current state.

My first MW was one my brother nicked from the tip.
The touch panel was faulty so I brought out the matrix to two terminal blocks and a fly lead and restricted myself (I think) to 5 and 9 and start - and I opened the door to stop it

 

[Saunders]

Ah; well at least saved me a job cleaning. It will go to the tip next week.

How would the rust have formed? I noticed a small pool of water at the bottom of the microwave which I poured away.

How do I stop the new one from rusting?

Clean it regularly by wiping round with a damp cloth and leave the door ajar when not in use unless it’s clean and dry inside.

 

[SpookyFrank]

Fill a metal bowl with bleach and microwave it on full blast for about eight minutes.

 

[gentlegreen]

Fill a metal bowl with bleach and microwave it on full blast for about eight minutes.

and presumably do it outdoors ?

 

[Elpenor]

A shame I don't live near.
I would take it in its current state.

My first MW was one my brother nicked from the tip.
The touch panel was faulty so I brought out the matrix to two terminal blocks and a fly lead and restricted myself (I think) to 5 and 9 and start - and I opened the door to stop it

If you’re being serious about that I’m going into Bristol on the coach on Saturday 7th May. Could hand it over at the coach station

 

[gentlegreen]

If you’re being serious about that I’m going into Bristol on the coach on Saturday 7th May. Could hand it over at the coach station

Sadly that's quite a hike back to my place carrying a microwave !

 

[SpookyFrank]

and presumably do it outdoors ?

Why? Clean the rest of the kitchen at the same time init.

 

[Elpenor]

Sadly that's quite a hike back to my place carrying a microwave !

Surely you’ve got a cargo bike?

 

[gentlegreen]

Why? Clean the rest of the kitchen at the same time init.

Maybe chuck some moderately strong acid in too then and put the microwave high up as I think chlorine is heavier than air ...

 

[gentlegreen]

Surely you’ve got a cargo bike?

In a few years' time if I end up where I want to live, quite likely an electric 29er with fat tyres and a trailer

 

[SpookyFrank]

Maybe chuck some moderately strong acid in too then and put the microwave high up as I think chlorine is heavier than air ...

Ammonia and bleach. This should resolve any rat/mouse/human infestations in your property as well as doing a fucking bang up job on your microwave..

DISCLAIMER: This is a joke. Please do not do this.

 

[surreybrowncap]

Ammonia and bleach. This should resolve any rat/mouse/human infestations in your property as well as doing a fucking bang up job on your microwave..

DISCLAIMER: This is a joke. Please do not do this.

Now you tell me!!!

 

[SpookyFrank]

Now you tell me!!!

View attachment 316814

Putting your microwave on top of your hob was probably where you went wrong there tbh.