How To Clean A Microwave With Lime Juice

When I published my post about using bottled lemon juice instead of real lemons to clean your house, a reader asked if you can use lime juice to clean a microwave instead of lemon.

If all you have is a lime to spare, you will be delighted to know that you can clean your microwave with any citrus fruit including limes or even oranges.

Why are lemons and limes so great for cleaning microwaves?

It’s the citric acid inside the fruits that helps to kill germs, mold and mildew. Combine their juice with steam and they become extremely effective at breaking down food deposits, which is just the kind of mess that you typically have inside a microwave. It’s the perfect self-cleaning combination!

Limes are perfect for cleaning microwaves just the same as lemons or oranges. Add lime juice to a bowl of water and microwave for three minutes. Then simply wipe away dirt and bacteria.

Heads up: I sometimes use affiliate links. When you click these links and make a purchase, I may get a small commission. It won’t cost you anything but it helps me to run this site.

How to clean a microwave with lime juice

Many of us know that you can clean a microwave very effectively with a lemon. Here’s how to clean a microwave just as effectively using lime juice.

Don’t have any lime juice to spare? Find out how to clean a microwave with just water.

Step 1 – Make up a bowl of water and lime juice

Add a cup of cold water to a small microwaveable bowl.
Squeeze half a lime into the water.
For even more cleaning power, cut up the skin to quarters or eighths and add them to the water too.

Step 2 – Microwave on full power for three minutes

Wait for the lime juice and water to heat up and produce citrusy steam within your oven.

When the time is up carefully remove the bowl. It will be very hot!

Step 3 – Wipe inside

Remove the microwave turntable, then take a clean cloth, microfibre is best, and wipe around the whole microwave and the inside the door.

Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloths, Non-Abrasive, Reusable and Washable, Pack of 24, Blue/White/Yellow, 16" x 12"

Buy at Amazon

You should find that hardly any scrubbing is needed. If you find you are having to scrub too hard, put the lime juice back in and microwave for another three minutes. Repeat as necessary.

Step 4 – Wipe outside

Take a clean damp microfiber cloth and clean the front of the microwave. If you need more cleaning power, spray with vinegar.

Finish up by wiping over with a dry microfiber cloth.

Related reading:

Tips for keeping your microwave clean for longer

Get into the habit of wiping over your microwave after every use. It will take seconds but saves time later.
Always cover food items. If you can’t find a suitable cover, a paper towel works well to catch food.
Always prick food such as baked potatoes and sausages to stop from them bursting.

Pro tip: I like to microwave my microfiber cloth for a minute in the microwave to kill bacteria. When the cloth cools a bit I also wipe around the microwave.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use bottled lime juice instead of fresh to clean my house?

Yes, you can. Bottled lime juice may have less citric acid in it than fresh limes, so do check the label.