It’s a familiar scene for many of us – a microwave, caked in grease and a smell lingering as a permanent reminder of last night’s dinner. For years, people have sworn by using baking soda to tackle the sticky mess. But what if there was an even easier, quicker way to make that grease vanish?
One expert, who runs a lifestyle and home organisation blog, has revealed an incredibly simple hack that doesn’t involve any baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) – and it worked like a charm. Lona, a former child therapist turned stay-at-home mom, shared this genius method on her Making Lemonade blog. This no-fuss hack is not only effective but also incredibly easy. It promises a sparkling clean microwave in mere minutes, and it’s all thanks to two kitchen essentials that most of us already have in our cupboards, without having to resort to harsh chemicals or abrasive scrubbing.
The two kitchen essentials that made Lona’s greasy microwave disappear? Vinegar and lemon.
While these items are often used in cooking, they also double as powerful cleaning agents – and when combined, they form a dynamic duo that tackles grease and grime with ease.
“This is the easiest way to clean your microwave!” she wrote, before revealing her ingenious method.
“Combine 1 cup [237ml] of vinegar, 1 cup of water, and 2 Tbsps. of lemon juice in a bowl and microwave it for two minutes. Once done, remove it, and then you’ll find that you can easily wipe down the sides of your microwave.”
The key to this hack lies in the natural properties of vinegar and lemon. Vinegar, with its acidity, naturally breaks down grease and grime, while lemon’s citric acid helps cut through tough stains and leaves behind a pleasant, fresh scent. The combination of steam and these two simple ingredients makes the cleaning process effortless, with no scrubbing required.
Unlike baking soda, which can leave a powdery residue and require vigorous scrubbing, vinegar and lemon work to loosen grease without harsh abrasives.
Lona also recommends filling a plastic bag with vinegar and inserting your crusty and clogged showerhead until fully immersed. Using a string or elastic to hold it in place, allow it to soak for a few hours, then remove and let the water run.
Originally founded in 2009 by Carrie Higgins, author of Organization Hacks, Making Lemonade is currently owned and run by Lona, a former child therapist and stay-at-home mum. Over the years, the brand has grown into a well-known authority in the home space, with its advice featured in major publications like Better Homes & Gardens, Apartment Therapy and HGTV.
