A combi microwave oven is a multi-purpose appliance. It functions not only as a microwave, but also as an oven. You can defrost, reheat, bake and sometimes even grill dishes. An appliance that allows you to conjure up delicious meals, but also an appliance that is a lifesaver on busy days. Once you have a microwave oven, you will use it all too often. That is why regular cleaning is important. If you don’t, food residues will get caked on and cleaning will become a chore.
Cleaning the combi microwave on the outside
The easiest part of the cleaning job is cleaning the outside of the microwave oven. After all, it gets a lot less dirty than the inside. As the appliance is usually made of plastic and/or stainless steel, a scratch-free cloth and a simple all-purpose cleaner are all you need. Instead of all-purpose cleaner, you can also use washing-up liquid. Avoid using aggressive cleaning agents.
Cleaning the combi microwave on the inside
Cleaning the exterior can be done at any time, but for the exterior, there is a specific time when your efforts will yield the most results. That is when the appliance has just cooled down. Even then, use water and detergent. Food residues and splashes will come off the bottom and walls more easily this way. You can simply put the turntable in the dishwasher.
Soda: the alternative to water and all-purpose cleaner
If you are someone who is always looking for the most natural method, there is an eco-friendly alternative to water and all-purpose cleaner. You can also use baking soda to get your combi microwave clean. What else you need for this is nothing more than a microwave-safe dish with some water. You add a tablespoon of baking soda to this and put it in the combi microwave. You run this on the highest setting for a few minutes.
When condensation forms on the door, switch off the appliance and open the door. Once the condensation has disappeared, clean the inside. Soda has a degreasing effect, making this a piece of cake. Wipe down the combi microwave again after this to make sure no residue of soda remains.
At work with oven cleaner
Has your microwave oven become very dirty? Then the above methods may not have sufficient effect. In that case, you can opt for oven cleaner, but only if the inside of the appliance is not self-cleaning. You spray oven cleaner on the bottom and walls of your microwave oven. Let it soak in for a while and then wipe away all the dirt with a cloth. You cannot use oven cleaner on the rough walls of the combi microwave.
Settling unpleasant odours
Is your microwave oven not necessarily dirty, but does it smell unpleasant? Then put some water in a microwave-safe dish and put some lemon juice or slices of lemon in it. Then put this bowl in the appliance and let it run at full power for a few minutes. Incidentally, this is also a handy method for soaking off dirt when there is very caked-on food residue.