How to remove grease from stainless steel microwave

Cooking will fill your kitchen with oil splatters, which turn into ugly stains on appliances like microwaves and stoves. All-purpose cleaners typically will not remove the oil stain or its greasy residue. However, several alternatives are available to eliminate the oil spots besmirching your microwave door and stove .

Table of Contents Show

White Vinegar
Citrus Cleaners
Baking Soda
Soap and Water
Baking Soda and Vinegar
Related Questions
How do you remove dried grease from stainless steel?
What is the best way to clean a stainless steel microwave?

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White Vinegar

An all-natural degreaser, white vinegar will remove oily residue, stains, dirt and odors from both the microwave door and the stove. Since vinegar contains no toxic chemicals, you can safely clean the appliances without worrying about harsh residue and noxious fumes. You can use vinegar at full strength for heavy-duty cleaning power or dilute the liquid with water using a 50-50 ration. Use a spray bottle to mist the surface or saturate a sponge in the solution and then apply it to the appliance. Scrub the oil stains off and rinse clean with a damp cloth.

Citrus Cleaners

Both commercial and homemade citrus cleaners will remove oil stains and grease residue from microwave doors and stoves. Commercial citrus cleaners are available at grocery and department stores. However, these cleaners may contain dangerous chemicals. Instead, create your own natural citrus cleaner by extracting the juice from lemons. Alternatively, purchase lemon juice already squeezed in the produce section of grocery stores. Dampen a sponge in the lemon juice diluted with equal amounts of water and scrub the exterior of the microwave and stove clean.

Baking Soda

Naturally abrasive, baking soda will give the appliance a deep-down clean without scratching or damaging the surface. In addition, baking soda will remove any lingering odors left behind from the oil and grease. To use baking soda, dampen a clean sponge with warm water and cover the scrubbing side of the sponge with baking soda. Scrub the microwave and stove with the baking soda-covered sponge in a circular motion. After you have removed the oil stains, wipe the gritty residue off the surface with damp paper towels.

Ammonia

A common ingredient in commercial cleaners, ammonia cuts through grease and oil when you clean the surface with a mixture of 1 cup ammonia and 1 gallon of water. Ammonia is a safe cleaner as long as you use it properly. Improper use can lead to a safety hazard. The fumes ammonia naturally produces can cause various health side effects including headaches, fatigue and nausea. To combat this process, use cold water instead of hot when diluting the ammonia. Cold water reduces the amount of fumes produced by the ammonia. In addition, never combine ammonia with bleach or other products that contain bleach.

It's no wonder Stainless steel appliances are so common these days: they're durable, and they maintain their appearance even when the appliance is heavily used. But in many stainless steel appliances, such as cooktops and ranges, this heavy usage makes grease buildup a problem. How to remove grease from stainless steel appliances, then? The experts at Appliances Connection have compiled this list of four ways to remove grease.

Soap and Water

If you have liquid dish soap, especially if it's advertised as being tough on grease, it should be your first step when removing grease from stainless steel appliances. Simply mix some dish soap into a bucket of warm water until the mixture is slightly bubbly. Dip a soft microfiber cloth or non-abrasive sponge into the mixture and use the moistened cloth to scrub in the direction of the stainless steel's grain. (You can also use a nylon scrub brush for extensively caked-on grease.) You may need to repeat this a few times with a fresh cloth, depending on the size of the soiled area. Once the grease is removed, use a fresh cloth to rinse the stainless steel surface with warm water.

Baking Soda and Vinegar

Baking soda and vinegar are excellent household cleaners, and they work well on stainless steel. This method works especially well for burnt-on grease stains. The first step is to combine equal parts of baking soda and water in a bowl. The mixture should form a paste. Apply this paste evenly to the grease area with a spoon or a soft cloth. Wait 15 minutes, then scrub the stain using a nylon brush, always scrubbing in the direction of the grain. Lightly rinse off the surface. If the grease persists, pour undiluted white vinegar onto the remaining baking soda. The area will get very fizzy. Brush the area off again, and your stainless steel should be as good as new.

Baby Oil

If you have persistent grease stains that won't go away despite the other solutions, try restoring the shine to your stainless steel using baby oil. Baby oil is excellent at shining stainless steel, but it also helps dilute the oils that make up grease stains, helping cut through particularly stubborn grease. Dab some baby oil onto a soft, dry microfiber cloth and buff the affected area in the direction of the stainless steel's grain. Repeat as necessary, then gently buff the oil off with a fresh cloth. If you don't have baby oil, olive oil and mineral oil both work equally well for this.

Degreaser

If DIY solutions aren't your thing, there are a wide variety of commercial methods for how to remove grease available on the market. Bar Keepers Friend and Weiman make two of the most popular stainless steel cleaners, and there are many more out there as well. If you go this route, make sure that the cleaner you pick will work well with your type of stainless steel: some cleaners are better suited to clear-coated stainless steel, while others work best on raw metal surfaces, and others are designed for specific formulations of stainless steel. If you use a commercially available degreaser, follow the manufacturer's instructions for use.

Does vinegar damage stainless steel?

As long as you use it properly and rinse it off when you're done, vinegar does not damage stainless steel. In fact, it's a remarkably powerful all-purpose cleanser for stainless steel.

Can you use Magic Eraser on stainless steel?

You can use Magic Eraser on stainless steel, but it's very important to only buff stains very gently. Because Magic Erasers are mildly abrasive, you risk leaving tiny scratches on your stainless steel surface if you scrub too hard or for too long.

How do you remove dried grease from stainless steel?

Simply mix some dish soap into a bucket of warm water until the mixture is slightly bubbly. Dip a soft microfiber cloth or non-abrasive sponge into the mixture and use the moistened cloth to scrub in the direction of the stainless steel's grain. (You can also use a nylon scrub brush for extensively caked-on grease.)

What is the best way to clean a stainless steel microwave?

Cleaning the interiorSome spatters can be removed with a paper towel; others may require a warm soapy cloth. Remove greasy spatters with a sudsy cloth, then rinse with a damp cloth. Use only mild, non-abrasive soaps or detergents applied with a sponge, or soft cloth.