Microwaves are an efficient way of cooking, but they can be really unpleasant to clean.

We’ve got a green method that works well, and all you need is water and a little bit of baking soda (which you can also use to soften sheets and scrub the tub.)

1. Put one or two cups of water in a large, heat-proof glass or ceramic bowl. and add one tablespoon of white vinegar.

2. Microwave until about half the water has evaporated.

3.Wait about 10 minutes and don’t open the door. This lets the water cool off a bit and the steam penetrate any baked-on crud in the oven. Remove the bowl carefully; the water will still be hot enough to burn, so wear hot mitts.

4.Scrub the walls of the microwave with a sponge sprinkled with a bit of baking soda; baked on stains should come off with relative ease.

5.Wipe down the microwave with a reusable cloth dampened in clean water and the oven will be sparkling clean and free of odors.

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