If you own a microwave, then it is undoubtedly sporting last night’s splattered pasta sauce, last week’s bubbled gravy and probably even last month’s melted cheese. It’s alright to admit you put off cleaning it way longer than you should. Everyone dreads the incessant scrubbing and scraping that goes along with it. So, if you are one of the many punching into Google, “how to clean a microwave” on a Saturday afternoon, look no further than these 5 easy ways below.

1. Quick Fix

For a quick fix, zap water soaked paper towels or a drenched sponge for 5 minutes. Tip - Make sure your items are wet enough that they won’t dry out in the process! Let it sit untouched for around 3 minutes so the steam can work its magic. From there, open the door and use the same paper towels or sponge you just microwaved to rub the appliance down. Talk about a dual purpose solution to a typically daunting task!

2. For Medium-Grime

If your microwave is roughly 4 out of 10 on the grime scale, one way to get it squeaky clean with very minimal effort is this quick method. All you need is a lemon, some water, and a microwave-safe bowl. Fill your bowl with about ½ cup of water. Cut the lemon in halves, squeeze the juice into the water and drop the halves into the bowl. Microwave on high for 3 minutes then let sit for 5 minutes. Note – do not open the microwave door! You want that steam trapped in there for the long haul. Once the wait is up, open the door, remove the bowl and wipe clean! If you happen to have a few spots clinging on for dear life, dip a dish towel in the lemon water and target it directly.

3. Really Stuck Food

Maybe your food is just too attached to your microwave to let go. Try creating a paste by mixing baking soda with water. Rub this mixture all over your microwave – leave no corner untouched! No need to turn the microwave on. Let this miracle paste sit on the residue for roughly 5-7 minutes before wiping off. That pesky grease should wipe away with utter ease!

4. Clean & Whiten

Try mixing equal parts vinegar and hot water in a glass measuring cup (usually one cup of each) and setting it in the center of your microwave. Heat on high for 7-10 minutes then let all the steam sit for 3-5 minutes before opening the door. If you haven’t learned by now – steam is your friend! After removing the bowl, use a paper towel to wipe away the mess. You also may notice your microwave went from a dull shade of yellow to bright white in the process!

5. Quick & Easy Every Time

Maybe you are looking for a product that provides a long-term answer to your “how to clean a microwave” question. Angry Mama is here, she’s mad at your mess and she is ready to help. Fill her up with vinegar and water, sit her in your microwave and let her go to work in 5 minutes time. The holes in her head provide a release for the steam to rise (don’t you wish we all had an outlet like that?). Once she’s done letting loose, pull her out and wipe your microwave clean. She’s dishwasher safe so you can wash and use her on your mess over and over again.