5 Unknown Uses of Microwave Ovens and Cleaning Tips

Below you will find 5 uses of a microwave oven that you have never thought about. We usually consider that the only use of microwave oven is to cook or heat-up food. See 5 more uses of this electrical device that will open your eyes. Also, at the end of this article we offer great tips for cleaning your oven with natural ingredients.

5 Surprising Uses of Microwave Ovens 

1) Dry your herbs

If you want to dry some herbs, put them in a dish, cover it with a lid and place in the oven for 30 seconds. Remove and check. If you want to dry them more, put back in the oven and leave for another 30 seconds and remove. Repeat the process until your herbs are in the form you want.

2) Turn solid sugar into powder

If your brown sugar has turned into a hard solid mass, don’t throw it away. Sugar does not get spoiled that easily. Put it in the microwave oven in a bowl and spread over a wet towel. Leave it there for 15 seconds and will become as it was the first day you bought it.

3) Give life to your dried mascara

What we need to do in this situation is to remove the brush from your mascara and place in the oven only the tube. Put the tube in the oven next to a cup of water. The moisture from the water will give life again to your mascara. Leave the tube in the oven for just 5 seconds.

4) Disinfect the kitchen sponge

This easy tip is to get rid of the germs that lurk in the kitchen sponge thus protecting your health and giving longer life to your sponge.

According to surveys, the kitchen sponge for dishes is a hidden source of infection and its surface may contain over 10 million bacteria! Although this information seems unbelievable, just consider how many things you clean with the same sponge, such as dirty dishes, kitchen counters, appliances, cabinets etc.

To disinfect your kitchen sponge, you only have to follow a simple sterilization process: first, rinse the sponge with cold water and dish washing detergent. Then, drain well and place in a bowl that you have previously filled with cold water. Place the bowl in a high temperature in the microwave oven and leave it there for 2-3 minutes. That way, you will be able to wipe out the germs and since the heat from the oven kills most bacteria. Finally, remove the bowl from the oven wearing special gloves and wait for the water to cool down before removing the sterilized sponge from the bowl.

5) Disinfect Cutting Boards

Similar to disinfecting kitchen sponges as described above, the cutting boards can also be disinfected in the microwave oven. Wash the cutting board well, and scrub a slice of lemon on the side that is cut. Microwave the board for a minute and the board will be fully disinfected.

Microwave Oven Cleaning Tips

Do you always forget to clean the microwave oven in your kitchen? Do you smell a not-so-pleasant odor whenever you open the door of the oven?

Below you will find some quick and easy tips to clean your oven and remove the odor with natural ingredients that you already have in the house.

Use Lemon

Place a cup of water and a lemon cut in half in a bowl and place in microwave on high power for 3-4 minutes. Then let the bowl in the oven for 10-15 minutes before opening the door. Finally, remove the bowl, wipe the walls with a clean cloth and say goodbye to bad smells! The lemon has incredible uses, such as disinfecting and removing odors.

Use Vinegar

Alternatively, white or red vinegar will help you to kill bacteria and bad odors from your microwave.

Pour 1 tbsp white vinegar on a sponge for dishes and place in the microwave for a few minutes before wiping the walls with a cloth. The vinegar will soften the dried food waste and neutralize odors.