It's springtime, and we are all busy getting our kitchens scrubbed and beautiful and shining in preparation for the fun summer months ahead! One thing you definitely don't want to neglect is your microwave! I don't' know about you, but this is definitely one of my least favorite chores- but also one of the most awarding. I love having a clean microwave, and let's be honest it's probably healthier too!

I have a cleaning chart that I refer to daily, with some chores coming up once a week- my microwave is one of them. I have found that if I stay on top of cleaning it and make it a weekly priority, it doesn't get nearly as nasty as when I let it sit for a few weeks….or months. Be honest with yourself- when's the last time you cleaned out your microwave? It just so happens that it's been a couple weeks since I cleaned mine- and I hate putting up with it! If you think about it, dirty microwaves are just plain disgusting.

Why put up with this:

(Disclaimer- this is NOT my microwave haha;) )

When you could have this in just five minutes??

Here are a few tips for keeping your microwave clean and making the clean-up process a cinch if it gets away from you too long;).

-Wipe things off while they're still moist! You cook a bowl of soup or chili and BOOM! It explodes and your whole microwave is covered in disgustingness. I'm pretty sure we have all been guilty at least once of just walking away, thinking we'll worry about it later. But in truth, it's going to be SO much easier to clean food off if you clean it off when it's still moist and fresh! It may take a few seconds now, but it will be worth it in the long run! Get in the habit of wiping out your microwave after every use, as needed.

-Avoid heating things that will explode. Chili's, soups, oatmeal, eggs, etc. have a nasty habit of exploding or overflowing when you reheat/cook them. If you can, try cooking or reheating them on the stove. It may take a little longer, but you'll be saving yourself a huge mess! If a stove is not an option, use a large enough bowl that things will not overflow, or cover your food using a plate large enough to sit on the dish. I have also used napkins or paper towels to cover food.

-Make your microwave work for you! I have been cleaning my microwave just using a basic cleaner and letting it soak until I could get the gunk off. Until I realized that I have totally been missing out and could have saved myself so much hassle by using a different method that literally takes 5 minutes or less! Here are a few of the methods I have seen:

-Cut a lemon in half and place it on a plate with the cut halves face down. Add about a tablespoon of water and microwave it for 1 minute or until it is steamy. Wipe out the microwave

-Grab a microwave safe bowl and fill it with water and dish soap. Microwave the water until it is steaming (about a minute), and then remove the bowl and wipe out the microwave.

-Fill a bowl with 1-2 cups of water and 1-2 tablespoons of vinegar. Microwave for 5 minutes. For a particularly dirty microwave, don't pull the bowl out when the timer goes off- allow it to sit steaming for another couple of minutes. Remove the bowl and wipe out microwave.

I don't think any of these are right or wrong- you could probably even do a combination of them! The vinegar method definitely seemed to be the most popular, and I feel like it would probably be the most effective if you have a really gunky microwave. Another recommendation was to add a couple drops of essential oil (like lemon, orange or lavender) if you don't want your microwave smelling like vinegar or dish soap;).

What other tips would you guys add for keeping a clean microwave? And how do you clean your microwave when things get a little gunky;)? Comment below!