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Health Health 10

Clean your microwave safely

All Practically Green: 525 or so people have DONE this action so far.

All Practically Green: 34 or so people have ADDED this to their action plan so far.

Why is "Clean your microwave safely" green?

It’s a pain to clean the inside of a microwave. Whatever you have to do to get the zapped on gunk out of there, don’t use a conventional cleaner! When you clean with them, they leave behind residues that can get in the air you breathe but also the food you’re heating. Most chemicals in these products should not be heated to the temperatures generated by a microwave.

It’s difficult to know exactly what a cleaner contains as cleaning product formulas are currently considered government-protected trade secrets. Manufacturers aren’t required to disclose their contents to consumers. So they don’t. Sometimes there are warning labels like “danger” “poison” “toxic” or “hazardous.” These are best not sprayed in a microwave. Generally speaking conventional cleaners contain hazardous, often petroleum-derived, chemicals including ammonia, glycol ethers, synthetic fragrances, and even the synthetic antibacterial agent triclosan—which have been linked to cancer, asthma, hormone disruption, liver and kidney damage, and more.

Using a natural cleaner reduces your exposure to these chemicals and keeps their residues out of our waterways. But when it comes to cleaning a microwave, it’s just as easy—and very safe—to rely on a few household staples.

How to: Clean your microwave safely

Either place a half of a lemon or distilled white vinegar with water in a microwave-friendly bowl (preferably glass). Heat for five minutes. The steam generated by either mixture will loosen food residue. Wipe it away with a damp cloth. The lemon will leave behind an especially pleasant fresh natural scent.

  • Seventh Generation Kitchen Cleaner
    • (0 Ratings)

    Earning high marks from GoodGuide, this biodegradable spray cleans up gunk without harmful ingredients like chlorine, petroleum based solvents, glycol ethers, phosphates, acids, caustics or dyes for a non-toxic kitchen smelling of wild orange and cedar spice--yes, please!

  • Spectrum Organic White Distilled Vinegar
    • (0 Ratings)

    The ultimate multi-tasker, distilled vinegar can be used for everything from salad dressings to bug repellent to household cleaners. Invest a few extra cents to buy organic and take comfort in knowing the raw ingredients were intensively sprayed or genetically modified.