Novah / The ten-minute tidy
How to clean a microwave. Goodbye, mystery splatters.
That tomato splatter has had enough screen time. A little dish soap, a damp cloth and a clean turntable are usually all you need. We will do the door edges too, because the middle of the cavity is only half the job.
Go to the steps
Take out the plate. Wipe gently. Rinse and dry.
Switch off, unplug and let the microwave cool. Wash the removable glass plate in warm dish-soap water. Wipe the cavity and door seals with a well-wrung cloth, soften stubborn splashes by holding the damp cloth against them, then wipe away soap with clean water. Dry and refit the ring and plate. Keep water out of vents and never remove the casing.
The job, at a glance
A wipe-down you can finish before lunch
For an ordinary countertop microwave, including the Samsung MS23K3523 family sold in Finland. This is the cool-appliance wipe method, with no heated cleaning bowl.
- A routine clean
- 10–15 minOur estimate for light food splashes.
- Wet wipe + dry finish
- 2 clothsAn existing soft cloth and tea towel work too.
- Cleaning heat cycles
- 0The damp cloth does the softening.
Samsung MS23K3523: keep the door seal clean
The series manual calls for a soft cloth, mild detergent and a rinse-and-dry finish. Clean the mating surfaces around the door, the roller ring and turntable. Do not scrub the cavity with abrasives, soak the vents or remove its protective covers.
Buy only what is missing
Two ordinary things. No fancy spray.
Make a bowl of warm water with a small drop of Fairy Original. You want lightly soapy water, not a foam party. Rinse the cloth often and wring it out before it goes near the cavity.
A practical choice
Fairy Original dishwashing liquid
654 ml bottle
A small drop in your wiping water, and for washing the glass plate.
A practical choice
SINI Yleisliina microfiber cloth
One 30 × 30 cm cloth
A well-wrung soft cloth for walls, door edges and the exterior.
Retailer prices were checked on the dates shown and may change. These are shopping suggestions, not products sold by Novah. Check delivery and local store stock before buying.
01 / Before you start
Let the hot bits become cool bits.
A glass plate can be hot long after the timer beeps. Let it cool before moving it into washing water.
Power off
Unplug with dry hands. Leave the door open while working, and move sharp objects or messy containers out of the way.
Gentle soap water
Use ordinary hand dish soap. Do not use oven cleaner, steel wool, abrasive cream or a steam-cleaning machine inside a microwave.
Door condition
If the door, hinge, latch or seal is damaged, stop using the oven and arrange repair. Cleaning cannot repair a door that fails to close properly.
02 / The steps
The plate, the splashes, the edges.
Work from the loose parts to the cavity. A clean section of cloth stops you moving yesterday's sauce to a new wall.
Remove the cool plate and ring.
Lift out the glass turntable and its roller ring. Note how the plate sits on the central coupler. Remove loose crumbs with a dry cloth. Leave fixed covers, the lamp and the casing in place.
Guidance from: Samsung · MS23K3523 series manual, cleaning (opens in a new tab)
Wash the glass plate in the sink.
Use warm water, a small amount of Fairy Original and a dish brush or soft sponge. Clean both sides and the centre recess. Rinse well and towel-dry. Wipe the roller ring with a damp cloth, including the small wheels.
Guidance from: Martat · microwave cleaning (opens in a new tab)
Wipe the ceiling, walls and floor.
Dip the cloth in the mild soap water and wring it out until it does not drip. Wipe the ceiling first, then walls and floor. Fold to a clean face as it picks up food. Do not push moisture into vents or the side cover.
Soften, rather than scrape, the stubborn bits.
Hold a warm damp section of cloth against a stuck splash until it softens, then wipe gently. Repeat the contact if needed. The softening time varies with the food; try a short contact and check it rather than leaving a cloth to dry on the surface.
No metal scraper. No sharp blade. The tomato sauce is not worth a damaged cavity.
Guidance from: Martat · microwave cleaning (opens in a new tab)
Clean the door's meeting surfaces.
Wipe the inside of the door and the surrounding frame, including the areas that meet when it closes. Use very little moisture around the latches and control panel. Remove visible crumbs from seal edges without pulling the seals.
Guidance from: Samsung · MS23K3523 series manual, cleaning (opens in a new tab)
Remove soap, dry and put the plate back.
Rinse the cloth in clean water, wring it and wipe all soapy surfaces again. Dry with a clean towel. Refit the roller ring and seat the plate securely. Check the door closes normally before reconnecting power.
Keep the clean simple.
A bowl that boils dry
Internet steam recipes vary in power, bowl size and time. This routine needs no heating, so there is no hot cleaning bowl to lift out.
Spraying straight into the controls
Put moisture on the cloth and wring it out. Spray and running water do not belong in ventilation openings or buttons.
Leaving the glass plate wet
Rinse and dry its underside too. Seat it correctly so it can rotate smoothly rather than wobbling on the ring.
03 / The finishing touch
Lunch gets a fresh stage.
Open the door and look at the ceiling and the door edges, not just the shiny plate. Use a microwave-safe food cover next time to keep splashes contained.
- No loose food on the ceiling or floor.
- The seal surfaces are clean and the door closes normally.
- Plate and ring are dry, correctly seated and free of soap.
04 / Questions
Questions
Must I use lemon or vinegar?
No. Martat's everyday method uses a damp cloth and dishwashing liquid. Gentle contact with a warm damp cloth loosens splashes without a heated bowl.
Guidance from: Martat · microwave cleaning (opens in a new tab)
What about an unpleasant smell?
First wash the plate and remove actual food from the ceiling, corners and door edges. A deodorising programme, if your exact model has one, does not replace removing residue. A burning or electrical smell is a reason to stop and get the appliance checked.
Can I clean the little cover on the side?
Gently wipe its visible surface with the well-wrung cloth. Do not remove, soak or scrape it. If it is burnt or damaged, arrange service before using the oven.
How often is this needed?
Wipe fresh splashes once the oven is cool, wash the food cover after use and do the full plate-and-door routine when residue builds up. Little and often is much easier than excavating dried sauce.
Guidance from: Martat · microwave cleaning (opens in a new tab)Samsung · MS23K3523 series manual, cleaning (opens in a new tab)
Sources & material instructions
Novah
Leave the rest of the home to us.
Keep this guide for the small jobs between visits. If you would like help with everyday home cleaning in Helsinki, Espoo or Vantaa, tell us what your home needs. Specialist appliance servicing and textile restoration are separate tasks.
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