When it comes to dining, the real taste is truly experienced when the food is hot. That is why most of the employees crave warm food after long hours of working. Even if they cook it before leaving their homes, it will not be as warm as it was.

Some may have their lunches packed in the morning. Some would have bought sandwiches and were stored in the office refrigerator for snacks. Good thing, the microwave is there to the rescue.

Office microwaves are probably one of the best office appliances. It reheats food and it is a convenient way to grab hot meals or prepare a good lunch. 

However, unlike regular utensils, microwaves are not a priority when it comes to cleaning. Pasta sauce splash and bread crumbs are mostly left for days and even weeks without someone taking notice of it. This unsanitary habit would cause the microwave to be breeding grounds for germs and cause certain diseases if not brought to attention.

So, here we present to you the guidelines for microwave etiquette at work. This will minimize microwave mess and help ensure that you are keeping a clean and safe environment for your employees.

Microwave Etiquette

1. Dishes like soups and pasta sauces splatter when you heat them up. To avoid this, cover the food with foil or use a microwave-safe Tupperware or plastic containers.
2. Wipe down food spots in the microwave. Wipe down inner microwave stains as they tend to spoil food and attract bugs. 
3. Don’t leave food inside the microwave. Leaving food inside would inhibit other people from heating up their food. 
4. Don’t take someone else’s food early. 
5.  Reset the microwave back to basic settings. Just like refilling the office kettle, resetting the office microwave would be considerate to the next person who will use it. 
6. Don’t reheat smelly food in your office microwave. It will leave a smell and that would be inconsiderate to your coworkers. If it is inevitable, use the microwave that is farthest from your working area.
7.  Keep it short. Use the microwave no longer than three minutes. Always think of the next person who wants to use the microwave. Using it for a longer time would delay them and leave only a little time for their lunch break. 
8. If your food splatters (in case of sauce and soup), and it drips inside the microwave walls, you are responsible for cleaning it up. Don’t wait for other people to call you out on this. It is your responsibility to clean it up for the next user. 
9. Post a sign to remind your employees of the office microwave rules and cleaning procedures.  

Office Microwave Cleaning Tips

The goal in cleaning the microwave is to keep it clean, hygienic, and free from lingering food smells. Here we compiled some helpful tips:

1. Make your cleaning products visible
   1. Putting up the cleaning products in the line of sight of your employees will make it easier for them to clean and be reminded of their responsibility of keeping the appliance clean for the next user. Put a hook or a cabinet where you could place the materials. It would be best if it is beside the posted sign for microwave etiquette. 
2. Clean the office microwave daily
   1. Cleaning every after use would be great, but it would be best if you have a final clean at the end of the day. Multiple lunches can result in built up grease and grime, even after quick wipes. Clean it up using a sponge or clean cloth. Deep Clean the microwave on a regular schedule
   2. Depending on how much the office microwave is used, a weekly, monthly, or quarterly deep clean is a good idea. Deep cleaning involves steaming the microwave with the use of natural ingredients and wiping it down after. Steaming cleaning the microwave with lemon or vinegar will surely remove the lingering food smell. 

Microwave Deep Cleaning Using Natural Ingredients

Cleaning gurus recommend steam cleaning to deep clean the microwave. To do this, it is best to use natural ingredients to avoid unnecessary chemicals staying inside the microwave. Here are some of the effective cleaning ingredients you can use to keep your office microwave clean, hygienic, and odor free: vinegar and lemon. 

Vinegar Cleaning

Materials to use: 

• One cup of water
• One cup of vinegar
• Microwave safe bowl
• Cloth or sponge

Step 1: Mix one cup of water with one cup of vinegar in a microwave safe bowl.

Step 2: Place the mixture in the microwave and turn it on. Set the timer between five to ten minutes, depending on how powerful your microwave setting is. 

Step 3: Remove the microwave safe bowl carefully from the microwave once the timer sets off.

Step 4: Take a cloth or sponge and wipe the insides of the microwave. The steam has loosened the dirt inside so it would be easy to wipe them off. You don’t need to scrub it anymore. 

Step 5: Don’t forget to clean the outside of the microwave. Use the vinegar mixture or antibacterial spray to clean the door, door handle, and outside walls of the microwave. 

Lemon Cleaning

Some people may be allergic or sensitive to vinegar, so the best available alternative is to use lemon juice. 

Materials to use:

• Water
• Lemon (juice or essential oil)
• Spray bottle
• Sponge 

Step 1: Mix water with 2 teaspoons of lemon juice. If you are using lemon essential oil, you may use a few drops. 

Step 2: Spray the lemon mixture inside the microwave. Cover the inside walls completely, especially the top. The dirt is always worse on the top of the microwave. 

Step 3: Pour the rest of the mixture on the sponge. Make sure that the sponge is fully saturated. 

Step 4: Place the sponge inside the microwave. Turn on the microwave and set the timer to two minutes. 

Step 5: Once done, leave the sponge inside the microwave with the door closed, for a few minutes. 

Step 6: Open the door and use the sponge to wipe down the inside walls of the microwave.

Step 7: Use an antibacterial spray to clean the outside walls of the microwave.

Keeping the office kitchen appliances clean is a big step to maintaining a clean and healthy working environment. It may be difficult at first, but in the long run, it will surely benefit everyone.

For more office cleaning tips, don’t hesitate to reach out to us!