Behold the humble microwave—a kitchen staple and an easy, handy appliance for cooking and reheating food, yet it gets very little love or maintenance — sometimes it doesn’t even get a cleaning.
Microwaves are designed to be long-lasting, but they’re not indestructible. To get the most out your microwave’s lifespan, which in some cases could be 20+ years, you need to take care of it. After all, it could well last longer than most of our romantic relationships.
To better enjoy one of the most long-lasting relationships you’ll ever have, here are:
5 Ways to Keep Your Microwave in Great Shape
1. Keep it clean
One of the easiest ways to keep your microwave working for many years is to keep it clean! Microwaves are generally low maintenance, but spills and splashes can easily occur that leave it prone to rusting and other damage. There are plenty of effective ways to clean your microwave, so pick the method that works best for you and give it a regular clean.
2. Be careful what you put in it
Most people understand what can and can’t be put in a microwave. But everyone makes mistakes from time to time, just like that scene in American Hustle where Jennifer Lawrence blows hers up:
But it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with things that can’t be placed in the microwave – with anything metal being one of them! This goes for foil and all things reflective. One mistake could cause your microwave to blow, and could lead to a fire too.
3. Learn how to make easy microwave fixes
Like most appliances, parts of your microwave can become damaged or worn after a while. It’s always worth checking to see if something can be fixed before you rush out to buy a new one. It’s easy to look up how to fix a microwave coupler or where to find a new turntable, saving you some money while also helping to do your bit for sustainability too. Always check your manual to resolve any problems and try and find replacement parts for some easy microwave fixes you can do yourself.
4. Always follow instructions
It’s important to follow instructions for anything you put in the microwave. If you leave something in there for too long (like microwave popcorn), you run the risk of things bubbling over or exploding, which could cause damage to your microwave. Read the instructions, especially if you use a meal delivery kit – it’s the easiest way to cook food safely.
5. Store your microwave somewhere safe
Finally, it’s important to store your microwave somewhere safe. Keep it out of reach of young children and don’t place it somewhere risky like the edge of a countertop. Do not store anything on top of your microwave and keep it away from water sources. There are a lot of built-in microwaves on the market that can be a great way of storing your microwave without it taking up room on your counter.
There are all sorts of relatively easy ways to keep your microwave in great shape — if you take good care of it, it might be one of your longest lasting relationships!