Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Survey

I'm taking a survey out of curiosity. I want to know how often you clean you microwave. I know that Cleanin' Cuz '75 and Brother and Mrs. Clean clean theirs all the time. I personally do not do that. When I open the microwave and can pretty much serve my family a three-course meal from the contents baked onto the walls, then I know it's time to clean it... or when Cleanin' Cuz, her mom (my aunt), or Brother and Mrs. Clean come to visit of course.

Please everyone, even those of you who lurk about out there and never make yourselves known, pick a number!!

1. Microwave? What's a microwave?
2. Have one, don't cook!!
3. Clean it everytime I use it whether it needs it or not!
4. Clean it once a day!
5. Clean it after every spill!
6. Clean it on a certain day each week!
7. Clean it when company comes!
8. Clean it when I feel like it!
9. Clean it after a couple weeks and a few overflows!
10. Clean it when the stuff on top starts falling in my food!
11. Like me, clean it when you can feed your family a three-course (or bigger) meal from the contents!!

This is personally one of my top-five most-hated household chores...dusting, mopping, laundry, microwave, putting clean dishes away!!

14 comments:

Inkling said...

I'm an 8. Henry David has a habit of microwaving food without using plates, which is rather messy. If I cleaned it every time it mysteriously got messy, I'd be breaking out the windex every day. So I decided it's much nicer to be an 8.

Anonymous said...

I'm #5. But my kids are #1. So I wind up cleaning their messes too.

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

I have to confess that I'm a 10. A perfect 10?

I've improved though. I used to just toss the old one every time the food encrusted vents caused it to no longer function. =P

Caslon said...

I would say I'm a 7.
We probably have company about once a month... so that's when I actually care. When it's just us it doesn't bother me. My sister in law told me that magic erasers work great for cleaning the mic - and faster than spraying and waiting for things to soften up so you can wipe them off. I have yet to try this... no company on schedule any time soon. But I think it's a good idea.

Nan said...

I'm an 8. I got one of those plastic covers for microwaving food, and it cuts way down on splatters so I don't have to do it so often. But if you have something in there that steams a lot it's a good time to clean it. I've been tempted to microwave a washcloth to see if that would work.
-Cate

FarmWife said...

I'm a #10 kind of gal. In fact, the last time my mic was cleaned, was when Busha came to baby sit the boys and I had my ultrasound...

The best part is, I didn't realize it until the next day. I went to pop in my oatmeal and relized my microwave looked funny. That's when it hit me, the "funny look" was cleanliness! How gross is that?

Anonymous said...

Numbers 5 and 7 takes care of me. Of course, I just had to get a new one. After 20 some years of faithful service my first one gave up on me. SOOO, the new one is getting more care than usual.

Anonymous said...

Girl Friends, a cup or mug of water brought to a boil will clean it amazingly quick.

zann said...

I'm a #9 person, We use it but it is most often for heating up veggies or defrosting, so it doesn't get terribly messy to my feelings. If I'm on a cleaning binge of my kitchen or have dishes that have to be hand-washed (normally a dishwasher kinda girl) I'll throw the plate from the microwave in with that and clean the microwave while I'm at it. I'd say it averages out to about once or twice a month that our microwave gets cleaned.

Lauren said...

Funny you would open this can of worms...

I'm an 8, which really probably mens a 9 1/2. I just cleaned mine on Saturdy, and I think I broke it. Or else it was just really BAD timing for a fuse to blow. The thing is only 3 1/2 years old... came with the house. The clock and timer work, but the mic itself isn't working. The under-mic lights and fan are not working either (it's above the oven). anybody have a mechanical hubby or dad that knows where to begin in fixing microwaves?

crt said...

#7 when my family packs their bags and pays a visit.
#8 when computer guy's family stops by. no offense lauren, caslon and tech mom. you all complain less.
my mom (who religiously cleans everything including the microwave) advised me to boil water in it. the steam loosens the grime and wipes it away easily. nice if you don't have a magic eraser around.

Lauren said...

I'll take that as a compliment. In fact, I can't remember specifically ever cleaning my microwave for you guys, etiher. I can't remember the last time I cleaned it before this weekend. And if things are going to die on me when I clean them, why bother? Maybe the microwave wanted to be filthy. Argh...

Farm Fairy & Bruno said...

#5 And then on cleaning day...steam it and a good polish.. If given the choice I never clean!!! But hence I like being married.

happymcfamily said...

I'm an 8. I've found the easiest way to get it clean is not to use any particular sort of cleaner, but to steam-clean it. Put some water in a bowl with a paper towel over it. Let the paper towel touch the water. I've forgotten the magic amount of time to keep it in the microwave (after all, I only clean it when I feel like it). I think 3 minutes? It has to get hot enough to create steam. Be careful because it will be hot, but you can use the paper towel (that should be drenched with water now) to clean the microwave. Hopefully steam droplets have coated the microwave. Even 3 course meals usually wipe right off.