A hot and cheesy snack, a warm dessert, or a quick meal, they're all brought to you by the microwave. A working microwave is a beautiful thing.

We want to help keep yours cooking. Let's look at some of the most common microwave issues and how to fix them, along with some cleaning and care tips.

CLEANING
Interior
Cleaning soil build-up from the interior of your microwave helps prevent arcing damage (seen as sparks or flashing). For spills and stains that aren't too stuck on, use mild soap and water with a soft cloth or sponge. Make sure you clean the turntable with soap and water as well. Then thoroughly dry the whole area with a soft or microfiber cloth.

For more stuck on stains, put one cup of water in a microwave safe cup and run the microwave for 3 to 5 minutes. This will help loosen the debris. Then clean with mild soap and water.

Exterior
To clean a traditional control or keypad, use mild soap and water or affresh® Kitchen and Appliance Cleaner with a soft cloth or sponge, and dry completely with a soft or microfiber cloth. To clean a glass control or keypad, use a glass cleaner or affresh® Kitchen and Appliance Cleaner with a soft cloth or sponge.

How you clean the full exterior of the microwave depends on what type of finish it has.

For traditional stainless steel, it's important not to use paper towels or any abrasive cleaners, sponges or washcloths. Instead, use affresh® Stainless Steel cleaner on a microfiber cloth, wiping in the direction of the grain. You can also use liquid detergent and warm water for this. To polish it off, use affresh® Stainless Steel wipes, or use a clean, dry towel to polish the surface in the direction of the grain until it shines.

For black stainless steel and fingerprint resistant stainless steel, you also want to avoid abrasive cleaning methods. Use warm water and mild soap or detergent. Wipe and dry.

For painted and metallic paint surfaces, use mild soap and water or affresh® Kitchen and Appliance Cleaner and a soft cloth or sponge. Avoid abrasive cleaning methods.

Removing odors
A funny smell coming from your microwave? There's an easy fix for that. Heat 1 cup (250 mL) of water with 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of either lemon juice or vinegar for 2 to 5 minutes in the microwave. Then clean the interior with warm water and a mild detergent, and dry it completely with a microfiber cloth.

Cleaning or replacing filters
You'll find the grease filters on the underside of the microwave. These should be cleaned with mild soap and water every month or according to the filter status indicator.

You'll find the charcoal filter behind the vent grille at the top front of the microwave oven. This filter can't be cleaned, but should instead be replaced every six months or according to the filter status indicator.

CONDENSATION
Condensation in the door or in the interior are perfectly normal, but there are some ways to reduce it. Here are some things to try:

Cover food. This helps retain moisture, shorten cook time, and reduce spattering.
If there's a lid for the container, use it. This also helps with moisture, cook time, and spattering.
When using plastic wrap, turn back one corner to vent steam.

NOISES
Thumping or rumbling
This is likely coming from the turntable. Make sure it's been installed correctly and the support roller assembly is operating properly.

NOT OPERATING
Here are some things to check:

Is your unit plugged into an inverter or some other power source? The power provided might not be enough for the heating source. Plug the unit into a wall outlet and try again.

• The control may be locked.
• The timer might have been set accidentally. Press Cancel to stop it.
• The door might not be fully closed. Make sure nothing is blocking the door lock, and close it firmly.
• If the microwave is working but the turntable isn't spinning, check for proper turntable installation

DOOR ISSUES
If your door won't close, first check to be sure nothing is blocking the door lock. You may also need to clean the door contact area. Then ensure your microwave is on a level surface. An uneven surface could be preventing your door from opening. Last but not least, make sure the door release button has been pushed hard.

SPARKING, FLASHING OR SMOKE CONCERNS
Smoke during broiling or grilling cycles is normal, as is some sparking. General sparking and flashing, however, can be serious. Here are some possible causes.

Items are not microwave safe
Uh-oh, items that are not microwave safe have been put in the microwave. This includes metal items, aluminum foil, silver, pewter, non-approved meat thermometers, skewers, twist ties, foil liners, and objects with gold or silver trim or a metallic glaze. Remove them right away.

Baking or cooking trays
When baking trays or cooking racks are left in the microwave during cycles that don't require them, sparking and flashing can happen. Remove them to prevent permanent damage.

Certain vegetables
Vegetables high in minerals can create an arcing effect in the food itself. 

Soil build-up
Soil build-up inside the microwave can cause sparking and flashing. Use mild soap and warm water with a soft cloth or sponge to remove it.

Source: amana.com.

A hot and cheesy snack, a warm dessert, or a quick meal, they're all brought to you by the microwave. A working microwave is a beautiful thing.

We want to help keep yours cooking. Let's look at some of the most common microwave issues and how to fix them, along with some cleaning and care tips.

CLEANING
Interior
Cleaning soil build-up from the interior of your microwave helps prevent arcing damage (seen as sparks or flashing). For spills and stains that aren't too stuck on, use mild soap and water with a soft cloth or sponge. Make sure you clean the turntable with soap and water as well. Then thoroughly dry the whole area with a soft or microfiber cloth.

For more stuck on stains, put one cup of water in a microwave safe cup and run the microwave for 3 to 5 minutes. This will help loosen the debris. Then clean with mild soap and water.

Exterior
To clean a traditional control or keypad, use mild soap and water or affresh® Kitchen and Appliance Cleaner with a soft cloth or sponge, and dry completely with a soft or microfiber cloth. To clean a glass control or keypad, use a glass cleaner or affresh® Kitchen and Appliance Cleaner with a soft cloth or sponge.

How you clean the full exterior of the microwave depends on what type of finish it has.

For traditional stainless steel, it's important not to use paper towels or any abrasive cleaners, sponges or washcloths. Instead, use affresh® Stainless Steel cleaner on a microfiber cloth, wiping in the direction of the grain. You can also use liquid detergent and warm water for this. To polish it off, use affresh® Stainless Steel wipes, or use a clean, dry towel to polish the surface in the direction of the grain until it shines.

For black stainless steel and fingerprint resistant stainless steel, you also want to avoid abrasive cleaning methods. Use warm water and mild soap or detergent. Wipe and dry.

For painted and metallic paint surfaces, use mild soap and water or affresh® Kitchen and Appliance Cleaner and a soft cloth or sponge. Avoid abrasive cleaning methods.

Removing odors
A funny smell coming from your microwave? There's an easy fix for that. Heat 1 cup (250 mL) of water with 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of either lemon juice or vinegar for 2 to 5 minutes in the microwave. Then clean the interior with warm water and a mild detergent, and dry it completely with a microfiber cloth.

Cleaning or replacing filters
You'll find the grease filters on the underside of the microwave. These should be cleaned with mild soap and water every month or according to the filter status indicator.

You'll find the charcoal filter behind the vent grille at the top front of the microwave oven. This filter can't be cleaned, but should instead be replaced every six months or according to the filter status indicator.

CONDENSATION
Condensation in the door or in the interior are perfectly normal, but there are some ways to reduce it. Here are some things to try:

Cover food. This helps retain moisture, shorten cook time, and reduce spattering.
If there's a lid for the container, use it. This also helps with moisture, cook time, and spattering.
When using plastic wrap, turn back one corner to vent steam.

NOISES
Thumping or rumbling
This is likely coming from the turntable. Make sure it's been installed correctly and the support roller assembly is operating properly.

NOT OPERATING
Here are some things to check:

Is your unit plugged into an inverter or some other power source? The power provided might not be enough for the heating source. Plug the unit into a wall outlet and try again.

• The control may be locked.
• The timer might have been set accidentally. Press Cancel to stop it.
• The door might not be fully closed. Make sure nothing is blocking the door lock, and close it firmly.
• If the microwave is working but the turntable isn't spinning, check for proper turntable installation

DOOR ISSUES
If your door won't close, first check to be sure nothing is blocking the door lock. You may also need to clean the door contact area. Then ensure your microwave is on a level surface. An uneven surface could be preventing your door from opening. Last but not least, make sure the door release button has been pushed hard.

SPARKING, FLASHING OR SMOKE CONCERNS
Smoke during broiling or grilling cycles is normal, as is some sparking. General sparking and flashing, however, can be serious. Here are some possible causes.

Items are not microwave safe
Uh-oh, items that are not microwave safe have been put in the microwave. This includes metal items, aluminum foil, silver, pewter, non-approved meat thermometers, skewers, twist ties, foil liners, and objects with gold or silver trim or a metallic glaze. Remove them right away.

Baking or cooking trays
When baking trays or cooking racks are left in the microwave during cycles that don't require them, sparking and flashing can happen. Remove them to prevent permanent damage.

Certain vegetables
Vegetables high in minerals can create an arcing effect in the food itself. 

Soil build-up
Soil build-up inside the microwave can cause sparking and flashing. Use mild soap and warm water with a soft cloth or sponge to remove it.

Source: amana.com.