Most microwaves can be fixed easily – they are pretty much identical inside and the failures are well-documented – but it’s not a good idea to try without prior electronics experience. And yes, many end up trashed just because of this.
I could have been clearer but the last sentence of my comment does refer to cleaning. There’s plenty of working high voltage transformers in roadside microwave ovens either way.
And yes, many end up trashed just because of this.
Because of cleaning them?
e: oh, you mean because of the vinegar?
Sorry? I misunderstood. I don’t think heating vinegar a couple of times a year causes issues, right? Otherwise there should be warnings against German takeout?
It feels like vinegar in food would be more common than a few times heating a cup of it, right?
I think most people do this pretty rarely – or is that actually enough? I’m really curious now.
You’re not making any sense. Your comments are still not about cleaning; nothing of what you say regards cleaning. I think you’re a bot that doesn’t understand what the context of this thread is about.
I’m saying that people throw out dirty microwaves because they are too lazy to get them cleaned.
Okay, apologies for suspecting you for a bot, but that was not clear at all. The only interpretation of your comment in my mind is that people throw away their microwaves because they can’t fix the electronics inside, even after your explaining that you mean cleaning. There’s just no other way for me to interpret the words.
I challenge anyone to show me where there’s a reference to cleaning, and I will yield 😆
I was very tired when writing that, not realizing that “Lots od people would throw it out instead. Good job!” and only then going on the repairability rant would be way more effective.
Heating up soup or water in a microwave to releases steam and is a normal use of a microwave. Doing it with vinegar gets rid of some smells and the steam makes dried on stuff easier to wipe out for cleaning.
That’s why I said long enough to stream but not boil. I just recently found out that too much moisture internally and door slamming are terribly bad for microwave ovens. So my question to you, mighty microwave mage, is reheating beverages and soup bad for my new microwave (it was old and the men in my family had a propensity for slamming doors while hurrying) and lemon water until steamy actively damaging my microwave?
Steam will condense on the metal chamber and cause corrosion, better wipe it every time. You can also fix a big bag of silica gel inside as a “reservoir” to regulate moisture levels: when heating something mostly dry, it will heat up and evaporate some of its accumulated moisture, and when heating steamy liquids, collect the moisture from saturated air.
As for slamming the door: door switches and latches are standard and cheap, and you can replace them without touching any high voltage parts.
No, I hadn’t read it until now, but it was a fascinating read, thanks!
I know zed about electronics, so I’ll be respecting my ignorance and leaving that alone, but that’s good to know. I’m not sure what ailed my old one, but I suspect it was the door latch. It had begun with the plate turning after the timer beeped and food removed a year or so ago, but I hadn’t wanted to spend for another, then about a month later behaved normally again until a month ago. I put in some food for a fur baby and hit “add 30 seconds” and within five of those a huge “pop” and very bright flash. It looked like a fireball rather than an arc and scared the wind from me! I immediately unplugged the poor thing and warily opened the door. I looked at the same ceramic ramikan my pet always uses for wet food, stunned, and at the huge scorch-mark inside the microwave in dismay. My baby got kibble and cold wet food the rest of the week, until I got another microwave. In the betwixt time, I was researching in case there was some simple fix but couldn’t find the exact problem, so money was spent. With tariffs price-jacking, my $50 microwave went to the recycle center, and became a $100 new one. But you’ve delighted me with your calm replies amid the vitriol of confident incorrectness and clearly superior knowledge! I hearby dub thee the official Lemmy Microwave Mage, and thanks for the lesson! 🧙♀️🪄
Eta my atrocity of forgotten manners due to excitement strikes again! My apologies, and thanks so much for the silicone packet tip.
Most microwaves can be fixed easily – they are pretty much identical inside and the failures are well-documented – but it’s not a good idea to try without prior electronics experience. And yes, many end up trashed just because of this.
Edit: “this” meaning “grime”
You might have misread but this post is about cleaning
I could have been clearer but the last sentence of my comment does refer to cleaning. There’s plenty of working high voltage transformers in roadside microwave ovens either way.
Because of cleaning them?
e: oh, you mean because of the vinegar?
Sorry? I misunderstood. I don’t think heating vinegar a couple of times a year causes issues, right? Otherwise there should be warnings against German takeout?
It feels like vinegar in food would be more common than a few times heating a cup of it, right?
I think most people do this pretty rarely – or is that actually enough? I’m really curious now.
No, because they are dirty. People are so lazy they will often buy a new one instead of cleaning it.
You’re not making any sense. Your comments are still not about cleaning; nothing of what you say regards cleaning. I think you’re a bot that doesn’t understand what the context of this thread is about.
I’m saying that people throw out dirty microwaves because they are too lazy to get them cleaned.
Woah, let’s not jump to conclusions
Okay, apologies for suspecting you for a bot, but that was not clear at all. The only interpretation of your comment in my mind is that people throw away their microwaves because they can’t fix the electronics inside, even after your explaining that you mean cleaning. There’s just no other way for me to interpret the words.
I challenge anyone to show me where there’s a reference to cleaning, and I will yield 😆
I was very tired when writing that, not realizing that “Lots od people would throw it out instead. Good job!” and only then going on the repairability rant would be way more effective.
What are you even talking about?
Heating up soup or water in a microwave to releases steam and is a normal use of a microwave. Doing it with vinegar gets rid of some smells and the steam makes dried on stuff easier to wipe out for cleaning.
This will not harm the microwave.
I’m saying that people throw out dirty microwaves because they are lazy.
That’s why I said long enough to stream but not boil. I just recently found out that too much moisture internally and door slamming are terribly bad for microwave ovens. So my question to you, mighty microwave mage, is reheating beverages and soup bad for my new microwave (it was old and the men in my family had a propensity for slamming doors while hurrying) and lemon water until steamy actively damaging my microwave?
Thank you. I see you’ve read my comment on metal in a microwave.
Steam will condense on the metal chamber and cause corrosion, better wipe it every time. You can also fix a big bag of silica gel inside as a “reservoir” to regulate moisture levels: when heating something mostly dry, it will heat up and evaporate some of its accumulated moisture, and when heating steamy liquids, collect the moisture from saturated air.
As for slamming the door: door switches and latches are standard and cheap, and you can replace them without touching any high voltage parts.
Delightful! 👏👏👏
No, I hadn’t read it until now, but it was a fascinating read, thanks!
I know zed about electronics, so I’ll be respecting my ignorance and leaving that alone, but that’s good to know. I’m not sure what ailed my old one, but I suspect it was the door latch. It had begun with the plate turning after the timer beeped and food removed a year or so ago, but I hadn’t wanted to spend for another, then about a month later behaved normally again until a month ago. I put in some food for a fur baby and hit “add 30 seconds” and within five of those a huge “pop” and very bright flash. It looked like a fireball rather than an arc and scared the wind from me! I immediately unplugged the poor thing and warily opened the door. I looked at the same ceramic ramikan my pet always uses for wet food, stunned, and at the huge scorch-mark inside the microwave in dismay. My baby got kibble and cold wet food the rest of the week, until I got another microwave. In the betwixt time, I was researching in case there was some simple fix but couldn’t find the exact problem, so money was spent. With tariffs price-jacking, my $50 microwave went to the recycle center, and became a $100 new one. But you’ve delighted me with your calm replies amid the vitriol of confident incorrectness and clearly superior knowledge! I hearby dub thee the official Lemmy Microwave Mage, and thanks for the lesson! 🧙♀️🪄
Eta my atrocity of forgotten manners due to excitement strikes again! My apologies, and thanks so much for the silicone packet tip.