Cleaning Between the Mesh Screen and Glass Door on Your Microwave

Cleaning Between Glass Door and Mesh Screen on Your Microwave

This is how my microwave door looks.  It’s not that I don’t occasionally wipe the front of the microwave when I’m cleaning.  The problem is that it won’t come off.  This yucky look is trapped on the inside of the door, between the glass door and mesh screen.  You can’t reach it by the usual opening of the door.  I found out that in order to ever have a door that I can actually see through, I would need to figure out how to take the door apart and get behind the mesh screen.  I’m sure this gross stuff comes from people not covering their food all the time.   This was not an easy task.  Before you attempt to do this, read through the entire post.

Items needed:

  • putty knife (strong type)
  • screw driver
  • cleaning towel and product to clean door
  • small brush

Instructions:

Cleaning between Mesh Screen and Glass Door on Microwave

Using a putty knife, slide it between where the plastic frame cover and outer frame meets.  Glide along the top and sides and carefully pop the frame out.  Be careful because the plastic frame can easily snap or break.  Once you have jarred it loose all the way around, take it off.  It will expose the mesh screen.

Cleaning Between Mesh Screen and Glass Door on Microwave

On the mesh screen, you will see two small screws (one at top and one near bottom).  Remove the screws.

Cleaning Between Mesh Screen and Glass Door on Microwave

Once screws are removed, you have to pop the mesh screen door loose from the glass door by sliding the putty knife along the frame of the mesh screen.

Cleaning Between the Mesh Screen and Glass Door on Microwave

This is a shot of the separation of mesh screen and glass door.  PLEASE READ CAREFULLY: I did a lot of research on Google about separating glass and mesh screen.  Most information said that all microwave doors can be separated at mesh screen and glass door.  My door did not want to separate completely from the top. It separated completely on sides and bottom.  Of course, you know I didn’t let that stop me. I just pushed the glass door in and slid it out through the bottom.

Cleaning Between Mesh Screen and Glass Door on Microwave

This is what kept my door from completely separating. This will be where you decide if you want to continue if this happens to you or stop and let a professional do the job for you.  But like I said, most of the research stated that the mesh screen will separate from glass door.

All you have to do now is clean the glass door and mesh screen.

Cleaning Between the Mesh Screen and Glass Door on Microwave

I cleaned the mesh screen with vinegar.  For the stains that wouldn’t come off the mesh screen, I used a brush to tap through the holes to knock out the dried food.

Cleaning Between the Mesh Screen and Glass Door

This is a little tip to use if all the dried food doesn’t come out with brush.  Unfold a paper clip and use it to punch out any food left between the holes.

Cleaning Between the Mesh Screen and Glass Door on Microwave

To make sure that the mesh screen was completely dry, I used a blow dryer to completely dry it.  I don’t want any stains or moisture resulting from water being left on the screen.

Cleaning Between the Mesh Screen and Glass Door on Microwave

After you clean the glass door, pop the mesh screen and glass door back together.  Screw back in the two screws.  Don’t forget to pop the plastic frame back on when done.  Now take a look at how the microwave looks now….

Cleaning Between the Mesh Screen and Glass Door on Microwave

I can actually see through this door! It has been years since my door looked this clear.  Fabulous!  Now, I need to tackle my oven door.  Saving that for another snowed-in day…

 

Comments

  1. Thank you for the directions! It worked the door looks 100 times better!

  2. You can use use certain cleaning products that is really meant to clean those parts of the microwave. It is much more effective and cleaner.

  3. Rich Riordan says

    THANK YOU!!!!! That was a most excellent explanation. On mine,(panasonic genius sensor) there were four screws on the inside- two high and two low, which made it very easy to pop the glass off of the screen. In my model, the screen is the main part of the door, the glass pops on the front and the frame pops on the back.

  4. I was just about to have the door replaced because I didn’t think you could take it apart. I’m so glad I came across this site. My door looked even worse than yours so what I did was remove the door and mesh assembly.

  5. I would like to share that Window Screens have Various types of frames available. It all depends on the window and the company that manufactured it.

  6. Robin Bierl says

    Had a stinkbug caught between the screen and glass!!!! How it got there I’ll never understand but got it out thanks to you. THANK YOU!!!!!

  7. This blog post is very useful for everyone else reading just because the information and knowledge which have contained everyone are very important. This problem I have faced also last few months. I like this post. Excellent job! Keep sharing such valuable information through your blogs. Keep blogging.

  8. This is a great helpful article you explain all the details well..thanks

  9. YAY! We just bought what I thought was our dream home with a dream kitchen. Until I saw the gnarly microwave door. GROSS! I thought we’d have to buy a new one because I could not look at that every day. My hubby is going to try this because I have neither the patience nor mechanical savvy to give it a try. So excited to save our microwave and rid it of the previous owner’s residue!

  10. Thank you so much!! You are a lifesaver!!!

  11. Followed your instructions and took my Kenmore microwave apart. Fairly easy to get apart and clean, but it took quite a bit longer to put it back together. Getting everything to fit properly and snap into the right place was not so obvious. Not sure if there is a trick to that, but I did finally get it together and it looks great.

    Thanks.

  12. Hello Sharon,
    Thank you so much for the post!
    I’d like to clean mine as well. Do you think it will be ok to open Panasonic one following the steps above? Please advise.

    Thanks
    Amayar

  13. Thank you for the directions for cleaning the glass window of the microwave. My husband followed your directions and didn’t have a problem except when trying to tighten the screws when he was almost finished. The glass on the microwave door is clean and clear. You’re a lifesaver!

    • You’re welcome Annette! Doesn’t it make your microwave look 100 times better? Plus, it makes the kitchen look fantastic! Glad that I could help.

  14. Thank you for your post. My husband followed your directions and he was able to get to the glass plate, take it out. I cleaned the glass and the mesh screen and he put it back together. I am a happy woman with a clean glass front to my microwave.

  15. Thank you so much for the tip on how to clean the nasty window on the microwave!!! It has been bugging for a long time. Took me 25 mins to take apart, clean, and put back together!! Looks great, thanks again!!!

  16. Great thanks

  17. The plastic film on my microwave door is loose on the bottom so the steam comes behind the plastic and shows stained. Is it safe to use this way or do I need to replace the door? Taping the bottom of the plastic is not enough to keep the moisture out. This site is the best one that addresses a microwave door issue.
    Thankyou.

  18. Great advices! My microwave door doesn`t want to separate , too. I was frustrated by this fact. Finally I called a professional service. You did a great job, though. Thank you for sharing it 🙂

  19. This was a LIFESAVER bigtime. I was just about to have the door replaced because I didn’t think you could take it apart. I’m so glad I came across this site. My door looked even worse than yours so what I did was remove the door and mesh assembly. I then ran the mesh assembly over hot water which blasted the food debris away then air dried the mesh assembly. Finally I cleaned the glass door with a glass cleaner and bingo like new. One thing I wanted to share is here’s a link to a youtube video which shows how to take the door apart.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQe9DE3FS20

    Thanks Again!

  20. Sharon I can’t thank you enough!!! It’s been driving me absolutely crazy! I searched online and got nowhere until thankfully I found you! You’re amazing and I am SO happy! I can finally see inside my microwave!! My son knows from now on to cover the food so I don’t have to do this all the time but I was at my wits end and I was ready to have the microwave removed and find another one to fit in the spot. I keep looking at it now because I can’t believe how clean it is now! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!

    • Hi Kim! You are certainly welcome! Isn’t it great how fantastic the microwave door looks after you’ve cleaned it. If you’re like me, you keep looking at yourself in the door. It’s so weird to be able to see yourself in the door after it’s finally clean. I still can’t believe how great my microwave looks!

  21. I had no idea that I could clean that part of my microwave! Thank you so much about this new information! Really helpful! Stockwell Carpet Cleaners Ltd.

  22. I am so glad you posted this thank you!

  23. Oh wow! This was so great to stumble onto! Thank You Thank You! Found it after seeing a link on facebook on how to clean an oven door…I went hmmm…lets search for a way to clean my microwave! And there you were! Now to just tackle that nasty microwave! Wish me luck!

    • You’re welcome Kim! You will definitely love the microwave when it has that clean, new look. I am still in awe of my microwave….

  24. Hi Sharon! You have no idea how long I’ve been looking at that “trapped dirt” that’s been screaming “let me out” on the inside of my microwave door! It started about a year and a half ago, has only gotten worse. Thank you so much for sharing your means of freeing that stuff, your knowledge is invaluable! Thanks for doing the research for us all!!! Gail V.

    • You’re welcome Gail! I couldn’t take it looking at my microwave door anymore. It was horrible. Now, it looks like a new microwave. Hopefully, people in my house will remember to cover their food when heating…..

  25. omg I didn’t even know it was possible to clean that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :O You are amazing.

  26. Wow, what a neat tutorial. I’m a total handy geek and the idea of taking apart my microwave is so cool! This tip is bookmark worthy. Thanks!

  27. Such a great tip on how to clean the icky mesh such a pain! Stopping by from #SITSBlogging

  28. This is a great (and necessary!) tutorial! I hate when the microwave/oven doors get dirty. Thanks for linking to the In and Out of the Kitchen Link Party. Hope to see you next week.

  29. OMG even the cleaning people isn’t meticulous, you did an amazing job. Will attempt this, fingers cross hope I don’t break anything.

  30. Oh my goodness! Brilliant, now to have someone else clean for me, lol! Not serious. Ya, it would be nice. Pinning to my spring cleaning board! Who knew?!
    Hope your having a great week Sharon!

  31. Wow! what a difference that makes. I am wondering what man thought up the idea for that mesh screen in the first place lol. Any woman would know it would need to be cleaned. Thankfully mine is just glass inside. I am not so sure I wouldn’t have tried to leave that screen off my door if that were possible. Great tutorial though. I am pinning just in case one of my friends needs it or even me in the future. You never know.
    Debbie

    • You are so right Debbie. The woman would never have put that mesh screen there. Wish I had one with just the glass inside. Loving how it looks now, though. Perhaps, I can remind people in my house over and over again to cover food in the micro.

  32. Yay! I would have never thought to do this but my microwave needs it terribly bad. Thanks for sharing!

  33. This is a great helpful article,I am bit scared of touching microwave because of safety reasons.But here you have explained all details well

  34. What a fantastic tutorial! I always hate how that looks, I wonder if there is a way to clean the inside of an oven door? Be sure to stop by my link party, Om Nom Nom Friday (Even though it’s Sunday) and share your stuff 🙂

    Happy Blogging!
    Happy Valley Chow

    • Thank you! Yes, there is a way to clean the oven door, too. When I get another snowed-in day, I’m going to attempt that task. Right now, I’m in love with the look of the microwave.

  35. Wow… I never would have thought about researching the best way to clean this part of the microwave. Kudos to you on going the extra mile on this one.

    • Hi Deauna! I love how my microwave looks now. I was going to give up on this idea but I’m so glad I stuck with it. My microwave glass looks so clear and fantastic!

  36. I did not know that you can separate the mesh screen from the glass door of the microwave. My microwave door looks exactly like yours before cleaning. hmm..this is something I could try. Thanks for sharing Sharon 🙂

    • Hi Vinma! I am so in awe of my microwave. Whenever I walk up to it, I can actually see myself. Loving it… Definitely one of my favorite DIY projects.

  37. That is awesome Sharon! My problem is that the glass is sliding down the front of the microwave. Now I know that I can put it back together!! Thanks so much. 🙂

    • Thanks Lisa! Hope you will be able to stop it from sliding. I’m so impressed with the look of my glass door. I’m surprised every time I go in the kitchen and see myself in the glass. It keeps throwing me off since I have not seen myself in the glass door for years…..

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