A former hoarding technician who's cleaned biohazard sites reveals how to get grease and odors out of the microwave

• Fiona Mills is a former hoarding technician and franchise business consultant at Spaulding Decon.
• She explained how to remove grime and food from a microwave — and how often you should clean it.

When was the last time you disinfected your microwave?

"If you don't remember when you last cleaned it — you should clean it," Fiona Mills told Insider, adding that you'll probably see and smell that it needs a scrub.

Mills is a former hoarding technician and current franchise business consultant with Spaulding Decon, a US-based biohazard restoration company specializing in hoarding, crime scene, meth lab, and tear gas cleanup. Recently, she shared how to properly clean shower heads.

"If you use your microwave daily, you should clean it once a week," she continued. "I would recommend cleaning it as you use it. Leaving splattered food only leaves room for bacteria to grow and odors to linger."

Read below for the rest of her tips on cleaning microwaves.

A baking soda mixture is one way to remove grease and grime from microwaves

Mills advised using a microwave-safe container to thoroughly stir together one cup of water and three tablespoons of baking soda.

"Microwave this mixture for roughly 3-5 minutes," she said. "The baking soda will create a dense steam that assists in breaking up build-up, dried, stuck food, splatter, and odors."

Mills added that common household ingredients like white vinegar, baking soda, and lemons can clean microwaves.

On the other hand, store-bought brands like Dawn Foam Spray "work wonders and smell great," while 409 Spray "is great for greasy build-up."

Mills pointed towards white vinegar and water for leftover odors

Mills told Insider to clean microwaves as they are used, but said white vinegar and water can diffuse unflattering smells.

"Fill a bowl with 1/2 cup of white vinegar and 1/2 cup of water, then heat it on high for 2-3 minutes," Mills said. "Once the timer is up, leave the bowl of vinegar inside the microwave for an additional 10-15 minutes with the door closed or place an open box of baking soda inside the microwave and leave it there overnight."