A TikTok cleaner shows how to make your gross microwave look new in minutes, but another expert says there's a better way

• A professional cleaner shared a tip for non-toxic microwave-cleaning that only takes a few minutes.
• It involves spraying the insides with disinfectant, boiling some water, and wiping everything down.
• Another cleaning expert told Insider they would boil the water first and then spray the insides.

A professional cleaner on TikTok shared an easy hack for getting a squeaky-clean microwave in only two minutes without using harsh cleaning supplies.

Insider spoke to another cleaning expert who said that while it's a good idea, they'd recommend doing it slightly differently.

Allison Nelson, a Denver-based professional cleaner, shared the hack on her TikTok page and gave her 468,000 followers a step-by-step walkthrough of her method.

She starts by spraying the inside of the microwave with an "eco-friendly" disinfectant. She appears to use the Zep antibacterial disinfectant cleaner that retails for about $5, but notes that the cleaner isn't necessary.

"For my completely non-toxic [followers], disregard this step and skip to the water," she says.

Next, Nelson fills a bowl up with water, but only about two-thirds of the way so it won't boil over. She then sets the bowl inside the microwave and heats it up for about two minutes, or until the water comes to a boil.

"Most modern microwaves take about two minutes to get to a boil but, however long it takes, make sure you get your water to a boil," Nelson says in a voice-over.

Once the water has come to a boil, she carefully removes the bowl, along with the revolving tray, and wipes the insides and the revolving tray down with a towel. The stuck-on food easily wipes off.

Nelson adds that skipping the first step in the video and going straight to the water also works "just as well" but she added a disinfectant because "it is a microwave and we are dealing with food."

"It's so easy," she said.

Nelson didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Another cleaning expert told Insider they'd try this method slightly differently

Melissa Maker of Clean My Space told Insider that she would use this microwave-cleaning method in "reverse order."

"I'd microwave the water first, and then I would spray the inside with a little bit of all-purpose cleaner," Maker said.

"[Nelson] used disinfectant, but I don't believe that is necessary for a microwave," she added.

For an all-purpose cleaner, Maker suggested a DIY mixture of soap and water, which "should be sufficient to clean whatever is inside the microwave."

Additionally, to get rid of stubborn spots, Maker says, "you may want to put a little bit of baking soda on your sponge or cloth as you're cleaning to help scrub it away."

Baking soda cleans dirt, grime, and grease. It is also an important ingredient in baking delicious cakes, muffins, and bread.

Non-toxic kitchen cleaning hacks are popular on TikTok

TikTok is full of useful cleaning hacks shared by professional cleaners.

Another user, Kacie Stephens, the owner of Sydney-based cleaning service The Big Clean Co, shared a chemical-free way to clean a greasy oven door in December.

Stephens starts by preheating the oven to soften the baked-on grease before sprinkling baking soda on the door and scrubbing it all down with a wet stainless steel scrubber.