It’s one of those many household cleaning jobs that you probably put off for weeks or even months at a time. Then one day you pull your food out of the microwave and the realisation hits you: yes, this could do with a good clean.

Microwaves get dirty quickly, with little spills, exploding beans and a layer of condensation every time you use it, combined with a door that's always closed, which can quickly lead to mould, mildew and a deep layer of caked-on old food grime teaming with germs.

While supermarkets and homeware stores alike are rammed full of various expensive cleaning solutions for tackling kitchen grime, including grease removers, germ killing sprays and other chemical based kitchen cleaners, they are all beaten by one thing - washing up liquid. 

According to cleaning experts, a simple bottle of Fairy liquid (other dish soap brands will also work), can restore your microwave to clean, fresh and ultimately, food-safe condition in a matter of minutes.

But instead of splashing out on a pricey or even chemical-laden cleaning solution, simply reach for a bottle of washing up liquid, say kitchen appliance cleaning experts Total Clean.

Total Clean says all you really need is some washing up liquid and a bit of water to restore your microwave.

It says: “Sometimes a brief wipe-around with a damp cloth will suffice, but at other times, catastrophe has happened and a full deep clean is in need. There are a wide variety of chemical cleaning products on the market, promising to be able to get into every nook and cranny of your microwave. Some of them live up to their promises, others… not really.

“For this method, you will need WASHING-UP LIQUID, WATER, and a MICROWAVEABLE CONTAINER.

“Mix water and washing-up liquid together in your microwaveable container and microwave it until it starts to steam. Remove the bowl. The steam will have loosened any dirt so all that is needed is a wipe down with a damp sponge!”

Other ways to clean your microwave naturally include using lemons, as well as baking soda. 

But few are as fuss-free as washing up liquid, which is something literally everyone will have in their kitchen.