Because my life is so riveting, I regularly try out different cleaning products and devices that I see sprinkled all over TikTok. I spent a recent Friday night installing a new under-the-kitchen-sink organizer that was half-off on Amazon, carefully placing each cleaning product on it like I was playing a game of Tetris. So naturally, when I came across the Angry Mama microwave cleaner that actually looks like an angry mom, I had to have it — especially since it only cost $7.
Listen, kids are careless little creatures, bless their hearts. My kids will come home from school, yank the lid off of the leftover chili in the fridge, shove it in the microwave with no concern over splatter in sight, and crank the cook time to a number that they took absolutely no time to think about. When the chili bubbles and explodes into little reddish-orange speckles all over the inside of the microwave, do you think my kids say, "Oh, fiddlesticks. I better wipe up my mess so Mom doesn't have to do it"? Of course they don't. That would be like saying kids turn their socks right-side-out before tossing them in the hamper. So, the fact that this adorable little microwave cleaning mechanism takes on the appearance of a disgruntled, frowning mom with her hands on her hips? Genius. I can't name one other cleaning product that I personally relate to.
How Does It Work?
The Angry Mama embraces simplicity. To use it, you remove mom's head (it's not as gruesome as it sounds) and add distilled white vinegar to the top of the fill line conveniently labeled "vinegar." From there, you'll add water to the top of the "water" fill line. Put mom's head back on, place it in the microwave, and microwave it for about seven minutes. When the time is up, you'll want to use a kitchen towel to remove the cleaner so you don't burn your hand, and you can take a wet washcloth or sponge to wipe out the microwave.
My Hack
When I clean my microwave, I pull the Angry Mama cleaner out and decapitate mom for a second time, then pour what's left of the water and vinegar mixture (about half of it evaporates while the microwave is running) onto my washcloth before I wipe things down. Works like a charm.
Photo credit: Rachel Schneider / Cheapism
Alternatives to Consider
One could argue that putting water and vinegar into a cup or a bowl and microwaving it for a few minutes would accomplish the same result. To those Debbie Downers, all I have to say is, "But does your bowl look like an angry mom?"
Final Thoughts
I have tried cleaning my microwave with a number of products and I've never really had trouble getting it clean, to be frank. But I believe in the power of vinegar when it comes to cleaning. At $7, considering its effectiveness and cuteness, I'll be sticking with mama for years to come.
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