How to Buff Out Scratches on a Black Microwave

They're a popular fixture in kitchens, dorm rooms, garages, break rooms and offices around the world. The microwave is an integral part of a busy person's life. From morning until night, the small kitchen appliance is put to work reheating cups of coffee, warming up leftovers for lunch and turning frozen meals into piping hot entrees.

As a color choice for the hardworking microwave, black is one of the more prevalent. It tends to show less dirt and greasy smudges and blend well with surrounding appliances, from stainless steel to almond. However, every appliance that gets a lot of use needs to be cleaned regularly to keep it in good working condition.

If left with streaks of greasy fingerprints, leftover bits of food and other organic debris, the shiny surface of your microwave can get scratched and dulled. The occasional contact with dinnerware, eating utensils and other items used in and around the microwave can also leave small scratches, dings and gouges on the finish of the black microwave unit.

Scratches can also be caused by abrasive cleaners and sponges. The longer that scratches are left on the surface of a black microwave, the deeper they can get. This can also make the dingy surface harder to clean. It's not a difficult process to buff out scratches that have found their way onto the finish of a black microwave though. Buffing the scratches out early can reduce further damage and bring the black finish up to a high shine.

Simple scratches that are caused by everyday use are fairly simple to buff out with a mix of mild liquid dish soap and warm water. Combine a teaspoon of dishwashing soap with a cup of warm water. Dip a clean cloth or soft sponge into the mix and apply it to the surface of the black microwave.

The best way to buff out scratches on the surface of a black microwave is to use a small amount of pressure in a continual circular motion. Move across the front of the appliance in small areas with an even amount of pressure applied to ensure you get all the topical flaws. For plastic edges and facades, Bob Vila recommends a soft sponge and a large amount of pressure.

Rinse the soapy film from the front of the microwave with a clean, dry cloth. Buff out any streaks or reapply the detergent if a dingy film clings to the glass front of the microwave. Good Housekeeping suggests that you take the time to clean the interior of the appliance on a daily or weekly basis to keep it in good working order and remove any smells that may be lurking within the oven.

For deeper scratches and divots, use a paste of one part baking soda to one part warm water. Rub this on the same as you would the mix of dish soap and warm water. You can also buff out scratches by applying toothpaste onto the scratch and scrubbing it in with a soft sponge, then rinsing off.

If that doesn't work, you may want to try commercial cleaners. The best car scratch remover works well on the shiny surface of a microwave and takes down deep scratches rather easily with the proper application.