Natural cleaners vs store-bought stuff for appliances

Microwave vents are the bane of my existence too. I’ve tried the classic vinegar and baking soda paste—meh, it sort of loosened things but didn’t really cut through the grease. What finally worked for me: I soaked a rag in hot soapy water (dish soap, nothing fancy), let it sit on the vent for about 10 minutes, then wiped and repeated. Not a miracle, but way less scrubbing. And yeah, those store-bought sprays always leave a filmy residue for me too, especially on stainless. I’d rather put in a little extra effort than deal with that weird streaky look.