How to Get Rid of a Burned Smell in a Microwave Oven

Plastic is well known for absorbing bad odors, and microwaves with plastic interiors are no exception. When something has burned and created a lot of smoke inside a microwave oven you can expect the interior to be stained and discolored. Worst of all, every time that microwave oven is used, it will emanate a burned smell throughout the entire house. Instead of throwing away an otherwise good microwave oven, try the following methods to get rid of a burned smell. Maybe one of these ideas will work for you!

Precautionary Statement

For best results, consult the guide that came with your appliance. Never use caustic chemicals or heat anything potentially toxic in your microwave oven. Use common sense, and try these tips until you find one that works for your particular situation. Each microwave oven is different as is the severity of each individual problem, so don’t expect a miracle solution. It can take days to rid a microwave oven of a burned smell caused by overheating food or something that should have never been heated in the appliance to begin with.

Vinegar

White vinegar is a fantastic natural cleaning solution, and it does a tremendous job of getting rid of odors. I had made the mistake of pressing the automatic popcorn button on my microwave oven twice and walking away. I didn’t realize I pressed it twice, and the smell of something burning brought me running back into the room. My bag of popcorn had turned into a smoking bag of soot that was filling the entire house with a very bad smell. The microwave was terribly stained, and the smell was terrible. I never thought I’d get out the burned smell.

Although nothing I did returned the interior color of my microwave bake to white, I was able to get rid of the burned smell. I thoroughly cleaned the interior with a solution of vinegar and water, and I warmed a small bowl of white vinegar for about 40 seconds. I allowed the vinegar to sit undisturbed in the microwave for 24 hours. I wiped it out once again, and luckily it no longer had the terrible smell of burned popcorn. Depending on the severity of the problem, this solution might also work for you.

Baking Soda

Others who have burned something in their microwave have found success at getting rid of a burned smell with good old-fashioned baking soda. Clean your microwave oven with a solution of vinegar and water, and rinse it thoroughly. Next, open a new box of baking soda, and allow it to sit in the microwave oven for at least 24 hours. The baking soda will absorb the bad smell and leave it with a clean fresh scent. Don’t be too quick to remove the baking soda. The longer it remains in the microwave the better your chances of permanently getting rid of the smell.

Charcoal

Did you know that charcoal is a fantastic odor absorber? Clean your microwave as instructed above, and set an open bowl of ordinary charcoal briquettes inside. Leave the charcoal undisturbed for at least 24 hours. This method to get rid of a burned smell in a microwave oven has worked for many people, and this could be the solution that solves your problem.

Lemon Juice

The juice of a freshly squeezed lemon is also a fantastic way to get rid of bad odors. Clean your microwave with the abovementioned vinegar solution, rinse and dry it thoroughly, and follow up with freshly squeezed lemon juice. Squeeze the lemon juice into a shallow microwave-safe bowl, and heat it just until it becomes warm. Allow it to remain inside the microwave for at least 24 hours. Hopefully this easy method to get rid of a bad smell works in your particular situation. If not, try one of the other easy solutions until you find the one that works for you. In any case, the smell will eventually dissipate, and you’ll forget that a bad smell was ever a problem.