Are you tired of your microwave smelling like burnt popcorn, leftover pizza, or worse, your failed attempt at cooking dinner? Let’s face it, a lingering burnt odor in the microwave can be annoying and downright unpleasant. But don’t worry, because today we’re going to teach you how to get rid of burnt smell in your microwave.
Things you need to get rid of burnt smell in your microwave…
Fresh lemon
Now that you have all your tools and materials ready, let’s get rid of that awful smell…
Video: How to Get Rid of Burnt Smell in your Microwave
Here’s our video on how to get rid of burnt smell in your microwave…
Identify the burnt area and remove any visible debris or ash
Identifying the burnt area is important because it allows you to focus your cleaning efforts on the affected part of the microwave. This could be anywhere from the turntable to the walls, or even the door.
To identify the burnt area, take a quick look inside your microwave and sniff the air. This will enable you to pinpoint the exact area where the burnt odor is coming from. Once you’ve located the area, visually inspect it for any visible debris or ash.
For example, if you recently reheated a slice of pizza and it left a mess on the turntable, you might find a few pizza crumbs or melted cheese on the surface. Use a paper towel or a damp cloth to remove the visible debris.
Wipe down the interior of the microwave with a damp cloth
After you’ve identified the burnt area and removed any visible debris or ash, it’s time to wipe down the interior of your microwave to remove any remaining residue or odor.
To do this, wet a clean cloth with warm water and wring it out so that it’s damp, but not dripping. You can use a clean dishcloth, a microfiber cloth, or even a paper towel.
Open the microwave door and begin wiping down the interior. Start with the walls and ceiling, and work your way down to the turntable. Use a circular motion to wipe away any remaining residue or debris, applying gentle pressure as needed.
If you notice any stubborn residue, use baking soda or dish soap to help remove it. These are effective cleaning products for microwaves.
To use baking soda, mix a few tablespoons with warm water to form a paste. Apply the paste to the affected area with your damp cloth. Then, scrub gently until the residue is removed.
Using dish soap, add a few drops to a bowl of warm water. Then, use your damp cloth to scrub the affected area. Rinse the cloth and repeat until the residue is gone.
Once you’ve wiped down the entire interior of your microwave, rinse your damp cloth in clean water and wring it out. Use the damp cloth to wipe down the interior again; this time to remove any cleaning product residue.
If the smell persists, do this…
Use lemon to get rid of the smell
Cut a fresh lemon in half using a sharp knife. You can use either a whole lemon or just half of it, depending on how strong you want the lemon scent to be.
Squeeze the lemon over a microwave-safe bowl of water. You can use either cold or warm water. However, we recommend you use warm water. Warm water can help the lemon juice release more scent and steam, which can help with deodorizing.
After squeezing the lemon juice into the bowl, place the lemon halves into the water as well. The lemon rinds will release natural oils and a fresh scent that can help remove any odor in the microwave.
Place the bowl with the lemon water and lemon halves in the microwave and heat on high for several minutes until the water boils and produces steam.
After microwaving, let the bowl sit in the microwave for a few minutes to allow the steam to penetrate and loosen any remaining odor.
Using oven mitts or a towel, carefully remove the bowl from the microwave.
After using the lemon to deodorize your microwave, wipe down the interior with a damp cloth to remove any remaining residue or scent.
Use vinegar and water solution to get rid of the smell
If using a lemon doesn’t work, mix equal parts of vinegar and water in a microwave-safe bowl. You can use white distilled vinegar or apple cider vinegar, whichever you have on hand.
Place the bowl in the microwave and follow the same instructions we gave when boiling the lemon juice.
Ensure you wipe down the interior of the microwave with a damp cloth to remove any remaining residue or scent after taking out the bowl.
If the burnt smell is still present, repeat this process as necessary until the odor is gone.