How to Get Rid of Odor From a Burnt Microwave

Cooking odors can become trapped inside of microwaves.

The quickness of microwave cooking can lead to burnt food. When you cook an item (like popcorn) for too long, the odor can linger inside the microwave for days and weeks afterward. The foods cooked in the microwave will absorbed the trapped burnt odors and affect their taste. Fortunately, there are a few all-natural odor eliminators that will remove the burnt odors from your microwave.

Things You'll Need

• White vinegar
• Microwave-safe bowl
• Lemon juice
• Sponge
• Cloth
• Towel

Instructions

1. Pour undiluted white vinegar into a microwave-safe bowl. Alternatively, fill the bowl with 1/2 lemon juice and 1 cup water.

2. Place the bowl inside the microwave and shut the door. Microwave the bowl on high for 5 minutes. The steam naturally produced from the boiling contents will loosen grime stuck on the inside walls of the microwave while removing burnt odors.

3. Remove the bowl from the microwave and wipe the inside clean with a sponge dampened in white vinegar.

4. Rinse the vinegar off with a clean cloth dampened with cool water and wipe dry with a towel. Repeat the process as needed.

Tips & Warnings

• Clean the inside of your microwave regularly to reduce food, grime and odor buildup.

References

• Good Housekeeping: Microwave Food Odors
• Utah State University Extension: Odors
• Vinegar Tips: 1001 Uses for White Distilled Vinegar
• Iowa State University Extension: Cleaning