Cleaning a Microwave Oven

Updated on July 19, 2008
S.F. asks from Grapevine, TX
36 answers

My DH (who has no sense of smell) was home with the 3 kids the other day. My DD (6) decided she needed popcorn and placed it in the microwave. From what I can gather it caught on fire and she left it in the microwave. Now I have a microwave that smells like burnt popcorn every time it runs. I've used 409, clorox, and even a magic eraser trying to get all of the film out of the microwave. All this without success. Can I use oven cleaner in the mcrowave? Any other suggestions?
TIA!

1 mom found this helpful

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So What Happened?

Tried several of the suggestions on here, nothing has worked. In addition, I tried to pop my own bag of popcorn last night. Inside of a minute the whole bag was black in the middle. I have noticed that it didn't seem to be cooking evenly- this just confirmed it. I think my microwave is going to have to be replaced. Joy of joys, more research finding the right microwave. See my new post :o)

Featured Answers

T.F.

answers from Dallas on

I use a 2 cup glass container with water and a lot of lemon juice. After it is heated very well, I wipe everything down.

My DD has a habit of using the microwave and not covering the items, such as marinara sauce and then it sticks on everything. YUCK.

The magic eraser works well for me, especially after the hot lemon water has everything softened up.

I would not use an oven cleaner in the microwave.

tf

1 mom found this helpful
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C.T.

answers from Dallas on

You can try baking soda. Open a box and put it in the microwave and close the door. Leave it for a couple of days and see if the smell has lessened.

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K.J.

answers from Dallas on

place a small bowl of 1/2 water and 1/2 vinegar and micro it for 2 minutes (till steaming) then wipe down. THis is pretty much the most amazing thing EVER.

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S.W.

answers from Wichita Falls on

put a cup of water inside and let it boil. take a paper towel and wipe the steam off the sides. works like a charm

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J.D.

answers from Dallas on

I don't think it's recommended to use a microwave after there's been a fire in it. However, have you tried boiling some water with a bit of lemon juice in it? that should help with the smell and loosen the film. Otherwise I would contact the manufacturer of the oven (via website or phone number in manual) to see what they say. You can't use oven cleaner it is too strong of a substance for plastic.

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P.F.

answers from Dallas on

OH NO! but absolutely do NOT use oven cleaner in the microwave - 2 different interiors!
I believe if you boil water with lemon in it may help the smell and leaving it open also helps......there are special microwave cleaning products also....Aren't you glad it didn't happen when you were home? Thank God she left it in the micro instead of trying to get it out! Kind of funny if you can try and find the humor it might help! good luck

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A.W.

answers from Dallas on

in a bowl of water add a lemon. Run it for a minute. It will smell good

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M.V.

answers from Abilene on

The thing that has worked the best for me is cut up a citrus fruit (lemon, lime, orange) and put it in a bowl of water. Put that in the microwave and turn it on for about 5 minutes. After the 5 minutes, leave the door closed for another 20 minutes or so. Then use the usual cleaner that you use to clean your microwave. It works great!

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T.T.

answers from Dallas on

I would use Solumel and Tough n tender...you can spray it on and it does wonders for the smell. Plus, they don't contain any chemicals/toxins or fumes, so safer for you and your family!

Good luck!

T.

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L.W.

answers from Dallas on

What about placing a half cup of vinegar and boil it in the microwave... 30 seconds maybe????

Good luck.

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V.S.

answers from Abilene on

I don't have different advice, but I can say that I personally had this same problem, and the citrus stuff just did not cut the smell. I put full strength vinegar in a bowl and heated it up to steam the inside of the microwave. Then i took a rag and put it in the vinegar and wiped down ever single centimeter of the inside. Make sure to get the top and every corner, take out the turntable and get under it and scrub the turntable itself. Until you are positive you have wiped off the entire inside no matter if it is visibly dirty or not you are fighting a losing battle.

After that I put a fresh bowl of vinegar in and ran it for about three minutes then just left it in there. Every time I passed through the kitchen all day long I ran it for a few more minutes. I took it out when we needed to use it for food, then just put it back and ran it again. I think I did this for two days and finally the smell was indetectable.

Good luck!

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S.P.

answers from Dallas on

Yes you can use oven cleaner in microwave (such as Easy Off with lemon scent which I recommend.) Just don't RUN the microwave with cleaner in it obviously.

Another trick is to place a bowl of lemmon juice and a little water mixed in and microwave it for 5 minutes and leave the door shut 5 minutes to 10 minutes after it's stopped. Open up after that time and the steam from the juice and water will have loosened up gunk inside. The lemon absorbs smells and the steam will also get slightly into the machine but won't harm it helping eliminate the burn smell when you run it later...

I've done this MANY times. Gunk wipes off with sponge.

Toxic free methods are my favorite..also-consider microwaving your sponge when you're done cleaning and rinsing it out to keep it germ free...

God Bless-S. mom of 2 girls 6 and 3 yrs

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W.S.

answers from Dallas on

Stuff your microwave with newpaper overnight, but don't turn it on. Something in the paper absorbs the odor. Good Luck!

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F.H.

answers from Dallas on

try the old standards, dawn cuts grease. baking soda cuts smell. Good luck. Burnt popcorn is hard to get out of anything. The odor lingers like few other things. Might have to clean it then put it outside a day or so to air out.

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L.B.

answers from Dallas on

I recently saw on HGTV to heat 1 part water and 1 part vinegar in the microwave. Then wipe it down. I would also add some baking soda since it is a deodorizer.

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S.W.

answers from Dallas on

just put a bowl of water with some lemon wedges cut up in it in the microwave. microwave it for about 4 mins, let it sit for about 5 mins to cool. And you're done, the smell should be all gone.

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S.A.

answers from Dallas on

try getting a hand towel wet and micro for 2 min. then all that stuff should be soft from the moisture and come off.

good luck...

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S.S.

answers from Wichita Falls on

Microwave half a cup of vinegar for 30 seconds or so and wipe it out with a sponge.

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K.H.

answers from Dallas on

i would use baking soda & vinegar to wash it down first
then microwave a bowl with water & lots of lemon juice (let it steam up the inside of the microwave)
then wash again with baking soda & vinegar (you can also put lemon juice in the vinegar to freshen the smell)
also try letting it air out as much as possible (just unplug & let sit overnight with the door open)

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G.A.

answers from Dallas on

I think oven cleaner would ruin the walls. I would use baking soda. Take a little on a rag and rug. It has the rough grains to scrub. Vinegar too. Just takes elbow greese. G. W

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V.H.

answers from Dallas on

To take the smell out of your microwave put a cup of vinegar in it and heat it up for about 2 minutes.You may have to do it several times but it will get the smell out.

V. Hampton
Independent Consultant
Arbonne International
If you knew as much about Arbonne as we do You would be doing the business!!

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J.G.

answers from Amarillo on

take a microwave safe bowl and fill it halfway with water. add a few teaspoons of lemon juice. Microwave it in your microwave for 5 minutes. The hot water will take care of any stuck on foods and the lemon juice will give the microwave a nice clean smell. I learned that from watching "How clean is your house?" on BBC America.

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D.C.

answers from Dallas on

1) A wet sponge will clean anything stuck on a microwave. Put it in the microwave wet for 1 minute, everything stuck will come off like magic.

2) For the smell, I would use a little vinegar in a cup overnight. My grandmother swears by it.

Good luck!

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L.S.

answers from Dallas on

Try heating the vinegar in the microwave until it boils and then leave overnite. See if that works.
Good luck,
L.

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A.S.

answers from Dallas on

I put half a lemon in the microwave for 2 minutes. Works great!

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J.R.

answers from Wichita Falls on

Cut up a lemon and put it in a bowl of water and run microwave.

C.F.

answers from Dallas on

have you tried boiling some vinegar in there. it is so good for cleaning hopefully that will help

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G.G.

answers from Dallas on

You might also try cleaning any filters you can find, using whatever solution you decide to try. They may be trapping some of the odor and recirculating it when you cook.

Good luck!!

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B.S.

answers from Dallas on

My mother had this problem at work. They tried the lemons in water thing but the woman microwaved the lemons too long and they ended up with a melted bowl and charred mess. Make sure that you use a microwave safe bowl.

In the end, they used coffee grounds in a bowl left inside of the microwave over night. That seemed to absorb the odor. Now if they could only get it out of the ceiling tiles.

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P.B.

answers from Tyler on

The advice I have read below all sounds like it should work, but if it does not:

Odoban (not sure how to spell it): it is a disinfectant and deodorizer. I get it at Sam's. It comes in a 1 gallon container plus a spray bottle bonus.

I can tell you that it will remove shrimp smell from a trash can without scrubbing. The bag was removed from the house, but the smell was still there. I was in a hurry so I simply sprayed the Odoban between the new trash bag and the can and left for the day. I could not even smell it when I returned home.

Blessings,

P. <><

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S.A.

answers from Dallas on

Try cleaning w/ a paste made from baking soda & water.
If that doesn't work put a cup of unused coffee grounds inside & let it sit for 24 hrs. They do that w/ semi trailers, on a larger scale of course, that have had chicken in them (always smells bad), then re wash the microwave & throw that coffee out, do not attempt to use it for your morning coffee! lol
Or you can try vinegar & water!

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L.T.

answers from Dallas on

I did the same thing! We does that???? I went upstairs to run bath water and came back down into a haze of black smoke! What worked for you??

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A.D.

answers from Dallas on

Here's what has worked for me: mix 1/4 cup white vinegar with about 6 oz water in a microwave safe cup -- I usually use my pyrex measuring cup. Then microwave this for 3 minutes or more -- enough to work up a good steam inside the microwave. Then immediately rub it all down with a warm cloth. Hope it works for you!

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T.K.

answers from Abilene on

cut up a lemon and put it ina bowl of water and place it in there for five minutes on high and leave overnight, should absorb the odor, if not sprinkle with baking soda and leave overnight.

V.M.

answers from Lubbock on

Fill a bowl with vinegar microwave it for a few minutes and let it sit for at least a few hrs. This should alleviate most of the smell. The rest will go away with time and use.

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H.L.

answers from Dallas on

I don't think you can use oven cleaner on a microwave, unless you want to be shopping for a new microwave! ;-)

Try making a paste with baking soda & water, rubbing the paste all on the inside and let it sit with the door closed overnight. Then wipe it out with fresh water in the morning. That may take some of the smell out, but beyond that, you may just have to let the smell wear off.

Good luck!

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