Stinky Microwave - Can It Ever Be the Same Again?

Here is the info I found from Martha Stewart:

http://www.marthastewart.com/article/cleaning-appliances?...

You might want to clean it with some amonia and vinegar. Add a little of both in a bowl of water and wash the inside with a damp cloth. Also heard if you put a half of a lemon in the microwave it gets rid of any smells.
Hope this helps.

Cut up a fresh lemon and place it in a bowl of water then place it in the microwave for 2 minutes. Should work!

Put half of a lemon in a bowl of water and nuke for about 1 min. It should take some of the awful smell and stains out.

Put a dish of straight vinegar in there and cook it for about 3 minutes - Then scrub it down with baking soda.

D.,
My daughter did that once with a bagel!! It smelled for weeks. It helps to Microwave a cup of 1/2 vinegar and 1/2 water. We burned candles, etc... Also, that stuff you sprinkle in the carpets and then vacuum up helped a lot too.
UGH!
Good luck!
E.

How about putting in baking soda and water and cooking that or maybe lemon juice. Also wipe it out with baking soda paste and put in a bowl of water and cook that for a while to see if you can steam some of the film off. Also vinegar does great cleaning/ deodorizing things but for heavens sake RINSE OUT THE BAKING SODA FIRST....because, after all, our goal is not a "science fair volcano" LOL! I couldn't resist the mental picture on that one...:) Good luck! I believe you can definitely fix this but you are probably gonna be trying several things and it will probably take some time. Also, if you have a filter in there for air vent I think you'll need to remove and replace or wash depending on the type that it it. GOOD LUCK!!! You CAN do it!!!
S.

I have heard this works but have never tried it........ boil about 1/2 white vinegar in it.

This same thing happened to us a few months ago when our sitter goofed making popcorn! It was so bad it set off our fire alarm and the police showed up! Not to worry though - no fire was started and I was able to "save" the microwave!
First use Clorox wipes to get all the butter & stains off the microwave. Then using baking soda & water, make a thick paste and cover the entire inside of the microwave. This will absorb odoars. Let sit 20 minutes, then wipe off and clean with Clorox wipes again.Then slice up fresh lemons and boil them in water in glass bowl - no cover - on high inside the microwave. REPEAT this whole process SEVERAL times during the next 3 days... Also, it's a good idea to continuously "air" out the house over the next few days - open doors & windows to allow a breeze to blow through, and if you have ceiling fans - keep them going! The smell in our house was so bad, the burnt popcorn odor even lingered in our closets!!! It took about two weeks of cleaning to have it gone... good luck!

first i would wipe it out with straight vinegar then i would try putting cut up lemon into a big bowl of water & then running it until the water boils, then wipe out. i hope this works for you!

Nuke 1/2 cup vinegar for a minute and wipe it out. It will probably still be yellow, but vinegar is tops for removing smells for me.

Have you tried vinegar or baking soda? I don't know if they would work, but, its worth a try..

After cleaning it w/ vinegar, I'd put one of those baking soda boxes while the microwave is not in use for the next few days. ~C~

if you heat up some vinegar in a bowl for a minute or so and then take it out and wipe the micro with the warm vinegar it may help it. i know that is how i clean my micro. it will bring tears to your eyes something about the warm vinegar smell makes your eyes water.

I put a bowl of white vinegar in the microwave and zapped it to boiling. Then let it sit for a while and repeated a few times. This took the smell out. I also put bowls of vinegar throughout the kitchen because the smell seemed to be everywhere. This really helped and made the smell go away.

Okay - the best way to go about this is two-fold from my experience! My husband set popcorn to cook for 20 minutes one time by accident and fortunately stopped it prior to setting the house on fire! However it left a stinky, yucky mess! Take a bowl and mix water and vinegar and microwave it for about 30 seconds. Then wipe out the microwave with the mixture. Afterwards - take a fresh lemon. Cut it in half and put it in a new bowl of water. microwave for a minute. Then take a clorox wipe and wipe out your microwave again. I promise the smell will be MUCH better and some of the yellow will come out, but not all of it.

Try heating your microwave for 2 minutes then putting in a bowl vinegar and let it sit for quite a while. That might take out the stink. Good Luck

Actually my son (13) caught my micro on fire just a few weeks back... the smoke was soooo bad in the house, I had to wash the walls, curtains, replace the micro,etc....

I'm a big, BIG fan of Vinegar. I washed the curtains in it, set several bowls of it around the house, in my cabinets, etc to get rid of the smell. Just a med size bowl in the micro (keep changing it out, the vinegar will smell like the smoke after a day or two.)... within 3 days, my whole house was back to normal. Not sure what to due about the yellowing, but it will work on the smell.

Vinegar.

Put it in a bowl, at least a cup, and let it sit overnight.

For the yellowness, try Clorox Kitchen Spray with bleach.

I don't know if this will help but it is something I do when I am cleaning the microwave. Put a cup of vinegar in a microwavable bowl (I use a 2 cup pyrex measuring cup)and set the timer for about two minutes. Let the vinegar sit for a few minutes (so it cools down). What is suppose to happen is the vinegar helps loosen the dirt and stuff. Vinegar all works at getting rid of odors so maybe this will help??

yes wash it with vineger and set a cup or bowl in there for over night...(with vineger )

It takes elbow greese but use some baking soda as a scrub and wash inside. I thought my granddaughter had blackened mine and it came off with a hard rub. I have some Amway stuff that works great and I use it on my cook top too it is called chrome and glass cleaner and it only takes a little bit to do any job. It has lasted me for years. Well worth it. You can order it online at Quixtra.com G. W

try this: put a cup of water in your microwave.....set it for a few minutes, enough to get it to steam....then take a paper towel and wipe out the inside. The steam from the water will attach to the inside of the microwave and you can wipe off anything so easily. do this a few times until the smell is gone!!!

I think I would try putting some vinegar in it and start the microwave for a few minutes. This usually gets rid of most odors. Use Cider Vinegar it smells some better...Good Luck,
N.

Try microwaving either a glass of water with lemon in it or a class of vinegar. I remeber reading that somewhere years ogo. Also, maybe check and see if Hints from Heloise has a website and see if there is a suggestion there.

We once accidently left broccoli in the microwave and went on vacation for a week. STINKY when we came back. I washed the inside down with baking soda and water. Then we unplugged it and put it outside with the door open for about a week. Good as new after that. You might also put a small dish of plain baking soda inside it---that helps with odors in the refrigerator. Good luck!

I have to second the Solumel. It will get rid of the odor, and the color. Plus it is completly safe.

Generously pour baking soda onto the turntable and leave it over night. Dump the baking soda out in the morning and wipe down the whole inside of the microwave with a baking soda and water mixture. This should get rid of the smell, I watched this on How Clean is Your House.

Try putting a bowl of plain white vinegar in it and leaving it there. Don't turn on the microwave, but just let the bowl sit there. Overnight would probably be good.

Or, make a paste of baking soda and vinegar and scrubbing the inside with that.

K.

Something that will always absorb odor is newspaper. If you take several sheets of newspaper and wad then up loosely, then place them inside the microwave and close the door for about a day you should notice a difference.

Another thing I found that handles odor are crystals that can be purchased at PetSmart. We once had a critter die inside a wall (caused a horrible odor). Our choices were to cut into sheetrock and try to find the odor causing bacteria, or rid the area of the odor. A scientist that I know recommended the crystals. The crystals are specifically for odor (I think PetSmart sells them as an odor deterrent for pet smells). Scientifically, the crystals put out molecules that "colide" with the molecules in the odor which causes them to "break up." I was skeptical, but tried it and found it to be extremely effective.

I use them all over the house whenever there is an odor to get rid of and within a day, we are good to go!

take fresh lemon and slice it and stick a few pieces in a mug and heat it in the microwave for about 3 minutes. take it out and wipe it down wit a rag maybe that will help. you might want to try it a couple of times.....

One thing you can do is boil some water on the stove and once it has reached the boiling point, pour it into a preferably glass bowl. Add about a teaspoon of pure peppermint oil (not extract) to the bowl and place it in the microwave. The minty steam will seap in to the open areas inside the microwave. When it cools you can repeat the process by just reheating the water to boiling each time so that the steam will continue to keep carrying the scent. This is also helpful in your home as well. You can mix 2 teaspoons of peppermint oil to a cup and a 1/2- 2 cups of water into a spray bottle and mist your house. The oil based scent lasts longer and won't damage surfaces or linens in your home. You can find the peppermint oil in most of your healthfood stores.
Hope this helps!
L. in Burleson
* Stay at home mom of 6 with only 3 left at home. Married for 12 years to an AWESOME man!

My husband did that once and I did the same thing, cleaned it over and over again. All that really helped was time. I finally diminshed over time.

I would try vinegar.

my only suggestion is to try combination of baking soda and vinegar. boil water in the microwave until it covers all surface of the microwave inside before and after using the vinegar and baking soda. Good luck and let us know if this works - you may even want to add some vinegar to the water you boil (use just a cup of water, try a glass measuring cup).

Try washing it out with Arm and Hammer Baking Soda and/or Lemon Juice. Both take away strong odors!!! After washing it with both, sprinkle some baking soda in the microwave and leave for approximately 1-2 hours. Then wash it out and you should have a clean smelling microwave again!

Hi D.,

Try this: mix some vinegar and water in a coffee cup and add a splash of lemon juice. Turn the microwave with the solution inside for 5 mins. That should help and get the smell out. If it's really bad, try repeating every couple of hours or so.

I have put a 1/2 teaspoon of vinegar in a large bowl of water and microwaved that for a few minutes. It is supposed to absorb the smell. We had the same incident at our house. Our microwave was moveable so we stuck it on our patio for a few days with the door open. This helped get the smell out of the house. If yours is the built-in style, best to try to the vinegar first. The smell of popcorn lingered for a week or so until we used the vinegar and then we were good to go! Hope it helps!

You can try bleaching it out or greased lighting. I have also tried putting vinigar in a cup with a piece of bread over it on other smells and it works ok. Good luck!!!

put lemon juice, water and baking soda in a bowel and microwave until all is evaporated then let sit 5min don't open the door then wipe down with remaining baking soda left in bowl good luck!

D., mix liquid soap with vinegar, wash down the inside of your microwave, dry. Place a small dish/bowl with vinegar in it and let set overnight with the door closed. You may have to do this several nights but I think you will smell it less each day......GOOD LUCK, L. R.

http://www.wikihow.com/Clean-a-Microwave
Try this link

Mama J

Try soaking a towel in white vinegar and "cooking" the towel for a couple of minutes. The vinegar should help get rid of the smell. You may have to wring out and repeat a few times. It worked for me once! Good Luck!

Place some vinegar/water mix in a bowl and microwave for around 10 minutes then clean. This helps a lot but it will take time to get rid of the smell completely.

well, this is the 54th message you will have and if you need something else - put a dish of water and a slice of lemon in it. Microwave it for a mins or so and leave it in there - my parents do that and it works.

Good luck.

Sorry to tell you this...

Microwaves are cheap. Get a new one because you will never get that stink out! Every time you turn that thing on it will pump that burnt stench out into your house.

blessings,

W. M.
www.startgettingresults.com

Try wiping the unit out with bleach to get the stains out. Let it sit for a minute and then wipe dry. If it still smells after using bleach, try vinegar.

Try wiping it down with vinegar and water.

I have actually done the same thing, I am not a very good cook LOL! The smell will eventually go away on it's own, it may take a couple of days but it does go away.

Try putting about a quarter cup of lemon juice mixed with a little water in a bowl and heat it for 40 seconds inside your microwave,(uncovered), and then just let the bowl stay in there until you need to use your microwave again, it also helps loosen stuck on foods, so you can use a damp clothe to wipe entire surface of the microwave. You may need to repeat a few times. I do this in my microwave about once a month to help keep it fresh and clean. Hope it works for you!!
Sue
P.S.
I am a first time mom of a beautiful 15 month old girl. She was a very special surprise, as I am 45 years old, and thought that I was not able to have children. She keeps me very busy.

Vinegar always works or baking soda.
B. in Texas

My husband burned up a microwave rice cooker a couple of years ago in our microwave. That much burnt plastic made the most noxious smell I've ever breathed in. I finally got it out by microwaving lemon slices. This is an old trick that I learned in my college days of working in restaurants. The yellow never really came out fully, but after doing this a couple of times the smell was completely gone.

First put a damp dishtowel in a microwave safe bowl. Next place the lemons on top of the towel. Microwave for 30 seconds at a time. After you are done, use the towel to wipe out the microwave. The steam will break up any cooked on messes in the unit, while the acid from the lemons makes a good cleaning agent that soaks into the towel. Plus the scent from the lemons will neutralize the odor.

This worked so well for me that I use it everytime my microwave needs a good cleaning. (Pretty much every time my DH uses it!)

After you are done you can use the lemons for double duty and put them in your garbage disposal to give that a good cleaning as well.

try this - place one sliced lemon in a microwavable bowl filled with water. Place in the microwave, heat until about 1/2 of the water evaporates....

Solumel would definitely help with that!! I feel for you - I can't stand that smell! :o)

Good luck!!

I had this problem use baking soda first a heavy solution then use vinegar. it will work for you I hope, did for me.

Try setting a bowl of white vinegar in the OFF microwave for a while. Or sometimes a cut-up apple will absorb odors like that.

I would try clean your microwave by boiling a solution of 1/4 cup Vinegar and and 1 cup of water in the microwave. I will loosen splattered on food and deodorize it to . good luck Brownwood

Try placing a glass or ceramic bowl with 2 cups water and 1/2 cup vinegar in the micro for 1-2 minutes. The vinegar won't smell good but that smell will soon go away and it may take the popcorn smell with it. This is also the BEST for losening stuck on yuckiness from the walls of the micro...things just wipe away afterward.

P.S. I don't think you are supposed to mix vinegar and bleach so I wouldn't do this if you used a bleach based cleaner to clean micro recently.

Try making a paste of cherry koolaid and water and smear it on the yellow to get the grease off. Wipe it on and wipe it of with some clean water. Let me know if it works.

You can try a combination of water and white vinegar -in a microwave safe bowl -and heat it for 10 minutes. It will boil. This is how I clean all the stuck on stuff in my microwave.

Then- spray any kitchen cleaner -409 or Lysol antibacterial and wipe with wet cloth. Hope this helps!

Sometimes vinegar helps the smell. Also, you might try charcoal briquets. I know that took out musty fish smell from an old refrigerator but it took a couple of weeks.
Hope it works for you.
L.
Fort Worth

Hi D.-

You could try leaving a bowl of cat litter in the microwave for a couple of days. My parents use it in rental property refrigerators and it absorbs all the smell. It might work.

Good Luck!

T. Bramley
Blessed with love from my husband of 9 years and daughter 15 months.

I know what your going through Put a cup of vinegar in the microwave and heat it for a minute This will take the smell out You may have to do it a couple times but it'll work

Set a small dish of baking soda and a small dish of very hot water side by side inside the microwave,obviously not turning it on,leave in there for at least 2 hours.This should absorb the odor.

Hi D.,
You might try putting a small bowl or coffee mug with some vinegar and a little water to heat for a minute then let stay in there for awhile.
Vinegar is a natural cleanser, and you can eat or drink it , so it's safe. Some people keep a small amount in the kitchen in a vase or something to deoderize any smells. Hope this helps.
BF

My daughter did that too a while back. We just cleaned it up and gave it a couple of days and the stink will slowly go away, at least it did with ours. Give it time. Hope this helps.

hi D
have you tried puting a bowl of water with pine sol (lemon scent)and run the micro-weave for about a min and see if this will help the smell

Put an opened box of baking soda in the mirowave and close the door. It should get rid of the smell in a day or less.

Greased Lightening will clean it, remove the yellow and freshen it. Spray, let sit and clean, repeat as needed.

Take some newspaper and wad it up and place it in the microwave. Another way would be to take some charcoal and set it in there overnight and it should take the smell away.