Smell from the microwave: how to remove, get rid of burning

Any equipment needs special care, a microwave oven is no exception. If you ignore the rules, expect it to break irrevocably. An unpleasant odor inside the camera is a common problem that requires an urgent solution.

To prevent odors of spoiled food or burning, it is recommended to regularly wash and clean the oven. If washing is ineffective, turn to powerful products. In this article we will tell you how to “painlessly” remove odor from a microwave.

Why do unpleasant odors appear?

If previously the stove was used mainly for heating food, now it can defrost and cook any food. With the expansion of functionality, troubles that appear at inopportune times have increased. The first place among them is occupied by rotten odors, which can arise due to untimely cleaning of surfaces.

Some products may emit an unpleasant “aroma” when heated, so after cooking it is recommended to treat the equipment with special solutions. It can be quite difficult to get rid of burnt food, but the right sprays, liquids or pastes can handle them.

Precautionary measures

In order not to damage the device, you need to act carefully when getting rid of aromas. Prohibited:

use utensils made of metal or coated, and also place cleaners in closed jars;
use detergents containing abrasive particles. Otherwise, scratches will appear on plastic surfaces;
allow the microwave door to depressurize - there should not be even the tiniest crack;
wash the mica plate located on the right side wall of the device - it can easily be damaged when manipulating with a sponge or brush.

In enameled microwaves, do not use compounds based on caustic acids, otherwise the coating will begin to bubble. It is also prohibited to operate the device if the glass or protective screen is damaged: this leads to leakage of microwaves.

Household chemicals

The traditional method of control is to use a liquid, paste or spray to care for metal or ceramics. They are all quite simple to use:

you need to apply the composition to the inner surface,
wait a couple of hours
then remove with a soft sponge or cloth.

Thanks to active components, they eliminate the effects of cooking.

You can use dishwashing detergent. Dissolve a couple of drops in a glass of water, put it inside, and boil at maximum for 5 minutes. Dried pieces of food soften and can be easily removed with a soft sponge.

Vinegar

The last available method is to boil a 9% vinegar solution in the microwave. Fill a suitable container with water and dissolve a couple of tablespoons of acid in it. Then it is placed in a microwave device and heated at maximum power for 10 minutes.

After this, the nasty amber disappears, and the dirt and scale softens so that it can be easily removed with a towel or paper napkin. Now all that remains is to simply wipe the internal surfaces of the oven and kitchen appliances.

Home Recipes

You can get rid of the “trail” after fish, garlic, burnt food, and burning with improvised substances that are found in almost every home. Lemon, soda or vinegar solution will quickly remove even stubborn odors.

Important! After treating the surfaces, dry the microwave and try reheating the food. Sometimes the appearance of burning is associated with internal malfunctions of the device. Contact the service center to find out and fix the problem.

Burn

If you go too far with the time or power level, you may find burnt popcorn or a sandwich. If you suddenly smell burnt, use folk remedies: lemon or vinegar.

Recipes:

It is necessary to mix citric acid with freshly squeezed lemon juice in equal proportions and thoroughly wipe the surfaces with a cloth or soft napkin.
Prepare a small container that is suitable for use in a microwave oven. Squeeze the juice of one lemon and leave it in for 30 seconds.
Did not help? Cut one lemon into several pieces and place in a container of water. Place in the microwave, turn on and leave for 8-10 minutes. Once boiling, reduce power level and leave for another 4 minutes. To be more effective, the procedure can be repeated by adding any dishwashing liquid to the water.
“Frying” lemon will help get rid of the burning. The lemon is cut into slices, placed on a plate and placed in the oven for 4-5 minutes. It can catch fire, so it’s better not to leave the microwave and monitor the process.
Another solution is vinegar, which is placed in the oven for 7-8 minutes. After boiling, turn off the device and ventilate for several hours.
Vinegar is also effective as a cleaning liquid. Mix nine percent vinegar and water in proportions of one to one. Wash all surfaces with a dampened cloth and dry the equipment.

Fish

After cooking or heating fish in a microwave oven, a persistent “trail” will definitely remain, which will not disappear even after washing and airing. Effective ways to eliminate such odors: coffee and soda solutions.

Recipes:

This recipe requires patience, but is quite simple. Place freshly ground coffee on a large flat plate and leave for 24 hours. The time depends on the level of aroma; for a weak one, several hours will be enough. To combat old and caustic ones, you need to keep the coffee inside for 2-3 days.
Here coffee is used as a cleaning agent. Brew a strong drink and wipe the surfaces, leave for 2 hours. Then be sure to remove the liquid with warm water and dry the device thoroughly.
Dissolve 2-3 tablespoons of baking soda in a quarter glass of water. Using a napkin or soft sponge, apply the finished mixture to the walls and leave for 3-4 hours. After drying, the procedure must be repeated. After repeating the treatment, rinse off the soda with cool water, dry the stove and open the door.

Fat

When heating food without a lid, be prepared for a greasy residue that may smell unpleasant. Wash the microwave with cleaning liquid or a special spray. If cleaning does not help, use salt or activated carbon.

Recipes:

To eliminate the smell of old fat, you need to place 100 g of salt in the oven for 8-10 hours. The container must be open.
All methods are good in fighting, so activated carbon comes in handy. Grind 5-7 charcoal tablets and leave for several hours or overnight. To secure the results, wash the microwave with a weak detergent solution.

Helpful information

Tips to help effectively and safely remove burning smell from microwaves:

Regardless of which product was chosen to combat the burning smell, the device must first be washed from the inside. There should be no particles of burnt fat, crumbs or other food debris left in it.
If food is burnt in the microwave, do not put off cleaning it.
All compounds used to eliminate the burning smell from the surface of the device must be thoroughly washed off so that it does not penetrate into food in the future.
When servicing your microwave oven, make sure that moisture and detergents do not get into the ventilation openings. Their blockage can cause damage to the device.
Before you start washing the device, you need to unplug it.

You will find useful tips and recommendations for eliminating burning smells in this section.

Alternative remedies

Use regular toothpaste with mint or menthol as a cleanser. Apply it to the surface, leave for 3-4 hours, rinse with a damp cloth or napkin.

A popular method is herbal decoctions. Thyme, lavender and mint work great if your appliances smell burnt. Choose one or all at once to be sure of the result. Brew the herbs and place the resulting liquid in the microwave for 30 minutes. After treatment, wipe the walls with a dry cloth or towel.

Causes

The reasons for this phenomenon can be different: burnt bread when trying to prepare golden toast, hot sandwiches or pizza, or simple non-compliance with the cooking and heating times.

Fortunately, it’s easy to get rid of the persistent “amber” of burnt food at home using improvised methods - those that are found in any apartment:

Regular fresh milk.
A little baking soda.
Any toothpaste.
Lemon: whole fruit or concentrated acid - in powder or liquid form.
Vinegar.
Store-bought chemical cleaning products.
As well as various aromatic herbs that are used for cooking.

Below we will look at each of the methods that will help in this situation. At the end of the article you will find recommendations on how to avoid a similar situation in the future, and how to properly operate the equipment so that it does not become clogged and does not accumulate different aromas. These same techniques will work when cleaning your refrigerator.

What should not be done in a microwave oven?

Some products have a negative impact on the operation of equipment. Rough substances can damage the coating and ruin the device.

Do not use toxic mixtures and powders: the smallest particles can eat into surfaces and settle on products. Neglecting safety rules can affect not only equipment, but also harm your health. The list of prohibited products for microwave ovens includes:

Abrasive substances (pastes, powders), except fine gels.
Emulsions containing bleach.
Aromatic diffusers, deodorants.

What can't you do?

Not all products are equally good at combating unpleasant odors. There are compounds and devices that cannot be used. These include:

abrasive powders - hard particles will scratch the walls of the oven, which will render it unusable;
metal and hard sponges - they can damage the protective layer that covers the inside of the device;
caustic solutions and acids of high concentration - they are not used due to the high probability of damaging the device.

Most microwave ovens are covered with a layer of enamel, which tends to break down when exposed to aggressive influences. Therefore, only gentle formulations should be used to care for it. It is recommended to make a choice in favor of liquid detergents: gels or solutions.

How to prevent unpleasant odors

In order not to search on the Internet for what and how to remove annoying “fragrances,” you should follow a few simple rules. With them, your equipment will always remain “fresh”.

Leave the door open after using the microwave. Ventilation will prevent microparticles from settling on the coating.
When heating food, use the lid to forget about old odors and increase the “life” of the electrical appliance.
Clean and wash regularly. Clean surfaces with a special cloth or damp sponge.
For prevention, experts advise sometimes cleaning corners, joints and seams with toothpaste. The paste acts as a disinfectant and protects against dangerous bacteria.
After each cooking, clean the walls of soot and deposits with a sponge or damp cloth/kitchen towel.

Dried food particles begin to emit a pungent, rotten smell over time. To get rid of contaminants, boil an open container of water in the microwave.

Care instructions

Preventative cleaning of the microwave oven should be carried out at least once a week. If you use the device frequently, wipe the walls every three days.
Once a month, clean the surfaces of the chamber with a solution of citric acid or vinegar, and carry out a comprehensive cleaning of removable and non-removable elements.
Natural ground coffee will help quickly neutralize unpleasant odors in the oven - leave it overnight in the switched off appliance.
The appearance of burning is caused by drops of fat settling on the walls of the oven - periodically use gels with an anti-grease effect for washing.
Keep an aromatic pouch with charcoal, rice and salt in your kitchen - it can be placed in the oven overnight to absorb stench.
Clean in the classic sequence - from top to bottom from the far corner to the door.