Learn how to get rid of that burnt smell that is lingering in your microwave using this one simple tip! It leaves the appliance fresh smelling without even using chemicals.
My teenager loves popcorn. It's not uncommon for him to have 1-2 bags of microwave popcorn a day. Unfortunately, that means occasionally something happens and we end up with burnt popcorn.
The smell of burnt popcorn is pretty unpleasant and the after odor is even worse!
Luckily, I have now become an expert on getting rid of that stinky smell once and for all!
What You'll Need
- 2-3 Paper Towels
- 5-10 Drops Lemon Essential Oil (I get mine from Amazon)
- Water
The Easieset Way to Get Rid of the Burnt Smell in Your Microwave
STEP 1: Remove the burnt from the microwave and clean. Here's my trick for cleaning the microwave quickly.
STEP 2: Wet the paper towels and ring them out so they aren't soaked with water but still pretty moist.
STEP 3: Add about 5-10 drops of lemon essential oil to the paper towels.
STEP 4: Place the paper towels in the microwave and run it for about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes.
Pro Tip: You may want to stop the microwave and check periodically because you don't want the paper towels to completely dry in there.
STEP 5: When the microwave is finished running let the paper towel sit in the microwave for another minute or two.
The microwave will get all steamy and fill with the awesome aroma of lemon, versus the yucky burnt odor.
STEP 6: After a few minutes open up the microwave and take the paper towel and really give the inside a good wipe down. This should completely remove all of the unpleasant smells.
If your microwave still has a burnt smell then add more water to your paper towel and a few more drops of lemon essential oil. Pop it back in the microwave for another minute or two.
Free Weekly Cleaning Printable
Clean your home in under 30 minutes a day with this free Weekly Cleaning printable!
What Can I Use if I Don't Have Essential Oils?
If you don't have lemon oil on hand, you can follow the same process and use lemon juice instead. Because oils are usually more potent, you may need to repeat the process a couple of times.
Using the oil is the quickest way I have found to get rid of the smell. You can also place an open box of baking soda in the microwave after you clean it. Close the door and let it sit overnight.
In terms of cleaning the microwave, I recommend doing this before getting started using white vinegar.
Common FAQs
That depends on where the smell is coming from. If it's due to burnt food and just needs a cleaning, then yes it's totally safe to use, it will just smell bad.
However, if there is an electrical issue it is not safe and needs to be repaired or replaced.
No, absolutely not! All you need to do is simply clean it, then use our little trick for getting rid of the smell and it's like new again.
Burning food in a microwave typically does not generate carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide (CO) is primarily produced by the incomplete combustion of fuels such as natural gas, propane, gasoline, or wood. Microwaves do not burn fuel and do not produce carbon monoxide as a byproduct.
However, if you burn food to the point where it produces smoke or catches fire, it can release other harmful compounds and potentially create a fire hazard. It is important to be cautious and attentive when using a microwave to prevent food from reaching that point.
I am always amazed at how well this works. With just a few minutes time you can get rid of the burnt smell in the microwave.
Leave a Reply