How To Get Rid Of Microwave Odors?

Microwave odors, like many of the household odors we experience, are caused by leftover food, food particles and residue from spills. If we clean the microwave on a regular basis and don’t allow food stains to build up we can eliminate most of the microwave odors.

This doesn’t guarantee that some odors will linger even after a good cleaning. We may have to devote a few extra minutes to cleaning the accessible parts of the microwave interior then move on to cleaning some of the places that aren’t easy to get to.

Some Disassembly Required
Unless you have absolutely no mechanical aptitude and no confidence in your ability to take something apart and put it back together, you should probably ask someone else to take the next few steps for you.

A complete cleaning of a microwave involves removing the cabinet/cover. Take the screws out of the bottom, sides and back. You should be able to slide the body off, but watch for clips and spring-type brackets that might help hold the cover in place. Once you have lifted this off, clean up the internal areas with a vacuum to remove dust and other dirty areas. These can be the source of odors not associated with food stains etc.

If there are food residues around the fan and exhaust areas, clean these with a cloth and all-purpose spray cleaner. Once you have put the cabinet back on, make a mixture of water and white vinegar (half and half), put it in the microwave and run the microwave on high for a few minutes. The mixture should boil in about five minutes. The vinegar/water mix will give off enough moisture to remove most odors. This may even help loosen any stubborn food residue. Finish cleaning the interior surfaces with a sponge or damp cloth and you are ready to use the appliance again, without the odors.

Those Odors
Microwave odors may be caused by food that is burned because you left it inside too long. This happens with microwave popcorn and with some other types of food. A good hand cleaning and the vinegar/water plan will take care of most of this lingering smell.

For food residue and spills, you can usually get rid of odors by simply cleaning the inside with a cloth or sponge. Moisten this with water or a natural-scent cleanser. Make sure you wipe the surfaces down thoroughly with water after using cleansers. In most cases, the simple acting of wiping the food away will take care of the odors. If you smell something that seems like it is caused by overheated electrical parts, make a visual inspection for signs of blackened wires, stuck fans etc. If you suspect a problem of this nature you will probably be better off replacing your microwave. Prices have dropped dramatically in recent years. Microwave repair may be possible but it may not be practical.

Take a few minutes to perform a basic cleaning, using soap, water, vinegar or lemon juice. This will get rid of microwave odors.

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