How to Get Bad Smells out of a Microwave

Co-authored by Raymond Chiu and Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: September 16, 2021 References Approved

It only takes one yucky item to stink up the microwave, leaving it to smell like burnt popcorn, rancid soup, or some other foul odor. Before you resort to any harsh chemicals, consider testing out some cleaning remedies that are all-natural, like vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice. You can also use the microwave to mask the odor with a more pleasant scent, like coffee or berries.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using Natural Cleaning Remedies

1
Avoid heating anything made of metal in the microwave. Foods and beverages take in the heat created by a microwave, while metallic items cause this heat to bounce around. This may start a fire and/or damage the inner-workings of your appliance, leaving you with far worse problems than a bad smell.^{[1]
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- Don’t put any kind of metal into the microwave—both aluminum foil and metal utensils can damage your appliance.^{[2]
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2
Heat up white vinegar mixed with water to remove any bad smells.^{[3]
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Expert Source

Raymond Chiu
House Cleaning Professional
[v161113_b03] 8 May 2020.} Boil 1 cup (0.24 L) of water and 4 tablespoons (59 mL) of white vinegar by heating it in the microwave for at least 4 minutes. Once the mixture is steaming, let it sit for another 5 minutes before you open the door and wipe out the inside with a damp rag or paper towel. You can use a mixture of soap and water to clean out the microwave.^{[4]
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- After the microwave boils the water for four minutes, let the bowl stay in the microwave for another 15 to cool off and keep freshening up the scent.^{[5]
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  Raymond Chiu
  House Cleaning Professional
  [v161113_b03] 8 May 2020.}
- Depending on the wattage of your microwave, it might take less than 4 minutes for the vinegar mixture to boil. Check the user manual for your microwave to see if the manufacturer lists any recommended heating times.^{[6]
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3
Deodorize your microwave with lemon juice if you don’t want to use vinegar. Stir 4 teaspoons (20 mL) of lemon juice and 1 cup (0.24 L) of water into a small bowl, and heat the solution for 4 minutes or until it’s boiling. Keep the door closed for 5 minutes to let the mixture cool down, and to let the steam spread throughout the smelly microwave.^{[7]
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- A single lemon slice contains about 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) of juice. You’ll need half of a lime to get the same amount.
- As an alternative, place 2-4 lemon slices on the bottom of a small container filled with 1 cup (0.24 L) of water. Microwave the mixture for 4 minutes, or until it reaches a boiling, steaming temperature.
- You can use lime, orange, or any other type of citrus juice if you’d prefer not to use lemon.
4
Remove bad stains and smells with baking soda if you’d prefer a less acidic method. Dip a sponge or rag into the mixture of 5 teaspoons (25 mL) of baking soda and 1 US quart (0.95 L) of warm water. Use this solution to thoroughly scrub all parts of the microwave. Clean the appliance by wiping in a circular motion. If splattered food has solidified inside of the microwave, apply 0.5 teaspoons (2.5 mL) of baking soda to a sponge or cloth to attack the stain more directly. ^{[8]
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Expert Source

Raymond Chiu
House Cleaning Professional
[v161113_b03] 8 May 2020.}
- This method accomplishes 2 things at once, as it allows you to clean and freshen your microwave!

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Introducing a Nicer Scent

1
Warm up some coffee grounds to make your microwave smell like java. Place a container of 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of ground coffee mixed with 0.5 cups (0.12 L) of water in the microwave and heat the mixture for around 3 minutes. This won’t just remove bad odors, but it will also leave your microwave smelling like fresh coffee!^{[9]
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- This method works best with coffee grounds that have already been used.
2
Warm up vanilla extract instead of coffee to create a sweeter smell. Heat a mixture of 4 teaspoons (20 mL) of vanilla extract and 2 cups (0.47 L) of water for at least 2 minutes, or until it’s boiling and creating steam. Don’t take the bowl out right away—while the mixture is still hot, let the steam spread throughout the microwave to overwhelm all of the bad odors. Wait at least half an hour before removing the bowl and dumping out the mixture.^{[10]
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- Remove any extra moisture from the microwave by wiping it out with a cloth or paper towel.
3
Put a bowl of cloves in the microwave overnight to add a spicy aroma instead of heating something up. Pour 27.5 grams (0.97 oz) of cloves into a container and set it inside the microwave. There’s no heating involved for this method—instead, you’ll shut the door and leave the cloves to sit all night. The closed microwave door allows the spicy aroma of cloves to fill your microwave and cancel out any bad smells.^{[11]
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4
Heat up a covered bowl of berries if you want your microwave to smell fruity. Take a mixture of your favorite berries and place them in a small container. Secure the top of the bowl with plastic wrap, and microwave the berries for several minutes. As the fruit heats up, their scent will begin to spread through the microwave, thus cancelling out any bad odors.^{[12]
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- You can use any kind of berry for this. Make sure you like the scent of whichever fruit you choose to microwave.
- Try to keep the plastic wrap from touching any of the berries. This helps keep the berries smelling fresh, even if the plastic wrap melts.

Expert Q&A
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Question

How can I freshen my microwave?

Raymond Chiu
House Cleaning Professional
Raymond Chiu is the Director of Operations for MaidSailors.com, a residential and commercial cleaning service based in New York City that provides home and office cleaning services at affordable prices. He has a Bachelors in Business Administration and Management from Baruch College.

Raymond Chiu

House Cleaning Professional

Expert Answer

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Fill a microwave-safe bowl with 2 tablespoons of white vinegar and half a cup of water and put the bowl inside the microwave. Turn the microwave on high for 5-minutes, and let the bowl sit for an additional 15 minutes. The steam will loosen up the debris and remove the odor in the microwave. You can then use a cloth to wipe the inside of the microwave.
Question

How much water is needed for the baking soda method?

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You’ll need 1 US quart (or 0.95 liters) of warm water to use the baking soda method.
Question

How do I get the smell of fish out of my microwave?

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Try replacing the smell with something sweeter, like berries. Cover a bowl of berries with plastic wrap and heat it up for several minutes.

Things You’ll Need

Using Natural Cleaning Remedies

White vinegar
Water
Lemon juice
Lime juice (optional)
Orange juice (optional)
Baking soda

Introducing a Nicer Scent

Ground coffee
Vanilla extract
Cloves
Berries (various kinds)
Plastic wrap

Warnings

If you heat up any bowls or containers, make sure that the material is microwave-safe.

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Let heated liquids sit in the microwave for several minutes before removing them.

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