How to Get Rid of a Microwave Smell When Everyone Uses It

If you share a microwave, you know the struggle. Maybe you're the considerate one that always uses a cover, while others don't even bother. Or maybe you do everything right – cover food, clean your spills – and yet those odours still find a way.

It definitely makes you think twice about sticking your food in there, doesn't it?

So what do you actually do about this?

What if your best efforts are undone by the next person who uses it?

Reality is, microwaves in shared spaces are a team effort. And no matter how well we clean, basic microwave etiquette still needs to be present.

Let's start with what we can do:

I use my microwave for some interesting stuff at home and I never have issues. Here's my strategy: consistency and never waiting.

I keep saying this, but the same goes with oven trays, oven doors, you name it. Heat in the kitchen is your ally. So as soon as you finish heating, do a quick wipe-down while things are still warm.

With this approach, residual steam from food is all that's needed. You just need a damp cloth and you're ready to clean. Here's what I'd warn you about though: spraying cleaner directly in the microwave. It's super easy for liquid to drip into vents and damage the wiring.

What to do when consistency isn't enough?

Lemon

I love salmon, and I used to bring it to work until coworkers complained I was stinking up the lunch room. What I learnt later was that the citric acid in lemons is a fantastic deodorant. In fact, it's so good that we use it in our cleaning liquid formula. Here's what to do:

1. Grab a microwave-safe bowl (glass and ceramic are my go-to's at home).

2. Cut the lemon in half.

3. Add a cup of water and squeeze the lemon juice from each half into the bowl.

4. Mix the solution with a spoon until it's even.

5. Heat the mixture for 5 minutes in the microwave.

6. Let the lemon water sit in the microwave for another 5 minutes (keeping the door shut).

7. Wipe everything down with a soft dry cloth or 2+ paper towels.

The reason this works is due to microwaves operating with heat and evaporation. And the natural antibacterial properties of lemons play right into that. If smells have just started, a normal water steam will suffice before any lemons need to get involved. For bowls, I avoid plastic because of studies that speak on the health effects of BPA, just as a precaution.

White Vinegar

Something about this ingredient just tickles my fancy. I think it's the price. And you know me - I'm always looking out for great deals. Anyway, it's super easy to find in the sauces aisle at Woolies. You can get several litres of white vinegar and repeat the steps above. All you need is around half a cup of vinegar in place of the lemon juice and you're set.

Although, if you're sharing microwaves, you might need a fresh water steam afterwards. Reason being, although vinegar has more cleaning power, it tends to be more pungent. So this is only good if you're able to air out the microwave for several hours after. If you can, opening windows will aid in this process.

Coffee Grounds

I've always loved filter coffee, but over my career, I started learning a few new things. Turns out, there are uses beyond coffee grounds being used to make beverages.

Instead of throwing out your usual heap, take that powder and place it in a cup. What this can do is draw out odours overnight from your microwave. Think of it like the Dementors in Harry Potter if you know that series.

The highlight of this is that it's best done with used coffee grounds since it has a more neutral scent. So you can literally blend your coffee and get added benefits from the same batch. If you don't drink coffee, a half cup of baking soda or a bag of activated charcoal works equally well here.

Of course, if you can, let your family or flatmates know of what's going on. And pray and hope they respect your little Harry Potter gimmick. For those wondering why this works, it's got to do with nitrogen and other compounds in the coffee. More on the benefits here if you want further reading on the applications.

Why microwaves get smelly in the first place

Moisture is a major amplifier to most microwave smells, be it from mould, bacteria, or burnt food. We're a family that's been around microwaves for a good couple decades, and old tricks never die. The trick is to always leave the microwave door open when you can. By doing this, even food particles and grease splatters don't cause as much of a hassle. Building on my point on microwaves using heat and vapor, it's the steam that actually fuels the odours. This is because mould and smells, especially when in confined spaces, thrive in the chaos.

What are common culprits when it comes to smells?

When I see colleagues heating their ready-to-eat MyMuscleChef meals, it gets me thinking. What happens if you leave it in there for too long by accident and the plastic starts to melt? And I know this isn't a concern for every brand, but I'm sure it happens out there somewhere.

Plastic is one example, but starchy breads and buttery popcorn are another. They're more likely to burn, and when they do, the smell is obvious. Glaringly obvious. Vinegar does well to combat these smells, but again, the basics of prompt cleanup still apply here.

But say you always do your due diligence covering foods, using microwave-safe boxes. What if you're already removing burnt debris and it's still just not enough? Well it may be time to check in on your filters (if your microwave has them).

Cleaning filters on over-the-range microwaves

For those who don't know, these are basically microwaves and range hoods 2-in-1. They sit above your stove and eat up cooking grease like a filter does. An interesting thing about these microwaves is they can come with 2 distinct filters:

• A grease filter. Under the microwave, there's a vent where cooking vapours are drawn into.
• A charcoal filter. Once air passes through the grease filter, it moves through this one, absorbing odours. It's typically located just above the microwave door and has a detachable cover. Not every model has this, but the ones that do recirculate air back into the kitchen. They never actually vent air to the outside world.

Both filters can play into burnt smells unless you change them regularly. For grease filters, you can deal with them the same way as a rangehood filter. I show you the method in this blog. For charcoal ones, you'll need them changed out once a year or so based on how much you cook. Your user manual usually has your specific type of filter and where to get replacements. If you've lost that, Google your microwave model and find out what the next steps are.

What if the burnt smells bleed into surrounding cabinetry

I recently wrote on laminate kitchen cabinets and how to clean them. I think that piece of writing is very applicable here. Although, a quick answer is to just use the lemon juice or vinegar solution from before. Otherwise, our organic cleaner also contains aloe vera that hits these smells hard. Wiping down cupboards usually suffices, but if not, repeat the same deodorising tactics.

FAQs

"I swear, no matter how well I clean, my roommates always mess things up anyway" - What do I do?

Try posting a friendly note to remind people to cover their food and clean up their spills.

"I don't like how vinegar or lemon smells" - What else can I use?

Put 4 teaspoons of vanilla extract into a mug of water. Heat that for 5 minutes and it'll be equally effective. Also, our natural cleaners work great as a final finish if you spray onto a cloth first. Again, spraying over the holes isn't ideal as the unit isn't made for taking apart and cleaning. So you run the risk of wetting the delicate electronics.

How do I clean the turntable? Any advice for me?

I'd recommend hand washing rather than using the dishwasher. It gives you more control, especially when it comes to greasy buildup. That said, if you can scrub off most of the oil first, the dishwasher is perfectly fine. Just be careful handling that piece of glass since it can get slippery, especially when it's dirty. Also, check your manual to make sure it's dishwasher-safe if you want to go that route.

Some guides recommend dish soap for the interior. Would you recommend this?

I have mixed feelings about dish soap for microwave cleaning. It's a decent quick-fix for grease, but it's not the healthiest option. I prefer natural cleaning products since they're just as effective without the drawbacks.

What's your take on some microwaves having a "steam-clean" function?

I'm not opposed to any self-cleaning functions built into machines. After all, they exist to make our lives easier and more convenient. You can rely on them for light messes, but always check around the interior to verify its work. Also, with newer microwave models, many of them are stainless steel, so always wipe with the grain. I talk about a similar concept in my stainless steel sink cleaning blog.

Parting Thoughts

Microwaves help defrost meats, heat leftovers, and soften baking ingredients. Unfortunately, these items can create all sorts of smells. Everyone slips up sometimes. From teenagers, to roommates, to family. One major splatter and things can get crazy (you should see what roast pork does). The key is effective and respectful communication when it comes to microwave care. So try to collaborate and everyone will have a good heating experience.

Did you know...

You can disinfect wooden cutting boards in the microwave in 5 minutes flat? This study proved it. All you need to do is stick your board in, put it on 'high' for 3-4 minutes and voilà. I have to say, I wrote a cutting board cleaning blog and didn't even know this until today!