How to remove smoke smell from a microwave

Step by step

1. 1

   Make sure it's safe, then unplug

   Wait until there's no more smoke and the oven has cooled. Unplug it before cleaning, and take out the burnt food.

   Why: You'll be reaching inside, and the source of the smoke needs to be gone before cleaning helps.

2. 2

   Wipe out loose soot and char

   Remove the turntable and wash it in warm soapy water. Wipe loose soot and charred bits from the walls, ceiling, floor and door with a damp cloth, rinsing the cloth often.

   Why: Soot and char are the odor source. Removing the loose layer first keeps you from smearing it around.

3. 3

   Steam the cavity

   Plug the oven back in, heat a bowl of water for 2 to 3 minutes, and leave the door closed for a few minutes.

   Why: Steam softens the smoke film stuck to the walls so it wipes off.

4. 4

   Wipe everything again

   Carefully remove the hot bowl and wipe the whole cavity, including the ceiling and door, with a warm wet cloth.

   Why: This removes the softened film that carries the smoke smell.

5. 5

   Deodorize with lemon water

   Heat a bowl of water with lemon slices for 2 to 4 minutes, let it stand 2 minutes, then wipe again. Repeat the steam-and-wipe if any smoke smell remains.

   Why: Lemon water is the manufacturer-recommended deodorizer, and the extra steam lifts residue the first pass missed.

6. 6

   Air out the kitchen too

   Open windows, run the range hood or fans, and wipe nearby counters and cabinets if smoke reached them. Leave the microwave door open to air.

   Why: Smoke settles on surfaces around the microwave as well, and they'll keep the room smelling.

Why a microwave keeps smelling of smoke

When food smokes or chars in a microwave, the smoke leaves fine particles and a sticky film on the cavity walls, ceiling and door, plus charred bits stuck to the floor. Each time you heat something afterward, steam picks up odor from that residue and carries it into the kitchen and into your food.

That's the same mechanism behind all smoke smell: the odor lives in residue on surfaces, so cleaning removes it and airing out alone doesn't. Dry or starchy foods such as popcorn and bread are the most common culprits.

Use water, steam and lemon, not chemical cleaners

LG's care guide says not to use chemical cleaners inside the cavity, because steam picks up the residue and can taint food. Samsung's guide also allows a wipe with white vinegar and water. Clean the outside with a soft cloth and mild detergent, never an abrasive pad.

If the smell was burnt food rather than heavy smoke, the steps in burnt smell in a microwave are usually enough.

By situation

Food caught fire in the microwave

Keep the door closed and switch the microwave off so the fire is starved of air. Only clean once everything is cool. If flames don't go out quickly, leave and call 911. After a fire, check for damage before using the oven again, and if anything looks melted, scorched or sparks, stop using it.

Smoke smell spread through the house

Clean the microwave first, then ventilate and wipe surfaces near it. For a bigger spread, the steps in burnt smell in a house apply.

The smell is still strong after one round

Wipe the cavity with white vinegar and water, then heat 2 cups of water with lemon juice or tea bags on high for about 5 minutes and leave the door closed 10 to 30 minutes. Repeat as needed.

Yellow or brown stains remain on the ceiling

Steam and wipe again with a soft cloth. Some discoloration from heavy smoke may stay even when the smell is gone.

What not to do

• Don't spray chemical cleaners inside the cavity. Steam can pick up the residue and taint food.
• Don't heat plain water for a long time in a smooth, clean cup. It can superheat and erupt when disturbed. Follow the manual's heating times.
• Don't use abrasive pads or scrapers. They can scratch the interior and exterior finish.
• Don't mask the smell with a bowl of air freshener or a candle. The smoke film keeps releasing odor whenever the oven heats.

Other methods that work

Vinegar wipe

Wipe the interior with white vinegar and water before the lemon steam to help cut the smoke film.

Caution: Rinse-wipe with plain water, and never combine vinegar with bleach products.

Tea-bag steam

Two cups of water with tea bags, heated about 5 minutes and left with the door closed 10 to 30 minutes, is another manufacturer-listed deodorizing step.

Stain still there?

It smells of smoke every time it runs

Residue is still on the ceiling, door or around the seal. Steam and wipe again carefully.

It smells electrical or plastic rather than food

That isn't a food smell. Stop using the microwave and have it checked or replaced.

Safety

• If food catches fire, keep the door closed and turn the microwave off. If the fire doesn't go out quickly, leave and call 911.
• Water heated alone can superheat and erupt. Follow the manual's heating times; FDA notes adding a substance before heating greatly reduces the risk.

Never mix cleaning products; see chemicals you must never combine.

Questions

Smoke elsewhere

• Smoke: what causes it and how to remove it
• Smoke in a car
• Smoke in clothes
• Smoke in the house

Other smells in a microwave

• How to remove burnt smell from a microwave (burnt popcorn too)
• How to remove fish smell from a microwave