No one wants a smelly microwave. It is unappealing and can rub off on the food you eat (and smell is nearly 75% taste, after all). So how exactly do you get rid of a bad smell in a microwave? Well, fortunately for us all, there are a few different ways to get rid of these bad smells.

All the methods start the same and include the use of boiling water and vinegar. This first step is imperative to getting rid of any remaining food particles that may leave a smell. Fill a microwave-safe bowl about halfway with water. Add about a tablespoon and a half of white vinegar (dishwashing liquid works, too). Microwave this concoction for about five minutes (or less if your microwave is very powerful). This process will create steam that cleanses the walls of the microwave and allows any food particles to be cleaned more easily. When you take out the container, use a paper towel to clean the interior of the microwave. Now that the interior is clean, we can work to remove the smells that still remain.

The process for getting rid of the smell involves placing a small to medium amount of vinegar, baking soda, or lemon juice inside a microwave safe bowl (we prefer using lemon for the best smell). Place the bowl in the microwave and heat it for roughly six minutes or until the liquid boils. Leave the door closed for 15 minutes to let the new smell sink in. Once the bowl is cool enough to handle, take it out and clean the interior of the microwave again. When this is done and the interior clean, leave the microwave door open overnight. By the next morning, your microwave should smell significantly fresher. Repeat as necessary until you are satisfied with the smell.

Following these steps, you should be able to freshen your microwave yourself, but if you feel more comfortable having a professional take a look, consider using TalkLocal. TalkLocal is a free service that will connect you with top-quality, reputable appliance repair companies in your neighborhood within minutes. Just enter in your specific problem, location and availability, and up to three companies will call YOU directly, saving you the time and stress of finding one yourself.

This entry was originally posted on Friday, December 21st, 2012 at 12:00 pm and is filed under Appliances Repair. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.