So my dad got my mom a new microwave for Christmas to replace the 26-year-old one they’d received as a wedding present. Obviously, it was “a bit” nicer and faster than the old one. It’s also way more powerful. Yesterday, my sister put in a bag of popcorn and set the timer for twice the time needed and WALKED OFF. (PSA: NEVER leave popcorn unattended!) Smoke filled the kitchen, and the formerly white microwave is now brown inside with a horrid smell. So far, we’ve tried bleach, Comet cleanser, and baking soda, but nothing has helped so far. Any ideas? We don’t want to have to buy a new microwave.
The Mr. Clean sponges work miracles!
Oooo good idea! Those things are amazing!
Nail polish remover? I’d use non-acetone kind, because it will for sure take the paint off the interior. And I’d just try it in one little corner to start, just in case. But that stuff takes off everything! That and Goo Gone. I’d try either of those.
ETA: Just definitely make sure you scrub it out with soap and water afterward. Cooked nail polish remover fumes sound yicky! :teehee: I did just Google burnt microwave stains, though, and found this: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf477356.tip.html
baking soda with lemon juice?
That works for me.
You might want to research it a little - I’m not sure but there might be problems with the residue of some cleaning solns interacting with microwaves.
I had nothing else to do so I google… This is what I found:
Q: WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO GET RID OF THE BURNT POPCORN SMELL OUT OF A MICROWAVE?
A: WE TURNED TO HELOISE FOR THE ANSWER TO THIS ONE AND SHE SAYS, FILL A LARGE, FOUR CUP, MICROWAVE-SAFE BOWL WITH ONE CUP WATER.
THEN ADD ONE FOURTH CUP WHITE HOUSEHOLD VINEGAR OR ONE THIRD CUP LEMON JUICE AND ALLOW THIS MIXTURE TO BOIL IN YOUR MICROWAVE FOR A FULL FIVE MINUTES. DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR OR MOVE THE BOWL FOR 15 MINUTES, SO THE WATER CAN COOL. REMOVE THE BOWL AND WIPE OUT THE MICROWAVE.
HELOISE SAYS, LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN TO AIR THE OVEN OUT, OPEN A WINDOW OR TURN ON AN EXHAUST FAN TO HELP DISSIPATE THE SMELL.
DON’T DO ANYTHING UNTIL YOU TRY THIS!!!
Put a potato in and bake it on high for 5 or 6 minutes. When it’s done, wipe the inside of the microwave down with a dry paper towel, applying a little elbow grease. 
I don’t know if this will work on such an ingrained smell, but it has worked for me in every other case. In fact, I don’t bother cleaning my microwave anymore unless it’s with a baked potato. It’s mild, and it doesn’t smell as bad as vinegar, so it’s worth a try. Good luck,
Kirstin
the boiling vinegar smells pretty wicked, but it does work extremely well!