One Ingredient Miracle Microwave Deodorizer

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Have a microwave that you just can’t get the smell out of from the last thing you warmed up in it? Here’s how to make the easiest microwave deodorizer!

One Minute Miracle Microwave Deodorizer

One Ingredient “Miracle” Microwave Deodorizer

The microwave.

It can be such a helpful tool. It can also be so smelly and dirty at times that it makes you want to toss it right out into the trash and pretend to go “microwave free” for a while… until you get a brand new one.

Oh, and I know…microwaves are bad for you. So are lots of things, including stress and going insane. Toddlers and little ones think food must instantly appear or a meltdown must occur. We aren’t perfect; patience is something we have to work towards. 🙂 Until then, the microwave will remain in our house because being able to steam veggies in a minute is completely worth it for us.

Besides, if you don’t have a microwave (because you are against them or otherwise), this post just isn’t for you. Move along. There are brownies here. 🙂

Now that we have that out of the way…

So I don’t like fish. At all. My repulsion of them includes just the smell of them cooking. I don’t know why I have this dislike other than I know my mom has always hated fish and really hated them while pregnant with me. So we can blame this on her, right? 🙂 (Just kidding!)

Anyway, I’m one of those people who doesn’t want to pass along their unhealthy habits to their children. I know that eating fish is good for you, and I want my boys to develop a taste for it so they will eat it as they grow older. I don’t cook much fish, but I occasionally make something (that doesn’t smell too fishy!) in the oven. That’s not the problem. The problem is when the boys want to enjoy leftovers the next day, and I have to warm that fish up in the microwave. Gross.

Baking Soda in a large glass jar on a brown countertop.

After a few times of simply avoiding my microwave for days afterward, I tried this little trick, and miraculously, it worked! It’s so easy and simple and works wonderfully to instantly get the “fishy smell” or any other unpleasant scent out of the microwave.

I’ve seen many other kitchen “hacks” over the years when it comes to cleaning the microwave and getting the smells out, including cleaning them with vanilla extract, coffee grounds, activated charcoal, cloves, and other expensive things. It doesn’t need to be that difficult or expensive! Here’s all you have to do:

Baking soda in a small glass bowl with a spoon and a brown countertop.

How to Make a Microwave Deodorizer

Place a small amount of baking soda in a microwave-safe container or bowl. The amount doesn’t matter; maybe at least 1/4 to 1/3 cup?

Baking soda paste in a glass bowl being held up by a spoon.

Place a small amount of water in with the baking soda and stir it. You don’t want the mixture to be a soup; you want a thick consistency liquid. You will probably need about 1/2 cup of water for 1/4 cup of baking soda.

Smelly microwave with a glass bowl of baking soda in it.

Place the open container in the microwave and “cook” for about a minute. Once the minute is up, take a whiff of the microwave. If the smell is gone like magic, you’ve done it! If some odor remains, add more water to your baking soda and give it another 30 seconds to 1 minute.

So simple, right? I’ve tried this on many different smells, like burnt popcorn and odd spices, and it works wonderfully! The only thing it hasn’t worked on is the really burnt food smell; unfortunately, that one seems to have to dissipate on its own.

That’s it!

Cleaning Wipes

How to Prevent Smells in the Microwave

You can help prevent some of the smells before they start to linger; here are a few tips!

Give your microwave a good cleaning at least once a week with a clean rag or paper towel and some natural cleaners. This will help prevent any buildup that might occur and get your microwave to smell faster. If you don’t have any good cleaners on hand for your microwave, you can clean it with citrus juice like lemon juice or grapefruit juice.

When you clean it, wipe out the inside of the microwave, remove the turntable and glass plate, and wash them in warm, soapy water in the sink to scrub off any grime and stuck-on food.

Citrus Cleaner

Homemade Citrus Cleaner

You can make your own homemade citrus cleaner perfect for kitchen cleaning, including the microwave!

All you need to do is save some peels from oranges, lemons, grapefruit, or another citrus. Place them in a jar (packed well) and put white vinegar or cleaning vinegar in the jar. Enough to cover all of the peels.

Leave this mixture in your pantry for at least a week or two. Remove the peels and use the citrus liquid left for cleaning the inside of your microwave and kitchen! This cleaner will help remove grime and foul odors from many different kitchen appliances. It really leaves a nice, pleasant scent when cleaning.

How Do I Get the Smell Out of My Microwave Vents?

This baking soda deodorizer will get the smell out of the vent of your microwave. Wiping down the inside of the microwave alone will not be enough to remove it from the vents.

Find even more Uses for Baking Soda here.

Have you tried this little trick before? Has it worked for you?

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Me and Kady

Merissa Alink

Merissa has been blogging about and living the simple and frugal life on Little House Living since 2009 and has internationally published 2 books on the topic. You can read about Merissa’s journey from penniless to freedom on the About Page. You can send her a message any time from the Contact Page.


This post on How to Deodorize a Microwave was originally posted on Little House Living in March 2017. It has been updated as of March 2023.

 

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One Comment

  1. Thanks for this Merissa. Worked a treat. No more curried rice smell anymore. No need for lemons limes vinegar. 😁🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿