How to Deodorize an Oven

If you cook a lot at home, you may find a questionable odor coming from your oven. Luckily, there are many different solutions to this stinky problem. Whether you’d like to freshen up your conventional oven or your microwave oven, you can deodorize by using lemon, vinegar, vanilla extract, or another substance.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Deodorizing a Conventional Oven

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1
Wipe down the inside of the oven with vanilla extract. Put a few drops of vanilla extract on a clean cloth. Then thoroughly rub down the inside walls of the oven. When you turn the oven on next, it will emit a pleasant vanilla smell.
- When using this method, it’s best to make sure the oven is clean beforehand.
2
Heat a baking dish of vanilla extract and water in the oven. Fill a baking dish with water until it’s about 1 inch (2.5 cm) deep. Then add 1 teaspoon (5 mL) of vanilla extract to the water. Place the dish in the oven and turn the oven on and set the temperature to 350 °F (177 °C). Leave the dish in the oven for about an hour.^{[1]XResearch source}
- You can also do this with lemon juice and water, or fill the dish with only white vinegar.
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^{[2]XResearch source} Turn the oven on and set the temperature to 350 °F (177 °C). Put a baking sheet of orange and/or lemon peels in the oven for 30 minutes.^{[3]XResearch source}
4
Scrub the oven with baking soda and vinegar. Your oven may need a good scrub with a natural, nontoxic solution.^{[4]XResearch source} Fill a spray bottle with two cups (480 mL) of white vinegar. Sprinkle about a cup (240 mL) of baking soda into the bottom of the oven. Let it sit for as long as possible and then scrub the oven with steel wool and wipe everything out with a clean cloth. Finally, rinse out the oven with hot water.^{[5]XResearch source}
- To deodorize more thoroughly, spray the baking soda with the white vinegar to create a paste, spread the paste on the side walls, and then spray more vinegar on the side walls.
- If you only have vinegar, pour some into an oven-safe dish and heat it on the lowest setting in your oven for 20 minutes. The vinegar will absorb any bad odors.^{[6]XExpert SourceAmy Mikhaiel
  Professional House CleanerExpert Interview. 3 February 2019.}

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Deodorizing a Microwave Oven

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Fill a microwave-safe bowl with a couple of sliced lemons and ¼ cup (60 mL) of apple cider vinegar. Then, fill the bowl the rest of the way with water and put it in the microwave. Microwave the mixture for 2-3 minutes and then let it sit with the door closed for another 10. Then remove the bowl and wipe out the microwave with a damp sponge.^{[7]XResearch source}
Wet a sponge with water and sprinkle baking soda on it. Use the damp sponge to thoroughly wipe out the microwave. Then rinse it out with clean water.
To freshen up your microwave, leave an open container of baking soda in it when you aren’t using it. When you need to use your microwave, simply take the baking soda out, cook your food, and then put it back in.
Fill a microwave-safe bowl halfway with water. Squeeze the juice from one lemon into the water. Put the bowl in the microwave and heat it up for 5 minutes. Let the bowl sit for another two minutes or so with the door closed. Clean out the microwave with a sponge.
5
Heat a vinegar solution in the microwave.^{[8]XExpert SourceAmy Mikhaiel
Professional House CleanerExpert Interview. 3 February 2019.} Fill a microwave-safe bowl halfway with water and add 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of white vinegar. Heat the bowl in the microwave for about 5 minutes, remove the bowl, and wipe the microwave with a sponge or cloth.
- The heated vinegar will absorb any bad smells in the oven.^{[9]XExpert SourceAmy Mikhaiel
  Professional House CleanerExpert Interview. 3 February 2019.}
Dampen a handful of paper towels with fresh water. Place the paper towels in the microwave and then heat them up in the microwave for about 5 minutes. Wipe out the inside of the microwave with the damp paper towels.
Put a squirt of dishwashing liquid into a microwave-safe bowl full of warm water. Heat the bowl in the microwave for 1 minute. Clean out the microwave the with a damp sponge, and then leave the door open for a few minutes.

Expert Q&A

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How do you remove the smell of oven cleaner?
Amy Mikhaiel
House Cleaning Professional
Amy Mikhaiel is a cleaning guru and the CEO of Amy's Angels Cleaning Inc., a residential and commercial cleaning company in Los Angeles, California. Amy's Angels was voted Best Cleaning Service by Angie’s Lists in 2018 and was the most requested cleaning company by Yelp in 2019. Amy's mission is to help women achieve their financial goals by establishing empowerment through cleaning.
Amy Mikhaiel
House Cleaning Professional
Expert Answer
Fill an oven-safe bowl with white vinegar and place it in the oven. Then, run the self-clean setting, or turn the oven to the lowest setting for 20 minutes. The white vinegar will absorb any bad odors.
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