I'm not sure about the microwave, but I'v tried this trick on icechests and it does work.... For the ice chest, you take a cotton ball or square and wet it with vanilla extact, wipe around on the inside of the icechest covering most of the surface and then leave the cotton ball in there closed up. Wipe down with water a day or so later.

For the microwave, you could try wiping it down and leaving it overnight and maybe even heating some vanilla in water to get it into the vents.

Good luck!!

Grace

When I am alone in the afternoon I make a cup of instant coffee. I mixed the coffee in a mug and apparently put the container of instant coffee in the micro. When I came inside about 4-5 mins later I had the most awful smell of something burning. When I figured it was the micro I couldn't even recognize what was melted in there. I cleaned up the mess and scrubbed forever with windex, vinegar and baking soda. It was improved but still smelled when I used it for about a week. It is completely gone now. I also left the door open for a few hours.

Try washing the walls of the MW with a solution of baking soda and water made into a paste. Let it stay on overnight to try then wipe it out with damp cloths until you get it all out.

Another thing to try is a weak solution of bleach and water, wipe it on the walls, let it sit for a while then wipe off really well with clean wet cloths.

After wiping it out with vinegar, stuff it with a bunch of scrunched up newspapers and leave for at least 24 hours. That should help absorb the burnt odor.

If all else fails, wait until the next sunny mild day and sit the MW outside in the sun with the door propped open.

How about trying some activated charcoal to absorb the odor?

I've also read that plain cat litter will absorb odors.

A shallow pan of either set inside.

Like Eileen, I was going to suggest the charcoal. In time it will go away. Make some microwave popcorn, all three of ours in the office ALWAYS have that smell to them..LOL!

David

I throw my dish sponge or dish cloth in a shallow bowl with water and lemon juice (or a squeezed out lemon half) in it, and nuke it.

The steam from the water loosens the grunge (which I wipe out with paper towels) and my dish sponge/cloth is semi-sterilized and my microwave smells clean.

This worked for me when my FIL moved in with us, and his microwave was...beyond disgusting :-)

"If all else fails, wait until the next sunny mild day and sit the MW outside in the sun with the door propped open."

This one brought a smile to my face - umm that would be in like 4 months from now LOL

Thanks so much for all of the suggestions. I don't know which to try first. But I am hoping one of them works.
David - I like the way you think. Although I am not sure this smell along with the microwave popcorn would be an appetizing smell.
I will let you all know what works - Jackie