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Don't cook haddock in the microwave!
I hardly ever use my microwave, mainly for reheating the odd thing. Last week I decided to cook haddock in it for some reason. The haddock was very nice (though I prefer it done in the oven, or poached in milk on the hob), but now the microwave stinks of fish.
I have heated up bowls of water and lemon juice and then wiped the inside of the microwave, over and over but I can still smell it.
Any ideas?
Comments
Looked it up and I don't think it is in the UK actually
Went to Bi-O-Kleen's Web Page and their distributors/brokers/retailers were all American companies, except one looked like it was a Canadian address? I did find out that their headquarters are in my backyard (Vancouver, Washington) which I didn't know before.
I looked at www.ecover.com and didn't see any products of theirs that were a stain AND odor remover (with enzymes). But if you use an enzyme cleaner for pet stains and odor, it's close to the same thing as Bac-Out, I think. And there's lots of different brands for the pet stain and odor solutions with enzymes. Couldn't hurt to try if you have a bottle of it already.
Anhata
www.familynaturally.com
Your Family's General Store, Naturally
If bicarbonate of soda works
If bicarbonate of soda works for fridges and keeps them odour-free perhaps it will work for microwaves too?
Also, I know that a little instant coffee mixed with water and rubbed over your hands removes onion smells so perhaps a little rubbed around the microwave might neutralise the smell?
Only other thing I know that removes smells is crushed parsley.
There you go, I'm all out of odour removal ideas now - hope one of them helps.
Snork Maiden
I have a book that says
to put vanilla extract in a bowl and nuke it for at least 30 seconds. Leave the door closed for 12 hours, remove vanilla, and wipe down the inside of the microwave.
Of course, the same book lists the lemon juice trick you already tried. The vanilla extract thing is supposed to work for the stubborn smells.
Can't say I've tried this, but if you do, let me know how it works.
BTW, tip is from Talking Dirty with the Queen of Clean by Linda Cobb.
Leanne
I second Snork Maiden
Put a pile of bicarb in there, like on a napkin, and just leave it there for a couple of days.
Thanks!
I think I have vanilla in the cupboard so will try that today. If it doesn't work I am shopping tomorrow so will buy some bicarb and try that. I'll let you know how I get on
I usually keep my bread in the microwave (short of storage space in my kitchen) so I'm keen to resolve this asap. Fishy smelling bread is not something that appeals to me....
Honey
I hadn't even read this and just the title cracked me up.
Lynn Siprelle, Editor
vinegar
try wiping the inside with vinegar since it disinfects and neutralises smells at the same time. I had a smell that took ages to go away, but I can't remember what did the trick in the end! Certainly I had loads of bicarb in there and left the door open for longer periods, though I was worried that the light might go. Good luck with that. I've been known to use my microwave to protect food when there have been a lot of bugs around - mostly in Singapore so far!
Kerri.
A cautionary tale
Never EVER cook fish uncovered in your microwave. The lemon didn't work, the vanilla didn't work and now the bicarb is sitting in there in a dish, not working. I have thought of leaving the door open for a few days, but I'd rather not as the microwave sits on top of the fridge freezer and I'll keep banging my head on the open door. Also, then the whole kitchen will smell of fish
: I might have to try that next though.
Not sure about vinegar, I know it's fab for removing limescale but I hate the smell do I dion't want to end up with a vinegar smelling microwave either!
Bleach?
Have you tried some bleach in there yet? Just a thought.
I had a HORRIBLE smell in my pantry when we first moved into this house. MIL and I peeled off all the contact paper, we bleached, we used some stuff to clean the toilet water tank in the camper, we used ammonia, we painted, and the smell was STILL there!! Finally, I just put in a bunch of those stick-up air fresheners. Couldn't kill the odor so I covered it up. It has faded alot over time (I suspect something had died in the wall or under the house right below the pantry). Not that it helps you any, can't put a stick up in your microwave (though if nothing else works, maybe you can put some air freshener thingee in there when NOT in use to cover it up).
Ecover
I have this Ecover cleaner that has a lovely smell. I had cleaned the microwave earlier in the week with it diluted in water, today I used it neat, twice. The fish smell has drastically reduced! The bicarb has had a day or so in there, and I'm still leaving it there for now. I'll see how it is tomorrow, but I'm hopeful (ish).
Stinky microwave
To get rid of the smell you just need to clean the microwave with soap and water- with a little baking soda first, then a bit of vinegar on the second wash. Simple. Good luck!
Clam Cakes too!!!
I did the same thing cooking crab cakes in the microwave. The odor seemed to worsen over a few days. I think the soap and water and baking soda seem to be helping.
I love Ecover
I use their fabric softener and have used their dishsoap. Their products work and they smell good.
Do you have Bi-O-Kleen products over there? There's a Bac-Out stain and odor remover of theirs that's out of this world. I've not come across anything that Bac-Out wouldn't kill the smell of.
Something else not to cook in the microwave: leg of lamb. My mother did this 20 years ago and I can still smell the horrible smell of microwaved mutton. Wasn't until just a couple of years ago that you could get me to eat lamb of any kind.
Anhata
www.familynaturally.com
Your Family's General Store, Naturally
well......
The fish smell is still very faintly there, but so much better than it was. I've still got the bicarb in there. I think probably the combination of methods worked, so thanks all!
Anhata, no I don't think we have Bi-O-Kleen, unless we have it with another name. Becky? (Becky knows everything US/UK related
)
I recently started using Ecover laundry liquid, fabric conditioner and general cleaner. I love all of them and plan to change my dishwasher products and dishsoap to theirs too, as soon as those things run out. I don't know why I didn't do it before now, probably because it's all slightly more expensive. It's worth it to know the ingredients are a bit more natural.
dunno Bi-O-Kleen
That's one I don't use anyway, I never heard of it. It's probably a great product, I'm just unfamiliar with it.
Correction
Becky knows ALMOST everything....
vinegar smell dissipates
But you know what I'd do at this point? I'd go to the shop and ask someone there for a commercial product to make microwaves smell better.
How long has the bicarb sat there? It needs a couple of days.
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