You clean and clean your microwave, and it still has a funky smell. Odors often work their way deep into the mechanisms, where no amount of scrubbing can remove them. Try this homemade microwave deodorizer: Put a whole lemon peel or about four or five small lemon wedges (including the rind) or one tablespoon of vanilla extract in a microwave-safe bowl that can hold at least four cups. Add one cup of warm water and two tablespoons of baking soda, and mix well (the baking soda doesn’t have to be completely dissolved). Then put the bowl in the microwave and heat it until the water boils. (Microwave wattages vary, but usually about two minutes will do the trick.) Let the cooked mixture sit in the microwave for at least 20 minutes as it cools down— the longer it stays in there (up to 12 hours), the fresher the smell. Also, don’t forget to clean the ceiling inside your microwave, where many splatters reside unseen.
