Burn stains inside microwave

Question

I heated a dish that my local fish store said was in a microwave-safe aluminum foil. Now I have a brown (chocolate looking) residue, mostly on the sides of the inside of my microwave. I have read that I can sprinkle baking soda, then add acetone (followed by liquid coffee) to remove these stains. Will this work on a white interior or is it just for stainless steel? I have white.

Answer 1

Acetone is not considered a carcinogen in the United States

The Material Safety Data Sheet can be found here.

• It is the active ingredient in regular nail polish (varnish) remover.
• It may remove the 'paint' from surfaces.
• It is legally sold in the United States.
• It is highly flammable and explosive in the right concentrations.

I would not recommend it to clean your microwave as it's hazardous to health if used improperly under a variety of conditions or used without proper safety equipment.

I would also advise against placing an aluminum foil pan in the microwave and turning it on.

Where did you get this misinformation, Connie?

I have read that I can sprinkle baking soda, then add acetone (followed by liquid coffee) to remove these stains.

The above is incorrect!

Answer 2

No, please don't!

I would get a professional micro-wave cleaning liquid: Acetone is a prohibited product in some countries nowadays as it's highly flammable and slightly toxic whereas in some countries it's still readily available in cheap nail polish remover. As it's a strong solvent, it will damage most plastics including white plastic microwaves.

Answer 3

Please do not use Acetone or Nail Polish Remover!

Here's a generic Nail Polish Remover ingredient list:

_{(source: swatchandlearn.com)}

That's not good stuff to have around food preparation products.

To clean your microwave safely and chemical free:

1. Buy a lemon or two

2. Cut into pieces

3. Place in a microwave-safe bowl and fill with water

4. Place the bowl in the microwave and turn on for 3-5 minutes

5. Let stand with the door closed for about 5 minutes

6. Carefully remove the bowl (it will be very hot!!!!) and wipe down the inside of the microwave with a cloth, towel, or paper towels until clean.

The water and lemon juice steam will help loosen and remove grease and other baked on substances, plus it will leave a nice smell in the microwave afterwards. Best part, it's 100% chemical free.

If you have really stuck stuff in the microwave - you can use a mild natural abrasive and some warm water on a towel to help remove it. I recommend using Kosher Salt, since it's natural and won't leave chemical residue in the microwave afterwards.