Yellow or burnt microwave stains that won’t come off?
I tested 15 popular cleaning methods and found the one that actually removed years-old stains.
At first this was an amusing, slightly challenging attempt to find a solution for how to remove yellow stains from the microwave.
Then it turned into a vendetta. Each new method had me approaching the microwave with narrowed eyes and determination to win.
And finally, I have. You would not believe how much time I have dedicated to finding a solution to this problem. But like I’ve promised to you, my dear readers, I won’t share it unless it works! And I have succeeded.
Normal cleaning of a microwave isn’t a problem. Wipe it down often, clean up spills, blah, blah, blah.
If dirtier, cook some vinegar and water about 2 minutes and then wipe it down. But over the years, stains build up. My goal this time around was to get those stains out.
Instead of recommending cleaning methods I hadn’t tested, I tried fifteen popular solutions on years-old yellow microwave stains to see which ones actually worked. I found one method that worked better than the others before it. But it required major scrubbing. I estimated it would take about 4 magic erasers and two hours. I want a clean microwave…but I didn’t want it that bad.
So back to Google and then the grocery store. Finally, in desperation, I offered a $25 reward on Facebook to anyone who could provide a solution that met the following requirements:
- Takes less than 20 min. per side to clean. (Reason: Magic Eraser works to some extent, but I would probably have to spend 3 hrs. getting stains off even slightly.)
- It wasn’t one of the solutions I’d already tried.
Well….none of them worked. But at least I got my friends involved.
Then, finally, I found it. The actual final solution on how to get yellow burn stains out of a microwave.
Before & After Photos
Before pictures: like I said, years of deep stains. These stains wouldn’t go away with normal cleaning methods. (Vinegar? Nope, didn’t work. Same for baking soda.)
As you can see below, plenty of yellow stains.
After picture: Not perfect, I’ll admit. But it’s a 100 times better. I’m declaring victory at this point. To be honest, it wasn’t even my microwave anyways (it was military housing).
What Causes Yellow Microwave Stains?
Before I get to the dramatic saga of trying FIFTEEN cleaning methods, you might be wondering how I let my microwave get into this condition in the first place. The answer to that is simple- I didn’t. It was in military housing. We moved in (I think was our fourth move) and that was the microwave that was there. While it was clean, there were years-old stains in there that regular cleaning just wouldn’t get out.
But you don’t need to be stuck in military housing to have yellow burn stains in your microwave. There are multiple causes.
• Baked on food splatters. Trust me, I get this. You’re microwaving something. It splatters. You don’t have time to clean it right away. And before you know it, it’s been 2 weeks and that splattered butter is starting to look strange.
• Popcorn. This is a big one. Can this remove burnt popcorn stains? Yes. Yes, it can.
• Over-heating food (or drinks). This is another large cause of microwave stains. Heating food too long or on too high of a power level.
• Smoke damage.
• Natural aging. Microwaves can actually last a decent amount of time. But even natural use can cause stains to develop over time.
The 15 Cleaning Methods I tested
So, if you’re wondering “what can I use to clean the inside of my microwave,” the answer is: a LOT of things. The most popular methods are baking soda, lemon juice, and vinegar (not mixed together, of course.)
For your amusement, here is the entire list of items I tried in learning how to remove stains from a microwave, and their effect:
• Methods 1 & 2: Baking soda & water/ Lemon juice & water: Fill the bowl with hot water. Add either a few dashes of lemon juice or baking soda to the water. Place the bowl in the microwave and heat on high for five minutes. Remove the bowl and wipe down the interior with a clean cloth. This worked for normal, everyday grime. But after trying each twice, the yellow burnt stains were still there.
• Method 3: Nail polish remover w/ acetone: damaged microwave. Absolutely do NOT use this. I have a picture at the bottom of this section of the small area I tested on. Luckily, I was smart enough to test on a small area rather than just dashing it in the microwave!
• Method 4: Vinegar…slight improvement for a lot of scrubbing. But the stains were still there.
• Method 5: Bleach: no change. (Seriously, how can BLEACH not work?!)
• Method 6: Toothpaste: no change, even though it works great on other stains (such as on counters). Yes, that was another one of my “great experiments”…haha.
• Method 7: Magic eraser- only serious improvement in the stains. But it’s going to take a lot of scrubbing. I included a picture below to show the improvement that a lot of effort and time achieved. Definitely not worth the effort.
• Method 8: Non-acetone nail polish remover: very slight change.
• Method 9: Soft scrub and bleach. Mixed together in small container. Poured, dabbed over area. Let sit 30 min. No improvement.
• Method 10: Hydrogen peroxide: no change.
• Method 11: Clorox Bleach Stain Remover for Whites: no change.
• Method 12: Clorox bleach pen for whites: no change.
• Method 13: 16oz. water, 4 Tbsp. castile soap, 20 drops tea tree oil. No change…but had a good pleasant scent compared to other cleaners. I’m going to have to use it on other stuff.
• Method 14: Peppermint oil & water: no change. Honestly not surprised…this was a long shot. But a friend recommended it so I figured I would give it a try.
• Method 15: SoftScrub and OxiClean. Mix. Scrub on. Let sit hour. Scrub again. Worked better than other methods; did lighten stains. Not 100% removed but absolutely the best results out of everything. I declared victory!
the one method that actually worked
If you’re looking for a microwave stain remover that works on old yellow burn stains, this was the most effective product(s) I tested.
OxiClean powder and SoftScrub. Mix it in the microwave (it will bubble a little bit) and spread around well. The walls are little challenging, but do the best you can. Then let sit for 30 min. Finally, put some elbow grease into it, and then rinse out very well (see the safety tips below). It actually took two applications to get it (almost) completely clean.
Of the fifteen cleaning methods I tested, this combination was the only one that significantly removed years-old yellow burn stains without hours of scrubbing.
And….the after picture (same one as above).
Not 100% effective….
but wow!
Isn’t the difference amazing?
Safety Tips Before Cleaning Your Microwave
Safety first! If you know anything about cleaners, you know that using them safely is important. Cleaning a microwave (like a stove) requires some extra care because the inside is going to get hot after all that cleaning is done. And you do NOT want heated cleaner residue in your food or air.
• Is SoftScrub safe to use in the microwave?
This is actually a question I had a reader ask when I originally posted this article (years and years ago). SoftScrub IS safe to use in the microwave. But keep two rules in mind: NEVER heat it. And rinse very, very well when you’re done cleaning. You do not want residue hanging around.
• Rinse well
No matter what cleaning method you choose- even if it’s something as simple as vinegar, you want to rinse well before resuming normal microwave usage.
• Apply carefully
Do not get cleaner- of any type, even vinegar or lemon juice- in the vents or control panel in the microwave. And (obviously) don’t get liquid anywhere near electricity.
• Never heat a cleaner without research
The only reason I add “without research” is because people often use lemon juice or vinegar as cleaners. And they can be heated for short periods.
But the average “mixed, professional cleaning” product? No, do NOT heat them under any circumstances.
And, speaking of heating, heat even “safe” stuff with caution. I recently read a horrible story of super-heating that occurred with a plain mug of water for tea. Follow safe practices.
• Never mix cleaners without extensive research
This is a rule you should always, always follow. Mixing some cleaners can not only be dangerous, it can be deadly.
I’m not going to list the combinations to avoid. Just know that experimenting with cleaners you haven’t used before must be done very carefully.
If you’re going to use more than one cleaner in sequence (for example, I suggest using bleach to get the tough mold stains out of front-load washers. Then using vinegar for final clean-up), rinse very, very well between using different cleaners.
• Don’t use abrasive pads
Don’t use steel wool, metal scrapers, or abrasive cleaning pads to try to get those stubborn stains out of the microwave. Like the acetone nail polish I used, it can cause permanent damage to the microwave.
15 Tests, 1 Clear Winner
While cleaning is NOT my passion (I prefer making printables and cooking), I do share some cleaning secrets on here. And the quest on how to remove stains from a microwave was one of my favorites. Though frustrating at times. (Not as frustrating as getting spilled Scentsy wax off a textured wall or cupboards…but that’s another story.)
After trying fifteen different cleaning methods, OxiClean and SoftScrub was the clear winner for removing years-old yellow burn stains. While some of the methods I tested helped with grease or fresh messes, this was the only one that noticeably removed stains that had probably been there for years.
Have you tried this? (Or any other methods- that worked or didn’t?) Comment and let me know.
Could you do me a quick favor? If this post helped you, could you share it with your friends? Share buttons are at the top.
I had this problem last year! I made the mistake of pressing the “popcorn” button on the microwave and walking away, but it burned the popcorn so badly there was a lot of yellow smoke damage when I opened it up. I tried lemon, vinegar, multiple soaps, magic eraser and all too, and none were as good as soft scrub!!
I know! I had no idea that stains could be so stubborn. It seriously was like a war between me and stains by the end. Hopping over to your website right now to browse around and hopefully check you out on Pinterest!
Hey, I just found out about your post as I was googling trying to find a way to get the old yellow stains out of my microwave, I just want to know, given that you’ve tried this in the past. Is this safe to use inside the microwave, the only reason I was is because the products you used are technically not meant for the inside of something like an oven i.e. Bleach and stain remover. I want to try to find some UK alternatives, but I’m unsure whether it’s risky doing this or not, especially cause I live with a flatmate I just met and I don’t want to poison them the next time they go warm something up 😅
I cleaned the microwave with warm water, and then with vinegar and water at least twice before I cooked anything. I also ran a glass dish of water for a few minutes to make sure there was no scent when it ran for awhile.
I just bought a used microwave for a kid just moving into her own apartment and it had some badly burned on stains on the back wall, and on the roof of the interior. Googling how to solve the problem brought me here. There is one wonder cleaner that I decided to give a shot first – denatured alcohol. That stuff is grossly under rated, it will remove Sharpie permanent marker from a microfiber couch with hardly any effort at all. It will take fingernail polish and grease out of microfiber and fabrics. I decided to put a little on a magic eraser and try to remove the badly burned stains. Wa-la. It completely and totally removed ALL of them. In less than 5 minutes. I did have to apply, scrub, wipe off, and reapply 3 different times before they were totally gone. It isn’t a harsh chemical (IS flammable, though) like acetone (fingernail polish remover). It does not damage the surface at all. As a matter of the fact, I used it to clean up the plastic on the front inside and outside of the door, and the plastic touch panel – and they are now perfectly clean and shiny, just like new. It worked like a charm. Thought I’d share another way to remove the stains with hardly any effort.
Fantastic tips! Toothpaste? I have never known that toothpaste could be useful. Thank you for sharing this amazing tips. I am going to use my toothpaste for removing some stains. Greetings!
Yep, toothpaste. Just make sure you use the non-gel plain white toothpaste. The gel kinds don’t work. I use the arm&hammer brand, but I’m sure others would work.
I am in Canada and UNABLE to find Softscrub because it’s an American product( and apparently NOT sold in Canada). Can I use ANY other cream cleaner (like Vim) or any that you can recommend?
I don’t know about any other options. I stopped when I finally managed to have success! (as I mentioned in the post, it was quite the saga). My best guess is that any other cream cleaner like Softscrub would work. But I can’t be sure. I would love to hear from you if Vim works, though. I would update the post to include this option for my non-American readers.
I used Vim with Bleach. Worked very well!
I LOVE the way you went about solving microwave stains. Your details, process, explanation and photos are fantastic. I am quarantined because of the Corona Virus and have a lot of time on my hands. I made a list of cleaning and organizing projects and the stains in the 15 year old microwave were on the list. After unsuccessfully trying two method I came across your website . The Softscrub/Oxyclean worked! It did take two applications. The first time the mixture was absorbed for 30 minutes and the second was for an hour. It did take a bit of elbow grease, but I became excited as I scrubbed and the microwave became cleaner. Thank you!
Yay! I’m glad all that experimenting worked out. I don’t know if you read the list at the bottom of all the 15 methods I tried BEFORE I found one that worked. Like I said in the intro, it turned into a real vendetta against that microwave! haha.
So glad you got your microwave clean. And thanks for compliment on the photos. I knew NOTHING about photography back then and those are some of the worst photos on the site. But I guess they get the point across, so that makes them useful even if not the most beautiful.
Thank you! I tried a few things to remove the burned popcorn stains without success. Your idea of using Oxyclean worked perfectly. I live in Canada so I used VIM instead of Softscrub.. I first made a paste with VIM, Oxyclean and threw in a bit of vinegar for good measure. I applied the paste on the stains and left it for 20 minutes, scrubbed and then repeated this a second time. The microwave looks new again. Thanks for sharing!
Glad it worked for you! I’m glad you mentioned VIM. I had a reader for Canada ask before what they could use since Softscrub wasn’t available.
How does the oxy/soft scrub combination affect the food you cook in the microwave afterwards?
Well, I haven’t done an actual scientific study on it. I just washed out the microwave twice and then used it like normal. We didn’t notice any taste or anything in the food. But I can’t guarantee like the FDA that there is absolutely no lingering fumes.
Sorry. It was fine for me, but I just want to make sure I’m not making any scientific claims that can get me in legal trouble.
Thank you so much for this post! My kids have microwaved dry pasta on 3 separate occasions and my microwave was nearly orange from the stains. This is the only post I could find with a solution beyond lemons and vinegar. I’ve been scrubbing on and off since last night but I’m making progress! Thanks again!!
You’re welcome! Trust me, I know the struggle (as you read in the post). I scoured the internet looking for a solution. And tried plenty of stuff that didn’t work. Good luck on your microwave.
“scoured” the internet — LOL.
The inside of my microwave is stainless steel (or whatever that bright shiny metal is). I cleaned it with steamed water and vinegar but had spots on it after it dried. What took it off was Bar Keepers Friend. I shook very well put a little bit on a wet nylon scrubby and scrubbed, wiped off with a clean wet cloth then dried. Looks like it did when I brought it home. I also use it to clean my glass top stove.
My microwave looks just like your before picture! I thought it was ruined because it was a cheap one and would have to just replace it for something better. But thought I would google it first to see if I could clean it before spending money on a new appliance! I def want to try what you did! Looks amazing!
Just one question: Did the combo of Soft Scrub and Oxiclean etch the surfaces at all? I know Soft Scrub is called “soft scrub” for a reason, so that it won’t etch… but I have actually seen it etch some of my bathroom surfaces, like the plasticy shower tub surrounds (we don’t have real ceramic tile shower stalls, it’s an molded insert), because of the bleach or maybe even because of in combination with the scrubber sponge and too much elbow grease. I would love to know what type of scrubbing sponge you used. Thanks so much!
It did not etch mine. But I can’t promise what different cleaners will do to different surfaces. I can only share my personal experience. I used a soft sponge…I think it was one of the cheap ones from Wal-Mart. It certainly wasn’t anything special.
Glad you found the post helpful! Good luck with your microwave.
I would try a foaming oven cleaner, douse the inside then put a cup of water and microwave it for 5 or more (might need to do this step more than once), let the cleaner soak for a bit more then light elbow grease… Second method, douse inside with cleaner/degreaser and wipe it off, then spray some goof-off on there and let it sit for 30 seconds then wipe. bam-wham thank you ma’am!
I mixed chlorine bleach with baking soda to make a paste to stick on the microwave interior overnight. In the morning, scrubbing. To do the oven’s walls and ceiling, I turned the oven over on its sides so the mixture would stay put because of gravity. I wasn’t even trying to remove the yellow stains, and they were not removed. I removed mouse pee. Yes, a mouse had been in the microwave oven. Need a black (ultraviolet) light to see the pee stains. Any suggestions for cleaning mouse pee (from walls, bathtub, appliances, file cabinets, boxes, you name it) are welcome.
No, no idea how to deal with mouse pee. Sorry. Wishing you the best of luck, though.
Omg how did the mouse get in there? I will continue to be horrified by your story for the rest of the day!!!!! 😳😳😳lol
I don’t know if this is true or not imma give it a try let’s see how it goes.