A microwave is a safe appliance and it is not common to catch fire in it. But still cases of fire are seen mainly due to paper or overcooked food. Electric issues can also be a reason but it is very uncommon.
Yes, it is safe to use a microwave after a fire if it is still working. Just that you need to leave the microwave alone until the flames suffocate.
The first thing you must do after the microwave catches fire is to turn it off immediately. This will ensure that the fan is stopped and no oxygen is supplied to the flames. Now, wait for some time till the fire suffocates.
During this time, never attempt to open the door of the microwave and only do it once you are certain that the fire is over. Let the microwave cool down.
Ensure that the windows in the room are open so that proper ventilation is present. After the fire in the microwave, it can become very hot, and putting your hands in it can cause burns. After almost an hour of cooling, you can clean it properly for further use.
How to clean microwave after a fire?
It is not hard to practice microwave safety but accidents can still happen. Whenever there is a fire in the microwave, unplug it, leave the microwave shut and wait till the fire is extinguished by itself.
After the appliance cools down, you need to clean it. Due to the fire, there can be black, oily residue inside the microwave along with a terrible odor. Therefore, it is very important to clean it properly.
Follow the steps mentioned below to clean the microwave after the fire:
Clear the counter
It is important to have enough space for you to carry out the cleaning procedure as you have to work on the interior and exterior of the microwave.
You also have to reach the back vents. For this, you should remove extra things from the counter and now keep these things near you – microwave-safe glass bowl, sponges, white vinegar, soft clean cloth, and rubber gloves.
Use vinegar
Put vinegar up to 3/4th in the microwave-safe glass bowl and boil in the microwave on high for about 10 minutes. This will fill the microwave with a cloud of vinegar steam.
Don’t leave the microwave unattended
Keep a close eye on the process and turn off the microwave once the steam fills inside. Now, for 15-20 minutes, you need to leave the door closed. Due to this, the greasy soot on the microwave walls will loosen.
Use sponges to clean
Open the door but stay a step away from the microwave to protect yourself from the escaping steam. Wear rubber gloves to protect your hands and dip the sponge in the warm vinegar. Clean inside and outside of the microwave with this and change the sponge when required.
Removing soot stains
After the fire, the microwave can have stubborn soot stains which can be removed by using pure acetone nail polish remover. If this is not available, you can use a mixture of trisodium phosphate and water.
Wipe and dry
Take a damp and clean cloth to wipe away polished surfaces. It is essential to dry the microwave after the cleaning process is done so keep the microwave door open for 24 hours.
This method ensures that the burnt microwave is cleaned properly. In case it is not cleaned completely, repeat the above process one more time.
What do you do after a microwave catches fire?
If a microwave catches fire, you should turn off the appliance immediately and unplug the power cord. Wait for the fire to suffocate and during this time do not even try to open the door of the microwave.
You can open it once you are sure that the fire is extinguished completely. If there is a risk of the spread of the fire, call the fire department immediately for help.
Everyone needs to prevent the occurrence of fire in the microwave for which some safety tips should be followed. After the fire, you must clean the microwave properly and make it smell-free as well.
Always use a microwave-safe container and never leave the microwave unattended. Food should not be overcooked and keep a check on the food continuously.
How to get a fire smell out of the microwave?
Even after the microwave is cleaned after the burn, there can still be a lingering burnt odor inside the appliance. This can be present every time you use it and this can be irritating as well as unpleasant for you.
To get fire smell out of the microwave, two methods mentioned below can be followed –
- Put water in a microwave-safe bowl and add rinds of citrus fruits. Microwave it for 10 minutes and leave the steam formed as it is for 15 minutes. This will help to remove the fire smell from the microwave.
- If you have tried the above method and the fire smell is still present, you need to deodorize your microwave. For this, baking soda is required, and fill the bowl with baking soda. Keep this bowl inside the microwave for about 3 days. This will not mask the burnt smell but help to absorb it completely.
Microwave potato bag fire hazard
Most people like to bake potatoes in a potato bag but it is not completely safe to use a potato bag in a microwave as it can cause a fire. The bags made up of cheap material tend to catch fire easily in the microwave.
So, it is essential to use a potato bag that is made up of good material and is microwave safe.
A potato bag is a cloth bag with a flap that closes at the end. When potatoes are baked in this, they retain the moisture and the potatoes get cooked perfectly. They are neither too hard nor too dry.
Microwave fire safety tips
Microwaves are used by most of us, be it in the workplace or the home. It is a safe appliance but it can be hazardous by causing a fire. Thus, it becomes essential for everyone to follow below microwave fire safety tips:
- Always read the manual provided with the microwave before using it for the first time. In this, all the precautions which you should take, are mentioned clearly.
- Do not use an extension cord to plug the microwave. Always plug it directly into the wall outlet.
- Never use dishes that are not microwave-safe. This will ensure that the incidents of fire are minimized.
- Before defrosting food in a microwave, remove the packaging. Avoid using foam trays, plastic storage containers, and plastic wraps in the microwave.
- Don’t put metals in the microwave like aluminum foil etc.
- While using the appliance, it should not be left unattended. Children should not be allowed to play near the microwave when in use.
- Never heat water in the microwave as it can be superheated and it can explode.
- After heating, food container should be opened slowly as steam from it can burn your face.
- Food gets heated unevenly in the microwave and so it is important to stir.
- It is essential to keep the microwave clean as food particles and grease residue can cause a fire.
Smoke inhalation from Microwave fire
It is not good to inhale smoke from microwave fire. The smoke can be due to fire in the microwave caused by the melting of plastic, magnetron, electrical wires, or the insulation of the microwave.
It is not healthy to inhale any of these fumes, so you must avoid them as much as possible. There can be several signs and symptoms that can be seen due to smoke inhalation. These are:
- Cough
- Headache
- Shortness of breath
- Noisy breathing or hoarseness
- Changes in the skin like it can become pale or bluish due to lack of oxygen
- Confusion, fainting, and reduced alertness
- Irritation in the eyes with redness
- Impact on the respiratory tract causing chest pain.
If any of these signs and symptoms are present in the person who had inhaled smoke from microwave fire, you should call 911 or move the person to the emergency department nearby.
Why do paper towels catch fire in the microwave?
It is very common to use paper towels in the microwave and it is safe to use them but sometimes, paper towel catches fire in the microwave because it becomes hot enough to burn and combust.
It happens when the paper towel has been in the microwave for a long time. Ignition of paper occurs around 248 degrees Celsius and it becomes hotter than this temperature in the microwave.
It is more common for the folded or scrunched paper towel to catch fire as compared to the paper towel which is laid flat.
While using a paper towel in a microwave, you must use the following precautions:
- Always lay the paper towel flat in the microwave. Doing this will reduce the risk of catching fire as heat is not built in it easily.
- Use a wet paper towel. It keeps the food moist and is unlikely to catch fire.
- Always put the paper towel with food or drink as these items will absorb most of the microwave energy and leave less energy for the paper towel preventing it from fire.
- Microwave for 1-2 minutes and then allow the contents to cool for some time. This will reduce the chances of a fire in the microwave.
Conclusion
A microwave is an electrical appliance that lowers down the cooking time and makes the cooking procedure easy. Thus, it plays an essential role in our daily lives.
There can be incidents of fire while using a microwave but most of the time it does not impact the appliance and you can continue to use it after the smoke and fire get over. It must be ensured that as long as the microwave is hot, its door is not opened.
With all the information given above regarding the safety concerns related to microwaves and the tips to be followed, we hope you do not face any kind of hazardous incident.