Someone in my family put something in the microwave last night and then set it for minutes instead of seconds. Filled the house with smoke. Have had the windows open all night and some fans going but can't get the smell to go way. It is awful. Is this something I should call somebody out for? Holiday weekend and all. Is there some types of fans or filters I should just go buy?

Put a few dryer sheets on the intake side of your AC filter

Light candles

Replace microwave

Wash curtains/upholstery if it persists

Give it a couple of days

Boil vinegar a few times to help with the smell, also microwave some and leave it in there.

Then make a simmer pot to help with the holiday weekend, make it seasonal.

Sorry that happened

Let me chatgpt that for you.

That burnt smell can be incredibly stubbornand yes, it can linger for days if not addressed properly. You might not need to call someone out just yet, but here's a focused plan that can help, including some tools you can grab yourself (even during a holiday weekend):

Immediate DIY Actions:

1. Baking Soda + Vinegar Bowls: Place bowls of baking soda or white vinegar (or both) around the house. They help absorb odor over time.


2. Activated Charcoal: Pick up some activated charcoal odor absorberssold at hardware stores, pet stores, or online. They're very effective at neutralizing smoke smells.


3. Clean the Microwave Thoroughly: Smoke can linger in the microwave's interior. Use a mixture of water and vinegar (microwaved for a few minutes) and then wipe everything down.


4. Wash Soft Surfaces:

Launder curtains, bedding, and removable cushion covers.

Vacuum carpets with baking soda sprinkled in and left to sit for 30+ minutes.

Mop hard floors.




Air Cleaning Options:

If the smell still lingers, especially in HVAC systems or walls, consider investing in:

HEPA Air Purifier with Activated Carbon Filter: These are the gold standard for removing smoke smells. Good brands: Levoit, Honeywell, Winix.

Box Fan with a Furnace Filter Hack: Tape a high-rated (MERV 13+) HVAC filter to a box fan for a budget air scrubber.

Ozone Generator (Caution): Only if the house can be unoccupied for several hours or overnight. Ozone removes odor but is dangerous to breatheuse responsibly.


When to Call a Pro:

If the smell persists after 23 days despite these steps.

If HVAC ducts are involved (sometimes the smoke gets sucked in and circulates).

If any plastic or electronics were involvedit can create toxic residue.

It's not so bad, as we found out awhile back
New Genius MW cooking baked potatoes while we had toddies on the deck
First try didn't cook so punched in some numbers and now we have Flaming Potatoes, smokey house and soot inside new MW.

Lucky to have perfect April weather day, so whole house fan ON all night, natural breezes did the trick in no time.
Brewing coffee and the grounds inside MW also helped.
Genius still works great with min.cleaning and still has "scars" as a reminder.

Please post what worked for you.