Electric Oven Smells Like Burning Plastic
If you made cinnamon cookies or savory rosemary and lemon roast chicken earlier, your oven should have only the aroma of those tasty cinnamon cookies or savory rosemary and lemon roast chicken in it. Now imagine a situation in which your oven smells like burnt plastic instead of these pleasant aromas? The problem of an oven smelling like burnt plastic is pretty common.
People describe it as a burnt chemical smell, while others describe it as choking rubber odors. No matter how you describe it, take a look below to understand why and how you can resolve the problem.
Burning Plastic Smells from an Electric Oven
It’s not that I know what the last thing you would want to experience when eating is, but I’m pretty sure the rancid smell of burnt plastic can be there. The smell has been described as burning chemicals, burning rubber, or burning plastic, and I believe these are all legitimate descriptions. You probably want to get rid of this horrible smell as soon as possible if you are experiencing it right now. Here you will find everything you need.
The Zip Ties Were Not Removed
For securing grills and other oven inserts during transit, most oven and appliance manufacturers use zip ties. You may have accidentally burned these zip ties if you recently bought a new oven without checking it first (don’t beat yourself up, it’s a normal mistake, after all, who wouldn’t be excited about a new oven?) Whenever you run your oven, it probably smells like burnt plastic.
You Can Remove the Burnt Plastic Smell by Following These Steps
⦿You can remove the burnt plastic residue from all parts of oven inserts by placing an ice pack on them to harden them. Using a scraper, remove the residue if it has already cooled.
⦿The molten zip ties will be left in the oven cavity after the ice on the insert melts.
⦿Make sure your oven and inserts are clean by using mild dishwashing detergent and a scrubbing pad.
⦿Remove the oven inserts from the cavity and dry them out using a microfiber cloth.
⦿Put a bowl of white vinegar or a cup of an odor absorber in the oven cavity as soon as the inserts are dry.
⦿As soon as you remove the odor absorber, the burnt plastic smell should disappear. Using a plastic-free oven is as simple as replacing the inserts.
If you have activated charcoal, you can use that instead of white vinegar in place of baking soda, fresh coffee grounds, or even activated charcoal instead of white vinegar.
It Smells Like a New Oven
When you remove the zip ties and your oven smells like burnt plastic, it probably sounds like a new oven. The smell of burnt plastic can be detected in new ovens. The result of the first exposure to high heat around the oven cavity, it’s usually a sign that the insulation is damaged.
Another possible cause is burnt oil coatings used during manufacturing. If you are experiencing an irritating odor in either case, breaking it in your oven is the most effective way to get rid of it. Following are the steps you need to take:
⦿To clean the oven cavity and inserts, use hot soapy water and a microfiber cloth.
⦿Pour a solution of white vinegar and water or lemon alcohol and water (whichever tickles your fancy) into an oven-safe bowl or container.
⦿The self-cleaning cycle should continue for about half an hour, after which the bowl should be removed.
With the help of the self-cleaning cycle, your oven will smell fresh and clean for a long time. Alternatively, you can place the solution but don’t run the self-cleaning cycle, but the smell will absorb much longer, usually about an hour to three hours.
Problem With Electrical Wiring
The burnt plastic smell could indicate that your oven has electrical wiring issues if your oven isn’t new and you’ve only noticed this when breaking it in. A short circuit in your oven’s wiring causes its insulation to melt when an electrical malfunction occurs. Other oven components may also burn during a short circuit, resulting in a foul, burning rubber or plastic odor. You can determine whether that’s the problem by doing the following:
⦿Turn off the oven by unplugging it
⦿Verify that no burned wiring insulation or oven components are present in the interior.
⦿Diagnose and fix the problem if any by contacting a professional.
The presence of burnt wiring or components in an oven is a sign that the heating element is malfunctioning, which can lead to a fire. If you need help fixing the issue, let a professional handle it, since they’re equipped with the tools and have the skills to do the job correctly.
Container Made of Burnt Plastic
It is possible that the irritating smell comes from melting plastic containers placed in your oven and forgotten about. Getting rid of it and the smell is as easy as following these steps:
The molten plastic will harden in the oven once it cools, making it easier to remove. Using ice packs will also speed up the process of removing molten zip ties, as in the earlier step
⦿When the racks have cooled and formed the residue, remove them and peel them off. Removing any residue from the oven cavity should be done the same way.
⦿Make sure your oven inside and racks are clean by scrubbing with hot soapy water and a dish-safe scrubber.
⦿Clean the oven and inserts with a clean cloth.
⦿If you wish to deodorize your oven, pour some baking soda onto a plate and let it sit for a few hours.
When you remove the baking soda from your oven, it should be clean and odor-free. Scrape off any plastic residue that doesn’t harden if you don’t have time to wait. However, it is still advisable to wear oven mitts because the interior might still be hot. Ensure that your crockery is oven-safe by looking for the oven-safe symbol. The following are examples of ovenproof materials:
- Cast iron and stainless steel
- Kitchenware made of ceramic
- High-quality silicone for food
You shouldn’t put anything plastic or wooden in your oven as it will either melt or warp.
Is It Dangerous to Inhale Burnt Plastic Fumes?
There is no doubt that inhaling burned plastic is unsafe for your health, but the danger of inhaling burned plastic varies according to the type of plastic. Although polypropylene is technically plastic, it is a long-chain polymer and is generally considered safer than most plastics. That does not mean that you should inhale its fumes.
The inhalation of toxic fumes produced by other plastics, such as PVC and polyurethane, can be very harmful. There are several types of toxic fumes released by them, including;
⦿Dioxins
⦿Cyanide
⦿Carbon monoxide
⦿Sulfur dioxide
⦿Volatile organic compounds
Overall, while some plastics emit fewer toxic fumes, you should avoid them if possible because they can be harmful to your health and the planet. You need to open your doors and windows to promote ventilation when you smell burning plastic coming from your oven. If this is unavoidable, identify and fix the issue immediately.
Oven Smell Removal: Natural Methods
You may smell burnt plastic odors as well as grease and food spills from your oven, and even pee sometimes. Although cleaning can help eliminate some of these smells, some are too strong to be eliminated with detergent alone. In such cases, you can remove odors naturally with the following ingredients:
A White Vinegar Solution
In addition to being antibacterial and antifungal, white vinegar contains acetic acid. White vinegar has a high level of deodorizing power due to its acidity and its ability to bond with volatile molecules. Mix white vinegar with water, place it on the lower rack and set your oven’s self-cleaning function. You will be able to remove burnt plastic and other odors from your oven. Your oven’s interior will be fresher than ever after the steam absorbs all the odors.
By Using Lemon
There is limonene, a natural compound present in lemons that has a pleasant, lemony scent, acts as a good solvent, and neutralizes odors through its astringent scent. In addition to neutralizing amines, citric acid in lemons also neutralizes compounds that cause odors that are bad and irritating. Since lemons absorb odors, they are useful not just for absorbing odors in your oven, but for absorbing odors in your entire home.
You can rid your oven of bad odors by mixing lemon juice with baking soda and two cups of water and mixing them in a bowl. It is the steam that absorbs odors, imparting a citrus aroma to the oven, just like the vinegar and water solution discussed above.
Adding a teaspoon of vanilla, three lemon slices, two stalks of lemons, and an inch of water to a baking tray will make it smell even better. Turn on your oven to 120 C and place it in there. You can leave it there for a half-hour. In addition to filling your oven with an incredible aroma, it will also fill your entire home with a heavenly scent. The citric acid found in oranges, limes, and clementines, among other citrus fruits, also helps deodorize.
Using Baking Soda
Of course, baking soda would be a necessary addition to this list. As an amphoteric, potassium salts in baking soda neutralize acids and alkalis. Baking soda reacts with smelly particles when exposed to air, converting them into neutral salts, so it can absorb odors rather than mask them. As described above, you can clean your oven using baking soda mixed with lemon juice or by placing a plate in your oven overnight with some baking soda on it. In the alternative, mix it with one part of the vinegar and bake it in the oven.
Why Does My Electric Oven Smell Weird?
A horrifying smell like burning plastic can be extremely unpleasant while cooking your roast meal. This guide shows why you might be experiencing odors coming from your electric oven, and how to get rid of them quickly.
⦿Brand new electric ovens often smell of burning plastic. To prevent moisture from entering the oven’s chamber, the protective chemicals used during manufacturing should burn immediately, but this does not always happen. There can be periods of time before the smell disappears, depending on how frequently the product was used.
Plastic Odors Can Be Caused by a Variety of Factors, Including:
🅐There is burning off of the chemical solutions used during manufacturing. 🅑An electrical malfunction has occurred in your oven; 🅒There are still zip ties attached to the package during transportation; 🅓High temperatures are being exposed to the oven’s insulation for the first time; 🅔It appears that the wire insulation is melted due to bad wiring.
⦿Experts believe that the burning smell from a new oven is due to the insulation around the oven cavity releasing odors when exposed to heat for the first few minutes. The zip ties used to secure the inserts will melt if they are not removed during transportation and emit plastic odors once the oven is used. According to Belling, when using your first few appliances, you will experience a smell and light smoke that is caused by the protective coating.
⦿Plastic burning has an overpowering odor that can be removed in many ways. If you have a brand-new oven or have used it for a while, the way in which it will work will depend on the type of oven. It is important to allow new ovens time to “burn in” to their full potential, while used ovens should be cleaned thoroughly.
⦿The same foul smell permeates your stove regardless of how many times it is used. First, we recommend contacting the manufacturer, as it might be a specific issue with that specific model. Since this can be very case-specific, we recommend going to the manufacturer first. Having ruled out that possibility, you can then look for electrical problems in your oven.
Whenever you encounter any problems with cleaning your oven, contact an expert. Your oven can be professionally deep cleaned by an expert oven cleaning team. In addition to removing any melted plastic and carbon residue from ovens, the specialists use powerful detergents that kill bacteria as well. A professional oven repair service can be booked if the problem is worse than cleaning the plastic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an Electrical Fire Smell Like Burning Plastic?
If something electrical is burning, contact an electrician immediately. Plastic insulation is common in electrical wiring. A fire caused by electrical equipment can create a particularly acrid smell. If the short occurs inside a wall outlet or wiring, it can be difficult to identify.
What to Do If It Smells Like Burning Plastic?
The smell of burnt plastic can be removed from furniture and curtains by spraying diluted white vinegar on them. You shouldn’t be alarmed by the vinegar smell. Keep the windows open so that the odor can dissipate as soon as possible. As a final option, you can sprinkle baking soda on carpets or rugs as a way to deodorize them.
What Does it Mean If It Smells Like Burning Plastic?
Take caution if a burning plastic smell emanates from your house. Overheated appliances, kitchen accidents, and HVAC problems could cause the smell of burning plastic. A broken or worn-out part of a heater or furnace may smell like burnt plastic.
Conclusion
It is commonly the insulation surrounding the oven cavity that causes the burning plastic smell coming from a brand-new oven. The smell will only be present for a short while after you have used the appliance for the first time. You can either use ice cubes or heat to clean melted plastic from the inside of your oven. It is usually melted plastic or an electrical fault with the wiring that causes used ovens to emit a plastic odor.
If you want your oven to be filled with pleasant aromas, it should not smell like burnt plastic. The smell of burnt plastic in an oven is not alarming, as shown above. It is easy to remove odors from your home using the natural odor removers above using items you already have.
