Everyone loves movies and it never feels right if you are watching with your hand on a bowl filled with popcorn. There is something about that soft, salty and chewy sensation that just makes movie viewing a lot better. However, clean up afterwards can be very tiring especially if you used your microwave to make the popcorn.

The smell of burnt popcorn is something familiar to all of us. It is this bitter and strong odor that attacks our senses however we hide from it in the room. There are a few ways you can combat this depending on your situation. Here, in this article, we are going to talk about the ways how to get rid of burnt popcorn smell in your home.

Before anything else, the first thing that you need to do is to get rid of the batch of popcorn that burned. The smell will not get better anytime soon if you still keep the bag of burnt popcorn around. If the burnt popcorn dissipated from a pot you are cooking it from, then you could be in for a real fight. In these cases, you may prefer to just pick up a broom. Clear the area then spray freshener to counter the burnt smell.

There are also cases where people do actually prefer the taste of burnt popcorn. In which case, the smell of burnt popcorn need not be inevitable. The trick here is to ensure that there is proper ventilation in the cooking area. And, if it is possible at all, you should cook directly above the exhaust fans.

How to Get Rid of Burnt Popcorn Smell with White Vinegar

One of the better known ways to get rid of any smell is by using the good old white vinegar. While the smell of vinegar itself can be quite nasty as well, it will take all other nasty smells with it as soon as it clears. In fact, white vinegar is one of the main ingredients in a lot of cleaning agents. Ever wonder why the smell of your favorite kitchen bleach somehow smells like your salad.

White vinegar is inexpensive and is already present in most kitchens where any burn odors usually occur. It is no surprise that white vinegar has become the go-to remedy for burnt smells. However, be careful when using white vinegar in tandem with other cleaning agents. White vinegar can react with some substances which could then emit poisonous gases.

The secret to the cleaning power of vinegar lies in the organic compound known as acetic acid. It is a weak acid that is not strong enough to break down tough solids but is still effective in dealing with simpler reactions like getting rid of smells.

Vinegar in general is virtually harmless because the acetic acid only comprises 4% of the entire solution. And, as already mentioned, the acid itself is weak, thus would pose no threat even if it is directly in contact with your skin. This does not mean however that you may use acetic acid without precaution. Pure acetic acid is corrosive and can injure you especially if it is in contact with more sensitive regions of the body like the eyes.

Depending on how you cook the popcorn, the approach would change in using white vinegar. First off, if you used a stove to cook it, then the burnt smell could be spread throughout which means there would be more work. If this is the case, bring out a few rugs that you can use to wipe off surfaces. Get a cup and fill it with a one to one solution of vinegar and water. Dip a few inches of the tip of the rug in the solution and use the rug to wipe out areas where the burnt popcorn smell is coming from. You can use the dry end of the rug to wipe off excess liquid to make sure that the surface remains clean and dry.

On the other hand, if you are trying to remove the unwanted burnt smell off of a microwave while cooking microwave popcorn, then your problem has been simplified. The problem will be contained in a small space, thus you can simply put the focus there. Once again, by using a solution similar to the one described earlier, you will ask for the help of white vinegar to help you solve your problem. Simply put the solution on the microwave then turn it on for about 4 to 5 minutes. After which, leave the door closed and let the white vinegar do its magic for the next half hour. The vinegar will break down the stubborn smell that stuck on the walls then absorb the odor. After that, your microwave oven will be smelling as good as new.

As an added boost should the steps above fail, you can add the power of baking soda on top of white vinegar to create a truly effective partnership. Sprinkle some baking soda on the solution and do the exact same things as outlined above. If you want to, you can use a sponge so you can scrub harder on the surfaces which you intend to deodorize. A sponge will also allow the solution to remain within it so you will not be wasting any white vinegar or baking soda.

These tricks may also be used to clean out almost any smell in the house. Burnt popcorn, is probably one of the most difficult odors to get rid off. And if vinegar can take care of it, then so can it take care of anything else.

How to Get Rid of Burnt Popcorn Smell with Charcoal

All of us are familiar with the charcoal water filter which purifies the water that we drink. As effective as it is as a purifying filter, it can also act as an odor remover. It is no secret that charcoal is already being used to clear the smell of refrigerators, bathrooms, and even rooms that has that old-house smell. Now we will learn how to use it to fight the smell of burnt popcorn.

Do not let it surprise you how good charcoal, an object that is burnt, is at removing the burnt smell of popcorn. Charcoal naturally contains a lot of oxygen and pores which traps odors. This is no ordinary charcoal, however, as it is charged or activated.

To use the charcoal, bring a small amount in a weave of clothing or a net. Put it inside the microwave or above the smelly area and leave it there for a few hours.

As you may have noticed, the charcoal solution takes a bit longer to complete the task. You should not look down on the charcoal because of this however, because charcoal not only cleans the odor, but you can leave it there to absorb any future foul odors as well. Remember, what we said about some people wanting their popcorn burnt? If you are one of those, then you might as well have a line of charcoal bags ready for use at any time.

How to Get Rid of Burnt Popcorn Smell with Lemon Juice

Want the same effect of vinegar but simply cannot stand the smell of vinegar? Then what you might want to use instead is lemon juice. Lemon is naturally acidic and can be used the same way that you use the white vinegar. However, there are a few key differences. First of all, you should make sure that there is no pulp in the juice as it may burn and cause a new kind of problem when heated in the microwave. And secondly, it does not work well with baking powder so keep it bare and simple.

Lemons are a bit more pricey compared to white vinegar. Because of this, if you can stand the smell of white vinegar anyway, then you might be best of using it instead of using lemon juice.

How to Get Rid of Burnt Popcorn Smell with Proper Ventilation

An often overlooked way to get rid of any kinds of smells is having a proper ventilation. In the kitchen, especially, a proper air flow is a must. Not only can this save you from all the horrible smells that you can imagine, but it might just save your life.

Carbon monoxide poisoning is a real threat and if you routinely have a burnt smell of popcorn as a normality in your kitchen, then you might want to start getting worried.

To have a proper ventilation, there are a few things that you should do. First of all, make sure that the area is big enough. When the room is cramped, then the air could not dissipate at all. Most home designers think it is more necessary to have a big kitchen than any other part of the house. And secondly, make sure that exhaust fans are installed and are indeed working properly.