Oven Smells Like Burning Plastic | How to Get Rid of That

The protective chemicals used during production to produce the oven’s chamber insulation should burn off quickly when they are used for the first time. This makes your oven smell like burning plastic. However, this can be true for used ovens too.

You need to know why the plastics odors are coming & then get to the part of trying to eradicate the odor. 

Why Does My Oven Smell Like Burning Plastic

There may be many instances why you might encounter the burning plastic smell from your oven. Let’s take a look at them. 

Protective Chemicals Burning Off

There are different types of chemical solutions used to protect the inside chamber of the oven. These solutions will burn off once you start using the oven. The smell may be the chemicals burning. 

Electrical Wiring Issue

If your oven isn’t brand new and you first noticed this problem as you were using it, the burned plastic odor might indicate a problem with the electrical wiring. Such issues arise when an electrical fault short circuits your oven’s wiring, melting its insulation in the process. 

Other oven components may also fire as a result of a short circuit, leaving a terrible, burnt rubber or plastic-like odor. If this is the case then at first you need to unplug the power outlet of the oven & call for professional help to diagnose the problem. 

Forgetting to Remove Zip Ties

Zip ties are often used by most oven and appliance manufacturers to secure grills and other oven elements during transportation. Sometimes we make the honest mistake of removing them before using the oven. 

So while using your brand new oven, you might have just burned these zip ties. That’s why you are getting that burnt plastic smell whenever you run the oven. 

Burnt Plastic Container 

Putting plastic containers & exposing them to high temperatures may be the reason you are experiencing this odor. It’s the plastic slowly melting off the container. Unfortunately plastic & Ovens do go well together.

Why Does My Kitchen Smell Like Burning Plastic

Here are some of the most obvious reasons you might experience a burnt plastic smell in your kitchen. 

Electrical Wiring Fire

If there is an electrical wiring malfunction then that can cause a fire through the wires. It is very dangerous as it can spread rapidly all over the house. The burnt plastic smell is the insulation of the wires burning. 

Kitchen Appliances

If you have any electrical kitchen appliances, then it might cause plastic components to burn due to overheating. Brand new appliances have a tendency to give away a burning smell in the first few uses. 

Plastic Burning

Maybe some plastic component is burning near your stove or somewhere else. Follow the smell to see if anything is burning near the stove. You might have left some Tupperware near the stove. 

Water Heater

Sometimes if the water heater is used a lot, then it may overheat. This overheating may lead to its components melting inside. You have to pay close attention so that the water heater doesn’t overheat. 

HVAC Problem

HVAC systems are a complex thing to handle. Any malfunction can lead to problems. This includes burnt smells all over the kitchen. If you find such, then immediately shut down the main power line of the house & call in an electrician. 

What to Do If the Oven Smells Like Burning Plastic

There are a few ways you can get rid of the plastic smell from your oven. Let’s go through the steps one by one. 

Step 1: Identify the Problem

Before you rush in to get rid of the smell, you need to make sure the odor is not coming from any electrical malfunction. Finding out the reason for the odor is important. If there is an electrical malfunction, then the odor might continue as the wire’s insulation is melting. 

Be sure to check out the reasons behind the odor from the previous section & relate to what might cause the problem in your oven. 

Step 2: Using White Vinegar

Vinegar is one of the best solutions to take off business like bad odors. Mix the white vinegar with water. Now place it on the lower rack of the oven & turn the oven’s self-cleaning function on. 

The steam will eventually absorb all the odor & you will feel as though you have a brand new oven in front of you. 

Step 3: Using Lemon & Baking Soda 

In a dish, combine ½  cup freshly squeezed lemon juice, ⅛  cup baking soda, and two cups water, and place it inside the oven. This will act just like the vinegar, water solution in step 2. If you don’t have any white vinegar & then you can use lemon to do the job. 

Step 4: Using Baking Soda

Baking Soda is an incredible component that reacts to all sorts of odors & converts them to neutral salts. Baking soda interacts with acids and alkalis as an amphoteric, breaking them down into neutral sodium salts.

You may use baking soda to eliminate aromas in your oven by mixing it with lemon juice as mentioned above, or by pouring it on a plate and leaving it in your oven overnight. Alternatively, combine it with one part of vinegar and bake it for a few hours in the oven.

Why Does My Oven Have a Burning Smell

This might be different for new ovens & old ones. So we will go through them both. 

New Ovens

If you have just bought a new oven & you find burning smells from it, then it might be the chemical solutions that are inside the chamber of every new oven. The solutions are burning that’s why you are having such a smell. 

You might also have forgotten to remove the zip ties that secure the grills & other elements of every new oven. They will make such burning odors when you use the oven. Make sure you remove them. 

Old Ovens 

For old ovens, there might be an electrical malfunction that is causing the wire’s insulation to burn. This can be very serious. So when you find a hint of any such scenario where your oven is short-circuited or you find smokes coming from the back, then there might be a short circuit problem. 

Unplug your oven immediately & call a professional to diagnose the problem. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my oven smell like smoke?

Spills and debris from previous uses are the most common causes of a smoking oven. These oil and food particles heat up and burn, producing smoke and aromas. They might be hiding anywhere within the oven, including the racks, so if this is the source of your smoke, it’s time to clean it thoroughly.

How do I get the burnt smell out of my oven?

In the bottom of the oven, sprinkle roughly a cup (240 mL) of baking soda. Allow for as much time as possible to pass before scrubbing the oven with steel wool and wiping everything off with a clean cloth. Finally, run hot water through the oven to clean it.

Conclusion

If you are using a brand new oven, then the plastic smell should come off that is caused by insulation. But if you are still experiencing this issue, then there might be a short circuit problem. Call a professional to see the issue.