New Delhi, June 26 -- Burnt smells in a microwave don't go away easily. Even after wiping the inside or leaving the door open for hours, the smell often lingers and that affects everything you heat or cook next.

If the smell keeps coming back every time you heat your food, it's a sign that something's not right. Before you think of replacing it or giving up on it completely, here are a few reasons why that smell refuses to leave.

Old food stuck inside: Small spills and splatters from soups, curries or anything that bubbles over often stick to the walls or ceiling of the microwave. If not cleaned right away, they dry up and stay hidden. So, each time you use the microwave, they heat up again, slowly burning and releasing a strong, burnt ...