Sharon asked: I used the wrong cleaner on the outside of my microwave door. My new microwave had some spots of glue/adhesive on the outside (apparently holding a label to the door). I used some adhesive remover to remove the glue. The door is some sort of plastic instead of glass, and the result is a big, hazy spot in the middle of the door. Is there anything that can remove the hazy spot, and what is the best way to remove the rest of the glue that remains on the door? Thanks.
Some adhesives are similar to plastic when they are cured. Adhesive removers are designed to break this plastic down. Unfortunately, when it is applied to a plastic surface, it also starts to break down that plastic and results in a hazy finish. As long as the remover is completely washed away, it will not damage the plastic finish any further. However, the areas where the plastic has already been damaged might be permanent. To remove the stain, first try using a scouring powder such as Bar Keepers Friend. If that doesn’t work, you can try sanding down the area using a fine 000 grit of sandpaper to remove the hazy stain. If the plastic was shiny, sanding the area could remove the shine though. If all else fails, cover the area with a label of your own, such as a sticker with a funny or motivational quote, possibly related to cooking.
For safe ways to remove the remaining adhesive from plastic, see our guide How to Remove Superglue from Plastic and Vinyl. Sanding the area would also work to remove the remaining adhesive as well.
MJ says
I just used the cooking oil method on a plastic salsa jar. After I soaked it in warm water to remove the paper, I applied the oil and let it sit for a minute. It helped to break down the sticky residue that remained. After rubbing with both a washcloth (to wipe away) and a mesh (which replaced the finger nails), I washed it all with soapy water. Worked like a charm. Thanks for the advice.
Gia says
How do you get rid of the scratches on a black Morphy Richards microwave?
Melanie says
Gia,
It depends on what material your microwave is: plastic or black stainless steel. If it’s plastic, you can try using a plastic scratch removal kit, such as Novus, as described in the guide How to Remove Scratches from Plexiglass. If your microwave is black stainless steel, use the guide How to Remove Scratches from Stainless Steel.