Letting a microwave sit for a year?

[teller80]

My countertop microwave is about a year old, but I got a new over-the-stove one last week. I was going to sell the other one (I thought I'd ask $20), but my daughter will be getting an apartment in about a year so I was thinking I'd just hang on to it until then. Do you think it would be fine to just let it sit that long? It would be in the basement (aka the storage pit), so it's not like it'd be in the way.

wwyd?

 

[kymom99]

Shouldn't matter at all.

 

[maleficent32]

What do you think is going to happen to it?

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

It will be fine.

 

[teller80]

What do you think is going to happen to it?

Nothing, but I know fridges aren't suppose to sit unused. I think that has to do with the coolant though.

 

[Minnesota!]

We are currently using one that sat dormant for 7 years. No issues.

 

[yoopermom]

I have an even more extreme example, we bought a new top loading washing machine, used it for a month, sold our house and moved into one that already had a washing machine, so put ours in storage. Fast forward seven years, the one that had come with the house finally broke, we dragged the one out of storage, and it worked just fine! Most appliances, except for frigs, won't be affected by sitting unused.

Terri

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I think it's a great idea to hold onto to it for her.
There's so many start up expenses so that will be one less thing she needs to buy. I would clean it out really well before storing. Maybe put it inside a big trash bag without closing it tightly to keep dust off of it.

 

[a742246]

Is your basement very damp?

 

[maleficent32]

Nothing, but I know fridges aren't suppose to sit unused. I think that has to do with the coolant though.

I wasn't sure if you thought something weird happened if it wasn't being used

 

[HM]

We keep our old one in the garage and pull it out at Thanksgiving, when we need more than our built in.

 

[teller80]

Great idea to put it in a bag, thanks.

I'm not sure how to answer the question about whether my basement is damp. While there is no water in it, if I leave pillows or blankets down there for a period of time they do get that basement musty smell. Is there a way to test how much moisture my basement has?

 

[vacationer1954]

We bought a cheap microwave once when our built-in died and we had to wait weeks for the replacement to come in. We've kept the cheap microwave around for years in a cardboard box in the basement taking it out every year or two for some church event or to lend it to someone for a few weeks. It's still working fine.

 

[a742246]

I would put the microwave in a airtight bag put a few desiccant packets in the bag at the same time.
When you are ready to use it again, I would let the microwave sit at room temperature for a day or so with the door open(in case moisture got into the electronics) after cleaning it again, I would boil a couple of cups of water in it and check for smells.
You should be fine!