I've had good success starting mine, but I tend to screw up transitioning them to the outdoors (sunburnt two batches so far...)

I start mine in shallow Chinese-takeout containers or similar plastic containers that seal up tightly. Thoroughly wash them. Microwave C&S mix for about 6 minutes - careful, it will be blazingly hot. Boil water and thoroughly moisten the soil. Not soupy, but very damp. Let everything cool and then place seeds on top and depending on the size of the seed, either just leave alone, or lightly cover with more sterilized soil. Seal it up, place in warm, bright (not directly light) spot and leave alone for three months. DO NOT OPEN or you will let in microbes and ruin the nice sterile environment you've created.

I use a method similar to Leslie's. I've also found it helpful to sanitize the seeds themselves, by folding them into a paper towel or napkin and swishing them in dilute chlorine bleach (about 20-25% bleach, the rest water) for about a minute. I then thoroughly rinse them under the tap, and soak in clean water for a few minutes to make sure I got the bleach off. This helps kill mold spores on the seeds, and I still get good germination.

I just put them in a small, shallow glass bowl. Microwaved. It started to catch on fire(we put it out at the sightest ember). We put it outside on a cloth. We took it off the cloth after it burned the cloth and I got the soil out. Then the burned plate exploded. I tried to microwave another for three minutes. It started to smoke so we took it out. What do I do?? We don't have either of what you suggested

Where did you order seeds from?

@Mamachow I didn't put the seeds in there. I have a different seed tray I want to put them in, I wanted to heat up the soil and put it in the tray with gloves

Oh I meant where do you get your seeds

I'm confused, did you microwave the seeds?

There's something in you container or in your mix that can't be microwaved, something metallic or some chemical component. Some types of brown paper bags can ignite in the microwave, if there was a tiny paper bag piece there it could be that. Some grapes or pepper residues can catch fire when microwaved too. Who knows what comes in those commercial mixes? Just put the mix in the oven for an hour and it'll be sterilized just as well as the 6 minute microwave.

I recommend using a ziplock bag to seal everything after you're done sowing, keep the plastic up in a tent shape so when the water evaporates it will condense on the top and run to the sides, not dripping in the middle of the container. Specially if the seeds are tiny as they can dislodge. The container should have holes on the bottom. But most people just wrap up the plastic film and it's fine too.

Good luck!

Given that that we cannot be sure of what is in the soil, I do not use the microwave or oven in my kitchen where I also prepare food. I use an old gaz barbecue outside. Be aware when using an oven or barbecue of the temperature as some of the soil will contain wood base product that will become ashes if the temp is too high. Alternatively you can boil water, poor the water on the soil or the soil in it then drain.

it has perlite.. worm castings.. processed forest products, so probably wood. but I sifted it so the wood wasn't in there. maybe there was a little chip.

I did grow some about two years ago and they made it pretty far along.

I soaked in water and hydrogen peroxide first. Then, I put them in a damp paper towel in a plastic bag in a well lit area. They germinated pretty quickly.

I took them out and put them in separate compartments in one of those sewing craft boxes you use for small item. I moistened the soil and put the lid on and let stay in a well lit area. They did well, and I started cracking the lid for longer each day. They were in full sun by then.

however, when I prematurely moved them into separate pots and put them out on the windowsill, they died. I know now, but didn't then, that I pretty much drowned them in soil and fried them at the same time. I think they should have stayed in the little box until the roots were stronger.

hope that helps at least a bit

Like Karen said, you're making it hard for yourself. Keeping it simple is way less stressful + more fun.