How to Make your Kitchen Smell Fresh after Cooking

Cooking aromas aren’t just part of the culinary landscape; some smell good, while others leave you ill at ease. You may not know what causes this unpleasant odor until after you’ve cooked something, so you’ll probably end up smelling bad yourself. To eliminate those pungent scents quickly, here are several ways to eliminate those unwanted cooking smells.

1. Consider using a charcoal filter splash screen.

A great way to prevent odors from coming off your back burner or oven top is by adding a charcoal grill cover. This will trap heat and smoke inside the grill instead of releasing it into the air around you. The result? A smoky smell that won’t linger after you’ve finished grilling.

2. Treat boiling vinegar water into a pot.

To avoid smells in the kitchen, cook with strong flavors, like garlic or onion powder. To do this:

1. Mix 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar with 2 cups hot tap water.
2. Add any spices or herbs you would normally put in dishes before serving.
3. Boil or simmer over medium heat until the liquid reduces slightly.
4. Run your stove vent to produce even greater results.

3. Keep simmering while cooking.

Nicholas suggests adding some clove buds, dried oranges, and/or lemons to a simmering pot of water to remove any unpleasant scents left behind after cooking meat. The steaming action of the hot liquid will release unwanted aromas, while the spices used will mask those smells leaving only pleasant ones. Try this technique when preparing meats because it works great at removing strong flavors.

4. Consider using a countertop or plug-in air purifier.

Nick says he likes to run a small, portable air purifier during cooking sessions because it helps eliminate smells that spread throughout the house. The unit removes odor-causing particles from the air, helping to reduce any lingering scents. This way, your home won’t smell bad even after dinner guests leave. And since this model runs off 110V power, it’s great for kitchens without electricity.

5. Use a bowl of baking soda if needed.

Baking soda isn’t just great at absorbing unpleasant smells; it also works wonders at balancing the acidity levels inside our bodies. So next time you cook some tomato sauce, toss a pinch of baking soda before adding salt. This simple trick will reduce the amount of sodium absorbed by the body while improving digestion.

6. Set your refrigerator to the correct setting.

Your refrigerator should smell fine unless its internal thermostat malfunctions. You can prevent this problem by keeping your fridge at 40°F or lower. The higher temperatures increase the rate at which food spoils, causing odors. An inexpensive way to check whether your fridge’s built-in thermometer works is to purchase an external thermometer.

7. Place baking soda in the refrigerator.

Keep a small container with 1/4 cup of white vinegar near your refrigerator door. Use this solution to remove any lingering odor caused by spoiled food. While at it, check under the refrigerator for leaks around the edges or along the bottom shelf. Clean those spots too.

8. Spray baking soda into your garbage disposal.

Sprinkle some baking soda around your home to absorb odors. Baking soda is inexpensive, absorbs smells, and works great in any space. For example, you can toss a few tablespoons of baking soda down the garbage disposal to eliminate bad smells while washing dishes.

Or, you can mix a tablespoon of baking soda with water and spray it inside closets and under beds to eliminate musty smells. In addition, you can sprinkle baking soda throughout your house to remove strong scents, like smoke or pet urine.

9. Put lemons into a garbage disposal.

Saving lemon peelings in the refrigerator creates a great way to freshen up your kitchen sink quickly. Just pull some lemon peels once per week, and toss them down the drain. Citrus acids work to dissolve soap scum and greasy buildup, creating a pleasant smell while also breaking apart any dirt particles in the water.

10. Empty the garbage bin and recycling bins.

Keep the garbage can and recycling bins free of debris at all times. Wiping down the interior surfaces of both containers helps eliminate unpleasant smells before they permeate throughout the house. You can also try using Lysol or another brand of household cleaner to rid yourself of unwanted aromas.

11. Scoop Out The Trash.

Your kitchen sink gets dirty over time due to grease buildup and soap scum. To remove this mess without scrubbing off your countertop:

1. Mix 2 cups of white vinegar with 1/2 cup of liquid dishwashing detergent.
2. Pour the solution down the drain, then flush with hot tap water.
3. Let the pipes soak overnight before flushing again.
4. Rinse thoroughly and repeat until the drains are clear.

12. Place lemons into your sink drain.

Hold onto your lemons! Adding citrus fruit peels to your trash bin can reduce odors caused by cooking fats and greases in your kitchen sinks. The oils from the peel also work great at cutting through grease buildup in your dishwasher. Yum!

13. Place cat litter into your garbage bin.

Cat Litter absorbs pet smells and helps prevent odor buildup inside the garbage disposal. Replace once the container gets wet.

5 Other Quick Fixes for Kitchen Odors

One way to deal with lingering cooking aromas is to avoid letting them get into the air, onto wall surfaces, or into fabrics. Here are some tips for dealing with this odoriferous challenge.

14. Sponge Cleaner

Wet sponges can stink up your kitchen fast. To prevent this from happening, squeeze out any excess water before washing your sponges. This helps cut down on bacterial growth. Then pop your sponges in the dishwasher to kill off those nasty microbes. A dry sponge lasts longer than a soggy one because its fibers stay intact. So give yours a quick wash too.

15. Spray homemade air freshening mist

A whiff of last night’s pasta sauce? Try this DIY recipe for cleaning smells away. Mix together equal parts water and rubbing alcohol (or vodka), then drop in ten to twenty drops of your favorite essential oils, such as lavender, peppermint, orange, or cloves. Store your homemade cleaner under the sink.

16. Clear smells from cooking foods

Add a few cups of boiling water and 3/4 cup of white wine vinegar to a large bowl. Let sit overnight before straining through cheesecloth. Use 1 part mixture per 4 parts dishwater. This helps remove odors left behind after cooking fish or meat.

17. Turn On The Heat

Create your own home fragrance by mixing together some warm water, dried herbs, citrus slices, and lemon peels. Let this concoction simmer over the stove until fragrant, then pour off any excess liquid before placing the lid back on top. The scent will last for weeks.

18. Do Not Forget About The Exhaust Fan

Keep your kitchen free of smells by turning on your exhaust fan whenever you cook. This way, you won’t end up breathing in those delicious aromas while trying to get dinner ready. And if you don’t have an exhaust fan in your kitchen, consider adding one to prevent unpleasant smells from permeating the room.