How To Get Rid of Cooking Smells From Your Kitchen
Once you start cooking at home, you’ll notice that you gain more confidence to explore new recipes and experiment with ingredients. The pros of home-cooked meals are many, from better nutrition to cost savings. However, if you’re noticing lingering odors after cooking, you’re not alone. Luckily, there are some simple ways to enjoy a home-cooked meal and a clean, odor-free kitchen. Read on to learn how to remove cooking smells from your kitchen.
What We'll Cover
1. Prioritize Proper Ventilation
First things first, ventilation. All of the odors and fumes created during the cooking process have to go somewhere, right? If you’re relying on opening doors and windows after cooking, you’ll find that it’s not enough to fully extract fumes and odors. Plus, it lets in bugs!
This is where your range hood comes in.  Range hoods don’t just push smoke and fumes around. They extract all of the air created during cooking and push it to the exterior of the home. These appliances are designed to suck air away from the kitchen and provide filtration. Ducted range hoods move air to the exterior of the house through a duct. This option is the most efficient and effective at providing ventilation and removing cooking smells from your kitchen. To learn more about selecting a range hood for your kitchen, visit our buyer’s guide.
If you don’t have ductwork, don't worry. You can use a ductless range hood. These models clean and recirculate air through charcoal filters. These appliances are the best way to quickly remove smoke, steam, odors, and chemicals from your kitchen. And it only takes the push of a button!
For best results, make sure to prioritize maintenance, so your range hood stays operational and at peak performance for the long haul.
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2. Control Grease and Debris
If your kitchen still smells a bit stale days after your meal, leftover crumbs, grease, and debris may be to blame. Grease, in particular, is quick to build up on cabinets, counters, walls, and floors. You may not even notice how much grease splatters while cooking. Range hoods with baffle filters can snag the grease before it even has a chance to drip down onto your stovetop or counter.
You can also use a splatter screen with a carbon lining to prevent grease from flying up from your pan. The carbon lining will absorb any odors. Most grease splatter screens are dishwasher-safe to make for easy cleanup.
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3. Check Your Fridge
When was the last time you gave your fridge a thorough clean-out? Take time to throw away any expired, molding, or rotten items. Use a disinfectant to clean the surface of your fridge. You can also use soap and hot water to wash down trays, compartments, and shelves.
Next, check your fridge’s temperature. Ideally, you’ll keep it set at 40℉ or below. Any higher than that, and you’ll notice your groceries go bad much quicker. You can place an open box of baking soda in your freezer and fridge to absorb odors. Make sure to replace it every 3 months. You can even sprinkle a bit in your trash can to soak up any smells.
4. Give Your Garbage Disposal a Good Cleaning
That strange odor you just can’t place? It may be coming from your garbage disposal. Think about it; everything from last night’s leftovers to scary finds from the fridge can wind up down the disposal. That leaves many culprits to stink up your kitchen.
Fortunately, cleaning your disposal is a breeze with a few common household ingredients. First, gather a measuring cup, some white vinegar, and baking soda. Pour half a cup of baking soda around the disposal opening. Then pour in a cup of white vinegar. Allow the mixture to sit for at least 10 minutes. You can even throw in some citrus peels, such as oranges or lemons. Run hot water from the sink to activate the mixture. Rinse thoroughly, and voila! A much better-smelling, cleaner disposal.
5. Scrub Your Floors
Your kitchen is a high-traffic area. Dirty shoes, food scraps, pet paws, and all sorts of other things can leave behind odors. Give your kitchen floors at least weekly to avoid a buildup and lingering smells. Your favorite floor cleaner will do, but you can also try a DIY solution. All you need are the following:
- 2 gallons of hot water
- 1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap
- 1/4 cup of washing soda
- 1/4 cup of white vinegar
- A few drops of your favorite essential oil
Mix together in a large bucket. Thoroughly sweep your floors, then mop with your homemade solution.
6. Don't Forget Your Trash Can
Trashcans can get pretty stinky after a while. Fragranced trash bags can help, but at some point, you’ll need to clean your trash cans to truly get rid of the odors. To start, gather the following items and ingredients:
- Gloves
- Disinfectant spray
- Baking soda
- Paper towels or microfiber towels
- Scrub brush
Then, follow these steps:
- Remove the trash bag from the trash can.
- Rinse the can thoroughly with a hose outside.
- Spray the inside of the can with a disinfectant spray.
- Add half a up of baking soda inside the can and allow it to sit for 10 minutes
- Scrub the inside of the trash can with a bristle brush and towels. You may need to repeat this step.
- Rinse the trash can with the hose again.
- Allow the can to dry completely outside. Do not add a new trash bag until it is completely dry.
7. Regularly Change Your Air Filters
Been a while since you changed the air filters in your home? You’ll want to swap out your filters every 30 to 90 days. Doing so not only helps keep your HVAC system running efficiently, but also keeps your air fresher and smelling nicer. Your air ventilation will improve, and you should notice a better-smelling home overall.
8. Use Room Sprays and Wax Warmers
Home fragrances can also help keep your home smelling fresh. Once you’ve tackled the above steps, you can be sure you aren’t just covering up odors with additional fragrances. Activated charcoal patches absorb odors and moisture in a natural way. Wax warmers are also useful for adding your favorite fragrances to your home without having to worry about putting out candles. Just be sure to pay attention to the types of fragrances and waxes you choose to burn as some may be toxic to human and pet health.
At Hauslane, we’re all about making your kitchen the must-be place in your home. Stay tuned to our blog for more tips and tricks on achieving a brand new cooking experience.
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