We all know that after cooking, the smell lingers in the kitchen, especially on the stove and on the dish towels. It can even be smelt in the air around the house. A contributing factor to this issue is that a lot of apartments do not have an exhaust fan or any way to suck up foul air.
Another part of the problem is that you may not have taken the necessary precautions that you should have, before cooking something especially pungent. To avoid this happening in your home, learn these tips on how to quickly remove the cooking smell in your apartment.
Open windows before you start cooking
Before you begin cooking, open the windows in your home to help ventilate the space. This will allow fresh air to come in and hopefully will circulate any unpleasant air out. It is also a good idea to use a fan to push air out of the window.
Keep an odor absorber around
It’s essential to have an odor absorber in the kitchen, as it can help get rid of the scent of bacon grease and other unpleasant smells that come from food. You can use a Moso Natural Air Purifying Bag, which is a burlap bag filled with beneficial bamboo charcoal that sucks up anything you’d prefer not to be smelling. There are also other options. You can DIY a homemade charcoal bag; you can stick an Air Sponge in the corner of your kitchen; or invest in an air purifier. Whatever you prefer to use, it’s a good decision to choose something.
Light a candle while you’re cooking
When you light a candle while cooking, it can help to control any particularly strong odors. Look for a candle like the Fresh Wave Odor Neutralizing candle that is made for this purpose. A lightly scented citrus or herbaceous candle, will work nicely too.
Use a splatter screen to absorb odors
Even if what you cook does not smell especially fragrant, it will undoubtedly become an unpleasant odor after a few days, if you didn’t wipe up a spill or splatter. Using a splatter guard is always a good idea, but a splatter screen that features an activated carbon filter is a game changer.
Clean everything immediately after you finish cooking
Although you may not feel like it at the time, cleaning up immediately after cooking is the best decision. Removing all traces of the food is essential to controlling any lingering odors.
Use vinegar for cleaning everything
If there are still odors that seem to linger after you have cleaned up everything, it’s a good idea to put a couple of small bowls of white distilled vinegar around your kitchen. Vinegar can do some magic, and make odors disappear. If you feel a stubborn smell is sticking, it is highly recommended to use simmering white vinegar on the stove in the kitchen.
If the smell is sticking to fabrics or cabinets, you can spray white vinegar on those things. If you can’t find vinegar, you can use bowls of baking soda or coffee grounds to take the smell out of the air.
Use baking soda to beat bad smells
Baking soda is known by many homeowners for its deodorizing properties and as an effective cleaning solution. When you use baking soda, pour some into mason jars, poke holes in the lids, and distribute these around the kitchen. This way, it can absorb any odors left behind after your food preparation. You can take this useful tip to the next level by adding a few drops of your favorite essential oil to baking soda so that the smell can be sweeter.
While you’ve already learned some tips on how to get rid of cooking smells that radiate from your kitchen, it will now be easier for you to combat unpleasant cooking smells and deodorize your home. If you need some help to make your kitchen extra clean and fresh before receiving guests for a holiday or any event, you may contact your local home care specialist for some cleaning backup.