Your kitchen will always smell clean thanks to these DIY odor-absorbing methods

by Mark Bennett

October 12, 2023

Your kitchen will always smell clean thanks to these DIY odor-absorbing methods
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Nobody likes getting up in the morning and being greeted by the smell of the previous day's cooking. But sometimes the stale smell of cooking persists for hours or days inside our homes. There are numerous commercial deodorants available to eliminate unpleasant odors from the kitchen, but these are temporary solutions which only mask bad smells without actually eliminating them. So, what should we do?

The only real remedy to deal with unpleasant odors in the kitchen is to prevent them from developing in the first place. From simply opening a window, turning on the extractor fan and/or using natural products known for their anti-odor properties, we suggest below all the useful techniques you can use to prevent and eliminate bad smells from your kitchens.

And finally, you will be able to cook anything without trepidation.

1. Open the windows and turn on the extractor fan

1. Open the windows and turn on the extractor fan

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The first important precaution is to turn on the extractor fan. There is no doubt that the fan is very annoying with its loud noise, but it will do a great job cleaning the air, helping you to keep the kitchen smelling fresh and clean. Since the fan simply removes odors, to make its action even more effective, you can open the windows in order to better ventilate the kitchen with fresh air from outside.

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2. Splash screen with carbon filter

2. Splash screen with carbon filter

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Using a splash screen is always useful to prevent food splashes from dirtying the kitchen, and if you choose a model with a carbon filter, you can reduce the cooking smells too.

3. The right temperature for the refrigerator

3. The right temperature for the refrigerator

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For the correct storing of your food, the refrigerator should be set to the ideal temperature of 4 degrees C. Higher temperatures could lead to a more rapid degradation of food and the development of unpleasant odors.

4. The right cleaning routine

4. The right cleaning routine

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Cleaning the kitchen is essential first and foremost for hygienic reasons, but bad odors - caused by unremoved food residue - can also be easily eliminated by regular cleaning. Clean worktops and the stove top/oven every time you cook and remember to regularly clean the fridge and freezer.

5. Hot pot pourri

At the end of the meal, while you clean up the kitchen, prepare a hot pot pourri by boiling a pot of water and adding citrus peels, cloves, cinnamon, star anise and other aromatic spices. A pleasant scent will spread throughout the kitchen leaving it smelling fresh.

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6. DIY odor absorbers

6. DIY odor absorbers

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Another very effective way to make your kitchen smell clean and fresh is to prepare some DIY odor absorbers using natural products:

  • Baking soda: a bowl of baking soda placed in strategic places in your kitchen will help you eliminate unpleasant odors effortlessly. If you like, you can also add essential oils for an even more pleasant scent. Furthermore, by covering the bottom of the garbage bins with a layer of bicarbonate, you can prevent them from spreading unpleasant odors.
  • Vinegar: vinegar can also be useful for eliminating bad odors and can be used in the same way as baking soda or, while cooking, boiling a cup of vinegar in a pan/pot of water.
  • Coffee grounds: like baking soda, coffee grounds are also known to be powerful odor absorbers. Just use them like baking soda, leaving a bowl next to the kitchen counter or near the stove.

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