Funky smells can permeate even the cleanest kitchens. Fortunately, ditching funky food odors is easy and you don't even need to invest in a bunch of expensive chemicals or equipment. Most of the smelly problems in the kitchen come from places you can't or don't see very often. Check out a few simple ways to keep your house smelling fresh:
Tame the drain:
Food particles build up in the drain. Over time that buildup begins to stink. It's easy to forget to clean the drain because it is an out-of-sight, out-of-mind spot in the home.
No disposal: SF Gate recommends pouring 1/4 cup of baking soda into the drain. Add 1/4 cup of white vinegar. Allow the mixture to sit and bubble for up to 10 minutes. While the vinegar and baking soda are doing their job, boil a pot of water. Pour the water down to drain to clear away your baking soda mixture and any remaining food bits.
If the smell still hasn't gone, you may need to remove the trap under the sink (place a bucket under the U-shaped pipe and remove. Clean and replace.
Disposal: Try cleaning the blades of your disposal with ice cubes, lemon peels, and coarse salt, according to
The Kitchn. The combination will sharpen your blades, dislodge any remaining food particles and leave a pleasant smell.
Farewell to food smells
If you cooked something especially aromatic for dinner last night and the smell lingers, use this trick from
Good Housekeeping. Combine 3 tablespoons of white vinegar with a cup of water in a saucepan. Heat to boiling nad let boil for 10 minutes. The vinegar will help neutralize food odors.
The Kitchn also recommends leaving a bowl of vinegar, baking soda or coffee grounds on the counter overnight to soak up any remaining smells before you wake in the morning.
Dishwasher duty
Food particles get trapped inside the dishwasher making this cleaning appliance a surprisingly odor-friendly place. Wipe the filter with a paper towel to loosen any food particles. Add a 1/4 cup of vinegar to the empty dishwasher and run a cycle sans dishes.
Deodorize the fridge
Keep the fridge smelling clean, by wiping up obvious spills when you see them (do a deeper clean about once a month). Consider lining the crisper with paper towels to soak up any food moisture. Then, place a thin layer of baking soda into small bowls. Cover with plastic wrap and poke a few holes in the plastic wrap and store them in the fridge. Change baking soda out every three months, Good Housekeeping recommends.
Chop cutting board odors:
When possible choose thin, plastic cutting boards (they are easier on the knives and don't soak up food smells and bacteria). Soak any smelly cutting board in soap and water overnight to remove odors. Dry thoroughly.
Reader's Digest also recommends scrubbing your cutting boards with a combination of 1 tablespoon baking soda, 1 tablespoon of salt and 1 tablespoon of water to eliminate odors.
Tips for adding pleasant smells:
Help your home smell great by burning a scented candle, baking cookies (yum!) or creating your own air freshener with a few cinnamon sticks and an orange peel in two cups of boiling water. One other simple tip: soak a cotton ball in your favorite scent (perfume, essential oils etc.) and hide them around your kitchen.
How do you keep your home smelling fresh? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
