How to Get Rid of Food Smell in House: 6 Proven Tips for a Fresher Home

How to get rid of food smell in house can be a frustrating dilemma, especially after cooking dishes with strong aromas like fish, garlic, or spices. Nobody wants their home to be overpowered by lingering food odors that distract from the comfort of their living space. Fortunately, you don’t have to put up with these smells! With the right methods, you can restore a clean, refreshing scent to your entire home.

In this article, we’ll explore easy yet effective tips for quickly getting rid of food odors, from kitchen hacks to natural odor absorbers. We’ll share techniques you can try today to ensure your home smells pleasant and inviting for you and your guests.

How to Get Rid of Food Smell in House

1. Ventilate the Area

Opening windows and doors is the simplest way to refresh the air in your home. Allowing outdoor air to circulate can replace musty, stale air with fresh air, helping disperse stubborn smells.

When cooking, use your exhaust fan to pull steam and smells out of the kitchen. If your kitchen doesn’t have an exhaust fan, consider using a portable fan to direct cooking smells towards open windows. Here are a few tips for ventilating your home effectively:

• Open windows on opposite sides of the house for cross-ventilation.
• Use fans to push the air out of the kitchen.
• Keep doors closed to rooms where you don’t want smells to drift.

2. Use Natural Odor Absorbers

Natural odor absorbers can help trap and neutralize unwanted food smells. They’re inexpensive, safe to use, and often already in your kitchen.

• Baking Soda: Place small bowls of baking soda around the kitchen to absorb odors.
• Vinegar: Set out a bowl of white vinegar overnight to neutralize stronger odors.
• Activated Charcoal: This can be an excellent odor absorber and works best in open containers placed around the kitchen.

Natural odor absorbers can also be combined with essential oils for a pleasant scent boost.

You can improve your home’s air quality naturally by adding plants, as some can help absorb odors and freshen the environment. Consider creating a window garden for a dual benefit: adding beauty and helping with odor control. Window gardens, especially with fragrant plants, can be a wonderful addition to your kitchen or other areas prone to smells. For tips on starting your own window garden, check out our detailed guide on window garden ideas.

3. Clean Up After Cooking

Food particles and grease left on surfaces contribute to bad smells. Make it a habit to clean immediately after cooking to minimize lingering odors. This includes wiping down:

• Stove: Clean the stovetop and surrounding areas to remove splattered grease.
• Countertops: Use a mild cleaner to eliminate crumbs and spills.
• Pots and Pans: Washing these immediately prevents smell buildup.

Consider using warm, soapy water with a few drops of lemon essential oil for an extra fresh scent as you clean.

4. Boil Citrus and Spices

A pleasant aroma can overpower lingering food smells. Boiling a pot of water with slices of citrus and spices is a quick and natural way to freshen up the air.

Simply add orange or lemon peels to a pot of water along with cinnamon sticks, cloves, or other spices you like. Let it simmer on low heat to release a comforting fragrance throughout your home.

5. Use Essential Oils for Air Freshening

Essential oils are effective at neutralizing bad odors and adding a fresh, pleasant scent to your home. A few popular oils for air freshening include lavender, eucalyptus, and peppermint.

You can:

• Diffuse essential oils using an oil diffuser.
• Mix a few drops with water in a spray bottle to mist the air.
• Apply a few drops to cotton balls and place them around the kitchen for subtle fragrance.

6. Deep Clean Fabrics and Carpets

Fabric surfaces like curtains, rugs, and carpets can trap odors. Regularly vacuuming and washing these items can help reduce food smells that might linger.

If the smell persists, sprinkle baking soda on carpets and fabric surfaces, let it sit for an hour, then vacuum thoroughly. This helps lift trapped odors and leaves a fresh scent behind.

To keep your house free of lingering food smells, it’s essential to use a combination of ventilation, natural odor absorbers, and regular cleaning. By using these easy and effective strategies, you can enjoy a fresher, more inviting home every day. These methods are a practical approach to mastering how to get rid of food smell in house, ensuring a pleasant atmosphere for family and guests alike.