We all love the smell of cooking; how many times have our mouths watered when we smelled the scent of something delicious being cooked up in the kitchen? Sumptuous aromas are sometimes the best part about sitting down for a meal (aside from tasting!). But sometimes, scents are double-edged swords. Some are not welcome; the odor of burnt food, for example. Other smells are pleasant but tend to linger for a long time.

Either way, you don’t want your home smelling like the inside of a frying pot. These tips below will help you clear out those stubborn scents. The next time you’re cooking with one of AFRA’s kitchen appliances, you’ll know just what to do to keep your home and kitchen fresh and airy.

Ventilate your room and keep bedroom doors closed.

Your quest to remove stubborn smells starts even before you get down to cooking, by taking some simple precautions. You can waylay smells before they waft throughout your home simply by opening the windows. This may sound obvious, but people often forget that an open window can easily waft any odors out of the kitchen. If your cooking range has a vent over it, you can use that too.

It’s also a good idea to keep your bedroom door closed as well. Fabrics in your room, unlike hard surfaces, absorb bad smells more readily, and are not so easily cleaned.

Clean up straight away

Regular cleaning can help prevent bad smells from spreading. You can start during the cooking process, by making sure to throw waste into the trash, cleaning your kitchen counter and cleaning up any oil spills.

Once you’re done cooking (or after you’ve finished your meal), make sure to clean the pans and dishes thoroughly. However, sometimes they are too dirty, in which case you’ll need to fill them with hot, soapy water. This will reduce the time in which the dishes are exposed to air, preventing the smell of cooking and the burnt bottom from getting stronger.

You should also take care that any waste oil used for frying is disposed of in a separate container.

It’s also important that kitchen sponges are thrown out after a week. Keeping sponges longer than that means bacteria and mold can easily accumulate.

Boil Lemons to Deal with Smells

Not all odor elimination methods require chemicals. Sometimes a natural solution can work just as well. Boiling lemons might seem downright ridiculous, but it’s actually an excellent way to neutralize smells.

Just cut a lemon in half, chuck it into a pot of boiling water, and leave it to simmer for ten minutes. It also works with any leftover lemon peels or bits.

The boiling will give off lemon steam. It has a strong astringent smell that will clear the air and remove any stubborn odors. If you want to double the effectiveness, you can sprinkle a tablespoon of baking soda into the water.

Make a DIY aromatherapy spray.

Sometimes, when the odors are far too stubborn, you’ll reach for a can of air freshener. But sometimes, air fresheners are just not within reach. That, or they’re woefully inadequate for the job. Thankfully, there’s a solution you can whip up at home.

Fill a spray bottle with water, and add eucalyptus, lemon, and lavender essential oils. Make sure that they’re all in equal amounts; about 8 to 10 drops each. You now have a makeshift spray of your own.

Spray liberally around your stovetop. It’s also a good idea to spray directly into the vents of the hood above your cooking range. Once you’re sprayed enough, run the fan for five minutes and you’re all done.