Banish Cooking Smells: A Practical, Everyday Routine for a Fresher Kitchen

A fresher-smelling kitchen starts with the basics: keeping surfaces clean, managing food waste efficiently, and staying on top of those forgotten areas that quietly trap smells. With a little structure — and habits that only take a few minutes — you can reduce odours dramatically and keep your kitchen inviting every day.

Why Odours Linger in the First Place

Before jumping into routines, it helps to understand how kitchen smells cling:

• Grease particles float into the air while cooking and settle on cupboards, walls, and appliances.
• Strong foods like garlic, onion, and fish release sulphuric compounds that absorb into porous materials.
• Food waste in the bin breaks down quickly and spreads odours into the room.
• Warm kitchens accelerate bacterial growth, making smells more noticeable.
• Overlooked surfaces, such as extractor filters or splashbacks, continue releasing smells long after cooking.

Smells become much easier to manage when these root causes are addressed, making cleaning your kitchen properly key to long-term freshness.

Clean as You Cook: The Habit That Changes Everything

Cleaning while cooking might sound tedious, but it’s actually the biggest time-saver. Small tasks done in real time stop odours from becoming stubborn, baked-on problems later.

What to do as you cook:

• Wipe spills the moment they happen.
• Rinse chopping boards between ingredients.
• Keep utensils in active use separate from those ready to wash.
• Clear packaging as you go instead of piling it on the worktop.

A great trick is to start every cooking session with a bowl of warm, soapy water in the sink. As soon as you finish using something — a spatula, saucepan, or sharp knife — drop it in the water. Food residue stays soft, grease doesn’t have time to stick, and washing up later becomes effortless.

This approach mirrors the principles of a simple home-cleaning guide, where small steps taken early prevent bigger jobs from building up.

The Immediate Aftermath: Tackle the Basics Right Away

Once dinner is over, it’s tempting to walk away from the kitchen altogether. But the first 10 minutes after eating make the biggest difference to how the room smells later in the evening.

Your must-do checklist after meals:

• Wipe all surfaces, especially around the hob and sink.
• Clear and wash dishes or place them in the dishwasher promptly.
• Take out the bin if you’ve disposed of fish skin, onion peel, raw meat packaging, or anything that will begin to smell quickly.
• Rinse the sink to remove grease from draining pans or plates.

These steps take less time than making a cup of tea — and they’ll stop odours from settling into fabrics, surfaces, and the air.

Target the Biggest Smell Zones

Some parts of the kitchen are natural magnets for odours. Giving these areas specific attention ensures smells don’t creep back after your basic wipe-down.

1. The Sink & Drain

Food residue, grease, and bacterial build-up can cause foul smells to rise from the drain.

Try:

• A generous squirt of washing-up liquid followed by hot water.
• A weekly refresh with bicarbonate of soda, flushed through with boiling water.

2. The Hob

This is ground zero for oil splashes and heat-activated smells.

• Clean spills while still warm (but not hot) to make them easier to remove.
• For stubborn grease, use a degreasing spray and leave it to work for a few minutes before wiping.

3. The Extractor Fan or Hood

Extractor fans don’t just remove odours — they also trap them.

• Wash or replace filters regularly.
• Wipe the underside of the hood to remove greasy residue.

Left too long, extractor filters begin circulating stale smells back into the room rather than removing them.

Refresh the Air: Natural, Effective Methods

Even after a good clean, you may find the air itself still carries a hint of last night’s dinner. A quick refresh can reset the entire space.

Easy ways to clear lingering smells:

• Open a window for 5–10 minutes, even in winter — the rapid air swap works wonders.
• Simmer a pan of water with lemon slices, cinnamon sticks, rosemary, or cloves for a soft natural fragrance.
• Leave a bowl of bicarbonate of soda or activated charcoal out overnight to absorb odours.
• Use a microfibre cloth lightly misted with water and vinegar to wipe splashbacks or cupboard doors for an extra fresh scent.

These techniques are safe, affordable, and avoid masking smells with overpowering artificial fragrances.

Deep Cleaning Touches for Long-Term Freshness

Some areas simply require occasional attention, as they collect odours slowly and quietly. Adding these steps into your fortnightly or monthly plan keeps your kitchen fresher overall and helps establish streamlined cleaning routines.

Areas worth deep-cleaning regularly:

• Cupboards near the hob – These collect grease particles from steam and frying.
• Splashbacks and walls – Wipe them with a gentle degreaser.
• Tea towels and dishcloths – Change them often; they harbour odours quickly.
• Sponges – Replace frequently or sanitise them in hot, soapy water.
• The bin itself – Scrub the inside with disinfectant or bicarbonate of soda.
• Fridge shelves and drawers – Spilled liquids and forgotten foods cause subtle but persistent smells.

Deep cleaning doesn’t need to be overwhelming when spread out. A little planning goes a long way.

Add a Fresh Scent as the Final Touch

Once everything is clean and the air feels lighter, adding a subtle scent can give your kitchen a welcoming finish.

Choose one of these gentle scent boosters:

• Natural candles in citrus, lavender, or eucalyptus.
• A homemade room spray made from water, white vinegar, and essential oils.
• Fresh herbs such as mint, rosemary, or basil placed in a small vase.
• Citrus peels placed in a low dish on the worktop for a mild, natural fragrance.

Avoid overpowering chemical sprays — these tend to mask odours rather than create a genuinely fresh environment.

A Quick Reference Guide: Your Post-Cooking Smell-Bust Routine

✔️ During Cooking

• Wipe spills immediately
• Rinse boards and utensils on the go
• Keep soapy water ready

✔️ After Eating

• Wipe surfaces
• Wash up or load the dishwasher
• Take out strong-smelling rubbish
• Rinse the sink

✔️ Key Areas to Monitor

• Sink and drain
• Hob and splashback
• Extractor fan filters

✔️ When You’ve Got Extra Time

• Clean cupboard doors
• Refresh tea towels
• Scrub the bin
• Check the fridge

Final Thoughts

A fresh-smelling kitchen isn’t about masking odours — it’s about preventing them. With small, consistent habits and a simple routine, you can keep smells at bay effortlessly. The more these steps become part of your everyday rhythm, the easier they get, and the more welcoming your home will feel.

A clean, fresh kitchen makes cooking more enjoyable, keeps your home healthier, and stops lingering odours from becoming an ongoing battle. With the right habits, you’ll spend less time scrubbing and more time enjoying your space — without yesterday’s dinner following you around the house.

We were named an expert on ApartmentGuide. Read the full article here: 16 Ways to Get Rid of Cooking Smells in A Small Apartment — Fresh Air and Expert Tips Included

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