How to Cover Up Smells and Odors in the Kitchen
While the kitchen often is full of temptingly aromatic scents, it also often suffers from unpleasant lingering smells from cooking residue or foods that are burnt. As many realtors bake cookies right before showing a house to eliminate the lingering scent of unappealing kitchen scents and infuse the air with the smell of inviting baked goods, there are also bake-free approaches to cover up odors and scents from the kitchen.
The Power of Vinegar
While that garlic-roasted chicken may have smelled so lovely last night before dinner, then you’re left dealing with remaining odor the next moment. Use vinegar to get more than whipping up salad dressing. Vinegar cleans and deodorizes, which makes it a safe and convenient choice for those seeking a natural way of getting rid of bad smells. Boil a solution of 3 tablespoons white vinegar and one cup of water for 15 minutes to neutralize odors. Put small cups of vinegar countertops throughout the space to deodorize while you sleep. As you are cooking, put a small bowl of vinegar next to the cooker to cover up smells as they happen.
A New Fridge
Several of the worst scents at a kitchen originate from the refrigerator and freezer. Nontoxic baking soda is well-known for its natural ability to eliminate odors. Catch an opened box at the refrigerator to soak up smells. Change the box out every 30 days to ensure freshness as baking soda’s powers weaken over time. The material of the old box can be used to clean different areas around the kitchen, such as garbage cans, seams and drains, even though it cannot be used for baking. For more powerful odors such a rotting fruit or spoiled meat, consider filling a clean sock with dried coffee grounds.
Wash Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are another haven for unpleasant odors. To get a fast and effortless solution, put a charcoal brick from the cupboard to absorb smells. If the smell stays, remove all things from the cabinets to track down any hidden spills or other sources of the smell. Use a heavy duty cleanser spray, scrub with a sponge, rinse it clean and wipe dry. Put a bowl of white vinegar or baking soda from the cupboard, making sure it’s out of reach of little pets or hands. After a couple of days, the cabinets should smell new. In the event of especially nasty odors in porous wood cabinets, the smell may have penetrated the surface, which makes it almost impossible to eliminate. A fresh coat of paint is a way to cover up bad smells from cabinets in the kitchen.
An Herbal Haven
From warm and inviting spices such as cinnamon, clove and ginger to fragrant flowers such as roses, gardenias and jasmine, aromatherapy scents could ward bad smells. Look for candles, sprays and burning oils that deliver desired fragrances to the space. Even soaking a couple of cotton balls in vanilla delivers an appetizing smell while covering up bad smells, but be sure to keep them out of the reach of small children and animals. As an additional benefit, many of these scents are known to activate improved moods — in the calming affect of lavender into the invigorating allure of mint. Open up all windows to allow in fresh air when filling your house with these aromas.