Expert advises Brits on five ways that they can prevent lingering cooking smells in the kitchen

A cleaning expert has released their top tips on how to prevent lingering cooking smells in the kitchen.

According to Google search data, there has been a 45% increase worldwide over the last year in searches for “how to get rid of cooking smells”. Clearly, homeowners are keen to find tips and tricks to help combat the nuisance of persisting odours in the kitchen.

Rachael Kiss from Alliance Online has shared her top tips on what preventative measures Brits can put in place to eliminate nasty cooking odours in the kitchen.

“There’s nothing quite like the smell of delicious food when cooking at home, but certain odours can become much more unpleasant if left lingering in the kitchen for days afterwards.”

“Dishes such as curry and ingredients such as fish, onions and garlic all tend to be repeat offenders when it comes to leaving lasting and unwanted smells in the kitchen. Luckily, there are multiple methods Brits can use to tackle these lingering smells, using items that can be readily found in your kitchen cupboards.”

1. Keep your kitchen well ventilated 

“Ventilation is key to eliminating odours as it allows fresh air to circulate around your kitchen and dilute any lingering cooking smells. The most effective way to achieve this is to use an extractor fan whilst cooking. If odours are still present after cooking, leave the fan running for a little while longer until the air has been cleared.”

“If you don’t own an extractor fan, you can also ventilate your kitchen by opening any windows and doors. This will allow air to flow throughout the space more freely and encourage fresh outdoor air to enter.”

2. Clean your dishes whilst cooking 

“Keep on top of your mess whilst you’re in the process of cooking, rather than leaving it until afterwards. Promptly wipe down surfaces from any spills or grease and clean any dishes or utensils that you no longer need to use. This will prevent food particles from accumulating and odours from building up over time.”

“If you have a dishwasher, make sure to run it as soon as all of your dirty dishes are loaded so that food smells aren’t left to sit and linger.”

3. Boil natural deodorisers on a stove 

“Certain ingredients that you might have lying around the house can end up being effective natural deodorisers. Lemon and orange peels, cinnamon sticks, and cloves all make for a great potpourri that can be left to simmer on your stovetop whilst you’re cooking and combat any smells before they’ve had a chance to linger.”

4. Leave out a bowl of bicarbonate of soda

“Bicarbonate of soda is a popular cleaning tool but it is also capable of absorbing even the most enduring cooking smells. Simply put a couple of tablespoons of the soda in a bowl, leave it on the countertop, ideally near the source of the smell, and leave it to sit overnight. The bicarbonate of soda will naturally absorb and neutralise any of the odours still lingering in the air. Repeat the process if necessary.”

5. Refresh your rubbish bins 

“One of the most prolific offenders when it comes to nasty odours in the kitchen is your rubbish bin. It’s important to regularly take out the rubbish to avoid the accumulation of food waste and the subsequent smells that come with it.”

“There are several hacks that you can use to eliminate bin odours if your rubbish isn’t full enough to remove. Place bicarbonate of soda or citrus peels in your bin bags before using them to dispose of rubbish, which will help to counteract any nasty smells and absorb any moisture left by the food that you throw away. You can also purchase anti-odour bin bags, which work to prevent the potential odours of food waste before you have even thrown your rubbish away.”

Alliance Online have released these comments to help Brits reduce the nuisance of lingering cooking smells in the kitchen