Cooking can bring tremendous flavors and joy to the smallest of apartments, but not the lingering smells. Grease, spices, and strong aromas can settle in. Worry not; there are ways to get your apartment smelling fresh again. Let’s dive into some tried-and-true methods for how to get rid of cooking smells in a small apartment.
1. Ventilation Is Key
This might be the easiest and most effective means of fighting against cooking smells: proper ventilation. You can crack open a window and turn on a fan in a small apartment. Many modern apartments have range hoods – use those! If it’s not available, use a portable fan. This is the gentle push to send them out the window.
2. Boil Vinegar or Lemon Water
An oldie but a goodie-just boil a pot of vinegar or lemon water-should neutralize even the most stubborn of odors. Here’s how you do it: fill your pot with water and pour in a cup of white vinegar or throw in some lemon slices, then boil and let it go for about 10-15 minutes. It reduces smells. The acidity in vinegar and lemon neutralize smells but fair warning for your apartment to smell like salad dressing for a few minutes, so don’t worry; it’s temporary!
3. Absorb the Smells with Baking Soda
Baking soda does not only help in baking, it is an odor absorber. To rid that, place a bowl of baking soda in some areas in your apartment near the kitchen. And voilà. They do miracles overnight on those cooking left smells. Double whammy? Sprinkle some on your trash can-it tends to hide that kind of smell.
4. Coffee Grounds: A Savory Solution
Do you love coffee? Put a bowl of fresh or used coffee grounds in your kitchen to absorb unwanted smells and perfume your kitchen with its pleasant aroma. If you don’t like the smell of coffee, odor-free charcoal bags will do the job just as effectively.
5. Try Essential Oils
Not only are essential oils fragrant, but they are also great in adding a pleasant smell in your apartment. Drip a few of your favorite essential oils, whether lemon, eucalyptus, or peppermint, in a diffuser. The cooking smells are covered, and it is like having a spa in your house. It diffuses through the air, and their fresh scent will overpower the smells from what you were cooking.
6. Simmer Spices for an Aromatic Cover-Up
Substitute offensive odors with a mild fight. Put some water in a small pot and add a few cinnamon sticks, some cloves, or even a little vanilla extract. Allow it to simmer on a low heat, and now you have an aroma drifting throughout your apartment instead of the garlic pasta from the night before.
7. Clean Up Promptly After Cooking
This is an obvious tip. Cleaning up immediately after a meal can really help clear up any smells. These usually result from grease drips, crumbs, or leftover foodstuffs. Take care to wipe down surfaces as well as the stovetop, and ensure the dishes are washed. Don’t forget to take away trash that has absorbed bad smells; sometimes, emptying your trash can would help you keep it relatively fresh if wiped down a few times.
8. Freshen Up Fabrics
Cooking smells are not only to the air, but also to the fabric. Fabrics soak in the aroma of foods very well; curtains, furniture, and even rugs will absorb some strong smells from food. You can quickly freshen up your apartment by washing anything made of fabric and spraying a little fabric freshener on the rest. Otherwise, you could sprinkle some baking soda on your couch and then vacuum it off after some time to remove smells without having to wash.
9. Use Charcoal Bags for Passive Absorption
There are also charcoal bags; it is like a small, cheap pack filled with activated charcoal as an absorber of odor. You just put them in the kitchen and other places in your apartment, and voilà. They do the job without any difficulty on your part. And they can be reused; just keep them in the sun for you to refresh their absorption power.
10. Get a Little Help from Nature
Plants are always a great idea to have in any apartment, but they can also absorb and neutralize many types of odors. Try air-purifying plants like peace lilies, bamboo palms, or snake plants. Not only will they help the air quality, but they’ll also give your apartment a fresh and vibrant look.
Extra Tips for Fast Odor Control
If you’re looking for a quick fix, there are some easy solutions to try:
- Use dryer sheets: Wipe down surfaces or wave them around the room to add a fresh scent.
- Burn a candle: Candles, especially those with natural scents like citrus or lavender, can mask unpleasant cooking odors.
- Try a homemade air freshener: Mix water with a few drops of essential oil in a spray bottle for a DIY air freshener.
And finally, remember, if the smell of last night’s feast still lingers, don’t stress. These methods are effective and, with a bit of patience, your apartment will be back to smelling fresh in no time. If you want a professional touch, consider same day cleaning service – it’s a natural way to keep your apartment feeling fresh, clean, and odor-free.
Cooking smells don’t stand a chance against these tips!
