How to scent the open-styled kitchen and get rid of the unwanted smell is the real problem that I am faced with.
An open-style kitchen is a great way to give openness to lounges. It makes the overall look of the home wider and adds to the decor of your house.
But that brings in the problem of cooking smells right into your living room.
I just love fragrances and OppositAttracts is a testimony to it. But I hate it once the cooking smell is infused into the living room. And especially once I am watching my favorite program and cooking is going on.
So let’s dive into the things that my wife does to keep our open kitchen smelling great all the time and get rid of unwanted kitchen odor.
How to Scent Open Kitchen – Look for the sources
Remember that scenting up a kitchen is not a one-day thing. All the things we are about to discuss will take some time to settle up and have an effect. Nevertheless, first thing first. Look for the sources and do your thing before adding up a layer of continuous scent in your open kitchen.
The major sources of smell in the kitchen are;
- Cooking smell
- WasteBin
- Sink and Drainage
- Exhaust Pipe/ Fan ducts blockage issue
- Vegetable and Fruits laying in open
- Corners inside cabinets
- Store Room
- Less or no aeration
How to get rid of Cooking Smell
Cooking is an everyday thing. All the food items being cooked have their peculiar smell. You will have the smell while cooking, no matter what.
There are some DIY things that you can do to control the cooking smell.
Making Citrus-based Solution to Scent the Open Kitchen Space
The citrus smell is very sharp. It has an immediate effect and it dispenses and dissolves easily into the air.
Things you would need:-
- Orange Peels
- Lemons left over
- Water
- Cooking Pan
Now is the time to make your citrus-based home solution. The method is fairly easy:-
- Put orange peels and lemon in the cooking pan.
- Put water in the Pan above the level of the peels.
- Normally 2 liters is enough.
- Boil it till the time half of the water is left.
- Take out the water in the sprayer bottle
- Your Citrus based solution is now ready
While the orange and lemon peels are being cooked, you will feel the immediate effect of smelling fresh and citrusy smell. The orange smell in particular is very peculiar and adds up to the kitchen scent.
The citrus solution is always handy to be sprayed into kitchen corners and waste bin areas. Make it a daily morning routine and you would be able to control the cooking odor.
However, be aware, that citrus spray must never be used on wooden surfaces as the acids can wear out wooden surfaces.
Removing the Kitchen Waste Bin Odor to Scent the Open Kitchen
In talking about removing the odor from the very sources, no one can ignore the kitchen waste bins.
As a first measure, always use a waste bin with a lid. It will trap the odor. The size of the waste bin should be according to the waste produced daily in the kitchen.
Make it a practice to clean waste bins daily and change the trash bags.
But despite the good practices you still have some odor. Remember that the odor is caused by bacteria that grow and germinate in the moist-unclean environment.
A very good way to eliminate the bacteria from the waste bin is to sprinkle the baking soda into the waste bin and then put the trash bin into it.
Moreover, if you keep waste bin in a closed cabinet underneath sink then regular cleaning of that area is a must. Also sprinkle baking soda into the corners of closed cabinets. It will not only repel the insects but would also keep the odor-causing bacteria in check. My wife always choose to buy baking soda in bulk for such uses. Why, because it cost less.
Kitchen Sink and Drainage
Cleaning your plates and dishes with oil strains and food remnants can easily clog your kitchen.
Water flow will not be fast and some water can spill outside the drainage hole as well. Always keep your drainage holes clean by flushing them with drainage cleaners. We have used multiple products and our favorite is Drano Max. And that explains why it is a best seller in the category.
Degrease Kitchen Exhaust Fans and Ducts
Over time the ducts get clogged and exhaust fans get grease on the fins and even in the motor due to the burning of edible oils in the kitchen. It decreases the efficiency of the exhaust system.
Always remember to use a good-quality degreaser to clean the exhaust ducts, fans, and even the stoves. Our favorite product for stove top cleaners is Weiman Cooktop and Stove Top Cleaner Kit.
Fruits and vegetables in the open – Bad practise
Never leave fruits and vegetables in the open. They decay fast and leave an unwanted smell in the open kitchen which is hard to get out.
Always put them in the refrigerator. Often time, although we do have separate storage inside the refrigerator, these are not covered and on opening the door, a gush of unbearable smell diffuses into the kitchen.
For such reasons, in our home, we use containers with lids and our favorite product is Rubbermaid. It is of good quality, an airtight container that keeps vegetables and fruits fresh and without letting the scent escape. You can keep it inside the refrigerator or use it as it is.
Place Plants inside Kitchen and Open Lounges
Putting plants not only adds a natural decor and calming effect in your kitchen and home but also acts as bad odor eliminators. Though the difference might not be noticed immediately.
Plants add oxygen and freshen up the air. They also absorb bad odors. Plants add to the ecosystem of your houses and keep things in balance.
Additional Ways to Eliminate Cooking Smell
Some additional ways to eliminate the cooking odor are:-
- A good cross aeration/ ventilation
- Keep coffee beans outside overnight
- Keep baking soda in an open
- Do not leave unwashed utensils overnight
- Keep your sink clean
- Do not put wet utensils in a cabinet – let them dry first
Open Kitchen Scent Products – Odor Eliminators
Thankfully there are tons of products available but what is the best that actually works and is pocket friendly?
I recommend a few of them that we’ve actually checked.
Charcoal Bags
It is a natural product that works slowly but effectively. Charcoal acts as an odor absorber and is very porous. Hang Charcoal bags at appropriate places as per your kitchen size and you will notice the effect after a few days. Once you will return from outside the tandem effect of the various steps that you have taken will welcome you with a fresh smell.
Lampe Berger – Maison Berger
Lampe Berger works magic at eliminating odor. May it be a cooking smell, unwanted smoke, or even pets, a Maison Berger really works.
Lampe Berger works in two ways. It kills odor-causing bacteria and also adds a scent layer. I’ve already reviewed it and written a very detailed article on the usage of Lampe Berger.
Scented Candles
When it comes to cheap options for adding a scent layer in your open spaces, then scented candles are the best option. Light them up regularly for some time and say goodbye to bad odors.
They come in different scents profile as per season and your taste. Additionally, you can make them at your home as well. Though I would advise you to buy one. It is hassle-free.
Here is an article that suggests good options for scented candles that you must try.
Parting Thoughts
Eliminating odor and adding scent to open style kitchen seems a daunting task, but in actuality, it is not. It requires a habit of cleanliness and little attention.
If you follow the above-mentioned ways, slowly but gradually your kitchen and open spaces would be odor free.
Hope this article was helpful.
Do tell us in the comment section if there is any other trick that you use for this purpose.
