Banish Cooking Smells with This Simple Routine

The good news? You don’t need to spend ages scrubbing to banish unwanted smells. With a simple post-cooking routine, you can keep your kitchen looking spotless and smelling fresh every day.

1. Clean as You Cook — The Golden Rule

One of the easiest ways to keep on top of smells is to clean as you go. That splatter of oil on the hob? Wipe it up straight away. That chopping board with garlic juice soaking in? Give it a quick rinse before you move on to the next step.

Pro tip: Keep a bowl of warm, soapy water in the sink while cooking. As soon as you’re done with a knife, spoon or pan, dunk it straight in. It’s quicker — and it stops smells from drying on and clinging to surfaces.

2. The Immediate Aftermath — Don’t Delay the Basics

Once you’ve finished eating, it’s tempting to leave the kitchen and relax. But the longer smells have to settle, the harder they are to shift. So, before you head to the sofa, tackle these quick jobs:

✅ Wipe down the worktops (especially near the hob and sink).
✅ Take out the bin if you’ve chucked in strong-smelling scraps like fish packaging, onion peels, or meat trimmings.
✅ Wash up or load the dishwasher — dirty dishes are a magnet for lingering smells.

3. Target the Big Smell Zones

🧼 The sink and drain: Rinse thoroughly and run the tap with a squirt of washing-up liquid to cut through grease. Once a week, pour down some baking soda followed by hot water to keep drains fresh.

🔥 The hob: Wipe up grease splashes immediately — burnt-on oil = burnt-on smell.

🌬️ The extractor fan/hood: If you’ve got one, clean the filters regularly. Greasy filters spread smells back into the air rather than removing them.

4. Refresh the Air — Simple but Effective

Even after cleaning, sometimes the air itself needs a reset. Try:

• Cracking open a window for 10 minutes, even if it’s chilly outside.
• Simmering a saucepan of water with lemon slices, rosemary or cinnamon sticks — it’s like a natural air freshener.
• Leaving a small bowl of baking soda or activated charcoal on the worktop overnight to absorb any leftover smells.

5. Deep Cleaning Touches for Long-Term Freshness

Even if you follow your daily routine, certain smells cling to surfaces you might forget about. Every couple of weeks, give these areas a bit of extra love:

• Cabinets and walls near the hob — grease loves to hide here.
• Tea towels and sponges — they hold onto smells more than you’d think.
• The bin itself — a quick scrub with disinfectant or bicarbonate of soda does wonders.

6. Add a Fresh Scent for the Final Touch

Once the kitchen is clean, add a subtle fresh scent to finish off the job:

• Light a natural candle (citrus, lavender or eucalyptus work well in kitchens).
• Make a quick DIY room spray with water, white vinegar and a few drops of essential oil.
• Or go old-school: pop a little vase of fresh herbs like mint or basil on the counter.

Final Thoughts

The secret to a fresh-smelling kitchen isn’t about masking odours — it’s about preventing them in the first place. With this quick post-cooking routine, you’ll spend less time scrubbing and more time enjoying your home (without those lingering smells following you around).

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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