There is a saying that the worse a food smells, the better it tastes. Think of dried fish served with vinegar and fluffy white rice. But there’s one thing that holds us back from preparing this traditional breakfast—the stench that comes with it. Whether you’re living in a condominium or in an apartment complex, the odor of dried seafood leave a foul smell in your kitchen for hours (or even days).
There are a lot of air freshening products in the market that can easily solve this problem. However, most are not eco-friendly. Here are 12 hacks on removing kitchen odors that are easy, cheap and good for the environment.
Liven up your kitchen with spices
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Condo living in the Philippines requires ingenious ways to maximize small spaces. The limited area also means foul kitchen smell can easily spread in your entire condo. Don’t fret as there are easy ways to solve this. Make your own kitchen deodorizer with spices available in your cabinet. Bring to boil a large pot of water and add a handful of cloves, nutmegs, cinnamon sticks and lemon peels. Simmer for an hour. Drain the liquid and let it cool. You can pour it down your kitchen sink or transfer it to spray bottles. Spray it anywhere in the house.
Don’t neglect your kitchen appliances
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Avoid cleaning mistakes to prevent kitchen stench. Many people neglect to clean appliances that can be causing odor-emanating bacteria. Remember to clean the filter in your dishwasher and refrigerator. Toss spoiled leftovers from your fridge and defrost the freezer regularly. Leave a cup of fresh baking soda or coffee beans on a plate inside the fridge for a day. Wipe off spills in your oven or on your stove. These mundane condo chores can save you the effort of preparing DIY air fresheners.
The reliable salt-baking soda solution
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One reason for stale air indoors is food scraps stuck in the kitchen drain. Using a salt–baking soda solution is not an old wives’ tale. It actually works in clearing up nasty smell in the kitchen. To create your own kitchen solution, pour one cup of salt and one cup of baking soda into a pot of boiling water. Pour the solution into your clogged drain.
Get rid of food residue
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If spices and salt fail you, it’s time to get to the bottom of things, literally. Food residue is a major culprit for incessant kitchen stench. Clean the disposer blades in your sink with crushed ice, then pour baking soda and warm water solution.
Do it with lemons!
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Do you know that most aerosols are harmful to the environment? These products have chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) that contribute to the destruction of the ozone layer. DMCI Homes strongly promotes green living so anything that can harm Mother Nature is discouraged. If you need to freshen up your kitchen air, choose a product with natural ingredients. Better yet, make your own kitchen odor hacks. Bake sliced lemons and let them cool down on a rack. This produces a citric aroma all over your home.
The wonders of sodium tetraborate
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Borax should be a household staple. In removing kitchen odors, you should know where the smell comes from. Sprinkle half cup of sodium tetraborate (or borax) at the bottom of your garbage can. This kills odor-causing mold and bacteria. Spray your DIY air fresheners around the trash bin as often as necessary.
Throw in ground fruit peels
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Aside from borax, you can use disposable deodorizers to fend off foul smell emanating from your garbage can. Grind orange or lemon peels and fresh mint then throw these in the bin.
Clean up your trash bin
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No amount of air freshener can equal regular cleaning of your trash can. Every time you get rid of the garbage, wipe off any remaining debris. Scrub the can with soap and water as often as you can.
Control the wicked cabbage smell
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Cabbage is healthy, affordable and easy to cook. It poses one problem though: it gives off a nasty odor that can discourage you from getting it for dinner. Know how to easily get rid of unpleasant odors in the kitchen using natural ingredients in your counter. While boiling cabbage add in one to two slices of lemon. This not only freshens up the air, it also enhances the flavor of the vegetable.
Pastries versus squid
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After cooking your favorite dried squid, bake some pastries. Let the aroma of brownies fight off the strong odor of your favorite lunch. It’s like hitting two birds with one stone—freshening up your condo and enjoying freshly-baked goodies.
Burn some bread – fast!
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Have you ever experienced the dilemma of needing to get rid of nasty kitchen odor ASAP because unexpected visitors coming over? Before berating your husband for these ad hoc invitations, first things first: freshen up your kitchen air. One of the most effective kitchen odor removal tips for these situations is to burn a slice of bread in the toaster. This will absorb foul smell in small areas (just make sure you don’t overdo it!).
You can never go wrong with brewed coffee
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Another quick fix for malodorous smell is aromatic coffee beans. Brew coffee in your kitchen to fend off evidence of your dinner in the air. Plus, coffee has wonderful health benefits that justifies brewing a cup or two every day. Invite your DMCI community peers for afternoon coffee breaks and share housekeeping ideas!
Condo living is the new black. More people in the Philippines prefer living in mid- and high-rise condos for the convenience and top-notch facilities. Why spend on maintaining a large house when you can live comfortably in a condo unit? The small space discourages others though it can be a blessing in terms of housekeeping. As tidying up guru Marie Kondo says: “Keep only those things that speak to your heart. Then take the plunge and discard all the rest. By doing this, you can reset your life and embark on a new lifestyle.”
Limited area? There are innovative space-saving furniture. Need a place for indoor exercise? Check out your condo fitness center. Persistent kitchen odor that spreads to other parts of your home? There’s a long list of natural air freshening solutions you can prepare.
