How To Get Rid Of Cooking Smells

Cooking smells can be some of the most pesky to get rid of. Here are the best ways to get rid of them.

1. It takes a thief to catch a thief:

We can conquer cooking smells with other smells - some ingenious ideas to try:

Bake a small quantity of cinnamon, brown sugar and butter for a few hours. This will make your kitchen smell like freshly-baked cookies instead of fried onions or garlic.
In a saucepan of water, boil (or grind) some cloves.
Boil lemon peels and orange peels or both in a saucepan for an hour on a slow heat.
Roast coffee beans or freshly-ground coffee until the aroma permeates the room.
Place bowls of white vinegar at different locations in the kitchen.
Put vanilla-soaked cotton swabs around your kitchen.
Place bowls of baking soda around your kitchen. You can also boil the baking soda and let it simmer for some time.

2. Rub the spoon: If you are going out on a date or to an important meeting, you probably don't want your hands smelling of the onions you chopped an hour ago. Here is a simple remedy: rub your hands vigorously on any stainless-steel utensil - this will reduce the smell considerably.

spoon

3. Get a good exhaust fan: Do not underestimate the power of a good exhaust fan, positioned correctly in your kitchen. This is your first line of defense against pesky cooking smells. Unfortunately, circumstances may not permit you to install an exhaust fan in your kitchen (if you fall in this category, try out some of these survival tips).

4. Or an electric chimney: An electric chimney is essentially a glorified exhaust fan. It contains specialized, serviceable filters that collect the grease. It also collects the fumes from cooking in a much more efficient way. Although it is a bit of an investment initially, it will prove to be worthwhile in the long run.

5. Get a good air purifier for odors: Get the best air purifier for odors and smells you can afford, and let it work its magic. A side benefit is that the best air purifiers will get rid of other pesky smells as well - smoke smells, pet odors, mold, among others.

air purifier

6. An air-conditioned kitchen also works: This can be costly, but some kitchens are equipped with air conditioners, especially if you live in a place with really hot summers. An efficient air conditioner is a good way to dissipate kitchen odors.

7. Prevent oil buildup: Apart from airborne odors, grease and oil can wreak havoc on the surfaces around your kitchen, including ceilings, exhaust fans and windows. Although not volatile at room temperature, at boiling point, oil does evaporate, and tends to condense on cooler surfaces in and around the cooking area. Now, if you are a "once-a-month cleanup person", your problem could be from the grease accumulated on surfaces. By using strong cleaning agents, preferably fresh-scented ones on a daily basis, you can reduce cooking smells in your kitchen and around your house to a great extent.

8. Light scented candles: After you are done with your cooking, you can burn a scented candle or two in the kitchen. These candles are readily available in stores, and you can choose fragrances which are soothing to you as well. Over time, you will be able to overwhelm the cooking smells from your kitchen with the pleasant fragrance of scented candles, which will help you to relax as well.

9. Soak smelly cutting boards: You probably don't notice this, but cutting boards, especially the wooden variety, tend to pick up cooking smells, especially from onions and garlic. It's a good idea to leave your cutting board underwater overnight, to get rid of the smell. Just remember to dry it out after.

cutting board

10. Clean out the refrigerator: You will be surprised how much odor can be absorbed or generated by the refrigerator. My pom used to run out of the house every time I was about to open the fridge door, as the smell was just overwhelming. Ensure that you clean out your refrigerator at least once a week, to avoid stagnant smells from accumulating.

Also on HuffPost:

to hold Tupperware lids, or attach a file organizer to keep cutting boards upright and orderly.","credit":"Julie Blanner","width":949,"height":534},"title":"Give Every Cabinet Door A Dual Purpose","type":"image","meta":null,"summary":null,"badge":null},"provider":null},{"embedData":{"type":"hector","url":"https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/559ff0ed170000dd073263ab.jpeg","queryParams":{},"width":949,"height":534,"credit":"Ciburbanity"},"type":"image","common":{"id":"559ff0ede4b096729155fe84","caption":"Charlotte Smith, who runs the lifestyle blog Ciburbanity, created an organizational hub to make getting ready each morning easier. Four sturdy wood pockets organize bills, magazines and other mail, while a dry-erase board lets everyone see upcoming meetings at a glance. A plastic brochure caddy is just the right size for storing grocery-list notepads, and a mason jar attached to the wall means you're never rummaging through a junk drawer for a pen.","credit":"Ciburbanity","creditUrl":"","source":"http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/386530/slide_386530_4641554_original.jpg","thumbnail":{"url":{"fileName":"559ff0ed170000dd073263ab.jpeg","type":"hectorUrl"},"caption":"Charlotte Smith, who runs the lifestyle blog Ciburbanity, created an organizational hub to make getting ready each morning easier. Four sturdy wood pockets organize bills, magazines and other mail, while a dry-erase board lets everyone see upcoming meetings at a glance. A plastic brochure caddy is just the right size for storing grocery-list notepads, and a mason jar attached to the wall means you're never rummaging through a junk drawer for a pen.","credit":"Ciburbanity","width":949,"height":534},"title":"Turn the Side of Your Fridge into a Command Center","type":"image","meta":null,"summary":null,"badge":null},"provider":null},{"embedData":{"type":"hector","url":"https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/559ff0ed170000dd073263aa.jpeg","queryParams":{},"width":949,"height":534,"credit":"Samantha Pregenzer of Simply Organized"},"type":"image","common":{"id":"559ff0ede4b096729155fe82","caption":"A cardboard box of garbage bags can easily take up half of the under-sink cabinet space. Free up some room by mounting a paper-towel holder to the inside of one cabinet, then use it to hang a roll of trash bags.","credit":"Samantha Pregenzer of Simply Organized","creditUrl":"","source":"http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/386530/slide_386530_4641556_original.jpg","thumbnail":{"url":{"fileName":"559ff0ed170000dd073263aa.jpeg","type":"hectorUrl"},"caption":"A cardboard box of garbage bags can easily take up half of the under-sink cabinet space. Free up some room by mounting a paper-towel holder to the inside of one cabinet, then use it to hang a roll of trash bags.","credit":"Samantha Pregenzer of Simply Organized","width":949,"height":534},"title":"Take Out the Trash (Bags)","type":"image","meta":null,"summary":null,"badge":null},"provider":null},{"embedData":{"type":"hector","url":"https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/559ff0ed1400006c079a7838.jpeg","queryParams":{},"width":949,"height":534,"credit":"Classyclutter.net"},"type":"image","common":{"id":"559ff0ede4b096729155fe83","caption":"It seems like a magician's trick: Take a six-inch gap between the fridge and the wall, and with a little DIY know-how, double your pantry space. Mallory Nikolaus and Savannah Kokaliares show you how to do exactly that with their step-by-step guide to creating a pull-out shelving unit. It's just the right size for storing canned vegetables, soups, jars of peanut butter and spices.","credit":"Classyclutter.net","creditUrl":"","source":"http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/386530/slide_386530_4641558_original.jpg","thumbnail":{"url":{"fileName":"559ff0ed1400006c079a7838.jpeg","type":"hectorUrl"},"caption":"It seems like a magician's trick: Take a six-inch gap between the fridge and the wall, and with a little DIY know-how, double your pantry space. Mallory Nikolaus and Savannah Kokaliares show you how to do exactly that with their step-by-step guide to creating a pull-out shelving unit. It's just the right size for storing canned vegetables, soups, jars of peanut butter and spices.","credit":"Classyclutter.net","width":949,"height":534},"title":"Rethink Even Your Most Awkward Spaces","type":"image","meta":null,"summary":null,"badge":null},"provider":null},{"embedData":{"type":"hector","url":"https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/559ff0ed1b0000980727f9dc.jpeg","queryParams":{},"width":949,"height":534,"credit":"Julie Blanner"},"type":"image","common":{"id":"559ff0ede4b096729155fe85","caption":"Blanner recommends taking half an hour to sort your supplies into labeled bins: everyday cleaners, dishwashing goods, specialty cleaners and miscellaneous. You can easily pull out the bin you need for the task at hand -- saving time -- and keep tabs on what you actually have, avoiding that whole three-half-empty-bottles-of-Windex thing (and thus saving you money).","credit":"Julie Blanner","creditUrl":"","source":"http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/386530/slide_386530_4641560_original.jpg","thumbnail":{"url":{"fileName":"559ff0ed1b0000980727f9dc.jpeg","type":"hectorUrl"},"caption":"Blanner recommends taking half an hour to sort your supplies into labeled bins: everyday cleaners, dishwashing goods, specialty cleaners and miscellaneous. You can easily pull out the bin you need for the task at hand -- saving time -- and keep tabs on what you actually have, avoiding that whole three-half-empty-bottles-of-Windex thing (and thus saving you money).","credit":"Julie Blanner","width":949,"height":534},"title":"Make Cleanup a Little Easier","type":"image","meta":null,"summary":null,"badge":null},"provider":null},{"embedData":{"type":"hector","url":"https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/559ff0ee14000001079a7839.jpeg","queryParams":{},"width":949,"height":534,"credit":"Dexas International, Ltd."},"type":"image","common":{"id":"559ff0eee4b096729155fe87","caption":"No matter the size of your kitchen, you can always use an extra prep area. This cutting board fits right on top of the sink and includes a collapsible colander, so you can chop and rinse vegetables all in one place.","credit":"Dexas International, Ltd.","creditUrl":"","source":"http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/386530/slide_386530_4641562_original.jpg","thumbnail":{"url":{"fileName":"559ff0ee14000001079a7839.jpeg","type":"hectorUrl"},"caption":"No matter the size of your kitchen, you can always use an extra prep area. This cutting board fits right on top of the sink and includes a collapsible colander, so you can chop and rinse vegetables all in one place.","credit":"Dexas International, Ltd.","width":949,"height":534},"title":"Claim New Counter Space","type":"image","meta":null,"summary":null,"badge":null},"provider":null},{"embedData":{"type":"hector","url":"https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/559ff0ee17000060043263ac.jpeg","queryParams":{},"width":949,"height":534,"credit":"Kate Sable of Etch Design Lab"},"type":"image","common":{"id":"559ff0eee4b096729155fe86","caption":"Skip the traditional large-knife block and hang a magnetic strip on the wall to store your knives. (If you have tiled walls, consider a compact butcher's block that attaches to the bottom of your upper cabinets.)","credit":"Kate Sable of Etch Design Lab","creditUrl":"","source":"http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/386530/slide_386530_4641564_original.jpg","thumbnail":{"url":{"fileName":"559ff0ee17000060043263ac.jpeg","type":"hectorUrl"},"caption":"Skip the traditional large-knife block and hang a magnetic strip on the wall to store your knives. (If you have tiled walls, consider a compact butcher's block that attaches to the bottom of your upper cabinets.)","credit":"Kate Sable of Etch Design Lab","width":949,"height":534},"title":"...And Clear Off Even More","type":"image","meta":null,"summary":null,"badge":null},"provider":null}],"options":{"theme":"life","device":"desktop","editionInfo":{"id":"us","name":"U.S.","link":"https://www.huffpost.com","locale":"en_US"},"slideshowAd":{"scriptTags":[],"otherHtml":""},"slideshowEndCard":{"scriptTags":[{"attribs":{},"scriptBody":"\r\n (function(){\r\n var c = document.getElementById('taboola-endslate-thumbnails');\r\n c.id += '-' + Math.round(Math.random()*1e16);\r\n \r\n var taboolaParams = {\r\n loader: \"//cdn.taboola.com/libtrc/aol-huffingtonpost/loader.js\",\r\n mode: \"thumbnails-b\",\r\n container: c.id,\r\n placement: \"Endslate Thumbnails\",\r\n target_type: \"mix\"\r\n };\r\n \r\n if (typeof window.modulousQueue === \"function\") {\r\n \twindow.modulousQueue.add(function(){ doTaboola(taboolaParams); });\r\n } else {\r\n \tdoTaboola(taboolaParams);\r\n }\r\n }());\r\n"}],"otherHtml":"

"},"isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isMt":true,"entryId":"5b9f00e8e4b03a1dcca20e5f","entryTagsList":"healthy-living,less-stress-more-living,huffpost-home,dont-stress-the-mess,kitchen,healthy-lifestyle,home-hacks,hplifestyle,@sponsor_home-hacks,@health_adhd,@health_depression,@health_ibs,@health_models","sectionSlug":"huffpost-home","deptSlug":"lifestyle","sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"huffpost-home","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"us.huffpost-home","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc111dcf87c2cd2f5d8bf","overrides":{"front_page_top_videos":{"desktop":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","mobileweb":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d"},"top_media":{"desktop":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","mobile":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"anthology":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"content":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"}},"playerUpdates":{"5668ae6ee4b0b5e26955d6a6":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","56aa41bae4b091744c0440d8":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81","5841b2b5cc52c716ec6e5a7f":"60b8e355cdd90620331ba185","58b5e2b8d85a10302feee895":"60b64316b171b7444beafdb2","58b74698f78ced31417819ae":"60b8e5bec5449357a7ad9b52","58b74ccecebcea57e2c3a3d1":"60b8e5eac5449357a7ad9ca5","58cff690d85a100b9992bc39":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","58cffb3fb6d9b972a49a3c9d":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","58cffdd74d96935d7d6ec180":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","58d03a84f78ced6518eb2fa7":"60b643c82e76be41f112735c","592edf20e0fa177b0c26f7fd":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","5b35266b158f855373e28256":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","5c116f29f79c4171d82b7c2a":"60b64440b171b7444beb040b","5c1170fc600c9a697bf0c6b9":"60b646102e76be41f1127ffc","5c47791afa1b317df8ae0c4f":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","5c477987a6b48b35f164773d":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","5c4779ee943c3c2a64f28371":"60b8e747cdd90620331bb861","5c477a26fcd67b26879bc7c2":"60b8e788c5449357a7ada67b","5d8921a78c3ae845f366c9b6":"60ae7be5f3a7c13a30417ff9","58b98b00ba82aa39a6534321":"60d0de7c9340d7032ad1146c","58b9d14cb6d9b96c9ec32af3":"60d0dec19340d7032ad115a0","58cff8eccebcea42931e0436":"60d0e005b627221e9d819d44","592edf5de0fa177b0c26f95b":"60d0e38fb627221e9d81adcf","58cff72fd85a100b9992c112":"60d0e447b627221e9d81b0da","56b4d34fe4b022697697c400":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","60b8e4c0c5449357a7ad957d":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81"}},"customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"cetUnit":"buzz_body"}}">