Some cooking smells delight the senses, invoking memories of homemade cookies and mom’s famous apple pie. While other less appealing scents linger, like seafood, haunting your home for days. If your favourite meal falls into the latter category, try one of the following deodorizers so it can stay on the menu.
1. Lemons
A lemon scent is fresh and clean. Not surprisingly, lemon peels are a popular choice down the garbage disposal to tame funky odours. If you want your whole kitchen to have a lemon scent, try a little homemade deodorizer. Simply cut a lemon in half and place it cut side up in a bowl of water and let them do their magic.
2. Vinegar
On the flip side, while vinegar is not a pleasing smell it does neutralize odour. So, after cooking fish, onions, eggs or cabbage, head to the pantry. Add a cup of water and a cup of vinegar to a small pot and let it come to the boil. Let it simmer for a few minutes until the smell has dissipated. Vinegar can also help eliminate odours during meal prep. To rid your hands of the smell of cut onions, simply rinse your hands with vinegar.
3. Vanilla Extract
Especially great at eliminating smells in the microwave, vanilla extract is another deodorizer worth trying. Pour 1 tsp into a small bowl and microwave on high for one minute, in those sixty seconds your microwave will become odour-free. Realtors often use vanilla extract in homes they’re trying to sell. Here’s their trick to filling a home with the appealing scent of freshly baked cookies: put a drop of vanilla extract on a cotton ball and wipe it all over a light bulb. When the lights are on, the heat from the bulb activates the sweet scent of home sweet home.
If you don’t have a microwave: Pour two caps of vanilla extract into an ovenproof dish.
Place the dish in the oven, and bake at 300 degrees for at least an hour.
4. Diffusers
Essential oils are a great way to deodorize a room. Whether on a cotton ball to freshen up a musty cupboard or through an essential oil diffuser, pick your favourite scent and release it into your room. Lemongrass is especially effective. If you have a variety of essential oils on hand, try this room freshening blend: five drops lavender, two drops peppermint, two drops rosemary and one drop lemon.
5. Fresh Air
As the weather starts to get warmer, remember that one of the best deodorizers is to simply open a window. Ventilation is a quick and easy way to clear the air. If your kitchen isn’t close to a window, generate a little breeze by bringing in a fan and blowing unwanted odours away.
Keep your home smelling as fresh as possible! It’s as easy as contacting your local MOLLY MAID! Whether you need a one-time cleaning or to set up a recurring cleaning schedule, you can trust our team to be reliable, consistent and affordable. What are you waiting for? Submit a Service Inquiry today!
