Stop 5 Common Kitchen Odors

As the stage for doing everything from creating beautiful meals to cleaning the aftermath, the kitchen takes plenty of abuse and sometimes develops pungent odors as a result. Keep the kitchen smelling fresh by tackling five common sources of odor with these easy solutions.

Funky Fridge Smells

Good old-fashioned baking soda is very effective at absorbing food odors in the fridge and freezer. The Arm & Hammer Fridge-n-Freezer Odor Absorber has two open sides covered with a thin layer of cloth to prevent spills.

Securely storing foods helps keep strong flavors and odors from spreading. Bags, foil and plastic wrap will do the trick, but reusable storage containers are also very affordable. Stacking lidded storage containers makes it possible to get the most use of precious fridge space.

Grimy Garbage Disposals

Home remedies can help prevent garbage disposal odors. One simple method is to recycle the baking soda used to freshen the fridge by pouring it down the drain and running warm water.

Strong smells may require a specialized cleaning product, such as Disposer Care or OxiClean. Disposer Care is a small pouch of powdered cleaner that fizzes and foams to clean the rubber flaps and sides of the garbage disposals.

OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover Powder also dissolves dried sludge and deodorizes dirty garbage disposals.

Treacherous Trash Cans

It is no surprise that garbage stinks, but there are many ways to keep the smell in check. In addition to regularly cleaning the garbage can, upgrading to a lidded garbage can keeps odors from spreading throughout the kitchen.

If ferocious fumes persist, consider adding an air freshener disk or charcoal filter to the inside of the lid. At approximately $6, the Odorsorb filter kit from simplehuman is an affordable solution.

Scented and odor-eliminating trash bags, such as Hefty Kitchen Fresh bags, offer another line of defense.

Fierce Food Aromas

Before mealtime, food aromas are an intoxicating call to dine. After that, they become an unpleasant stench. Using a kitchen exhaust fan during cooking helps remove smells before they intensify.

Dirty Dishtowels

Used dishtowels can develop a foul, musty odor that lingers after laundering. Letting wet dishtowels air dry after use can help prevent odors. A simple swing arm towel bar is small and folds closed when not in use.

Countertop pedestals, such as the Taymor 14-inch Countertop Holder, complement the elegant look of a modern kitchen while giving towels a chance to dry.