How to Get Rid of Cooking Smells in Your Kitchen
How to Get Rid of Cooking Smells in Your Kitchen
Dinner was lovely. Smelling fried onions, garlic or last night's fish the following morning? Not quite as lovely.
Cooking smells can travel beyond the kitchen and settle into curtains, sofas and other soft furnishings. The best approach is to stop as much of the smell spreading as possible, clean the source afterwards and only then add home fragrance.
Here are simple ways to remove lingering food smells and get your kitchen and the rest of your home smelling fresh again.
Why do cooking smells linger?
Cooking releases a mixture of steam, vapours and tiny droplets or particles into the surrounding air. Frying and other high-heat cooking methods can be particularly noticeable.
Some of this is removed through ventilation. The rest can spread through the kitchen or adjoining rooms and settle onto surfaces and fabrics.
That is why you can clean the pans and still smell dinner later. The source may now be the hob area, splashback, extractor filter, bin, curtains or even the sofa in an open-plan room.
Start ventilation while you're cooking rather than waiting until the kitchen already smells strongly of food.
Which cooking smells tend to hang around?
Almost any food can leave a noticeable smell, but some cooking methods and ingredients create aromas that are particularly easy to notice afterwards.
Frying
Frying can release grease-containing droplets and strong food aromas into the surrounding air.
Fish
Fish can leave a distinctive smell that is easy to notice after the meal has finished.
Garlic & onions
Delicious while you're cooking, but their strong aromas can remain noticeable afterwards.
Spiced dishes
Aromatic spices can create a rich cooking smell that travels beyond the kitchen.
Roasting
Longer cooking times can mean food aromas are being released into the room for longer.
Burnt food
Burnt toast or an overcooked pan can create a sharp smell that needs ventilation and proper cleaning rather than perfume.
1. Turn the extractor fan on before smells build up
Your cooker hood or extractor fan should be one of the first things you think about when cooking something with a strong aroma.
If your system vents outdoors, it can help remove cooking-related air from the kitchen. Recirculating systems work differently and depend on their filters, so follow the instructions for your particular appliance.
Switch it on early
Start extraction as you begin cooking rather than once the smell has already spread through the room.
Use an appropriate setting
Follow your appliance guidance and adjust the fan according to the type of cooking you're doing.
Keep it running afterwards if advised
Many cooker hood instructions recommend continued ventilation after cooking. Follow the timing given for your model rather than relying on one fixed rule.
A cooker hood needs the maintenance recommended by its manufacturer. Grease filters and, where fitted, recirculation filters may need cleaning or replacing.
2. Open windows where practical
Fresh air can make a noticeable difference after cooking.
Opening a kitchen window, or more than one opening where appropriate, can help replace stale indoor air and allow cooking smells to disperse.
Clear as much of the food smell as you can first. Otherwise your favourite home fragrance may simply end up mixed with garlic, curry or fried food.
3. Clean grease and food residue after cooking
Sometimes what seems like a smell hanging in the air is actually coming from cooking residue left behind.
Once surfaces are cool and safe to clean, check the areas around where you cooked.
Hob area
Wipe splashes and grease using a cleaner suitable for the surface.
Splashback
Grease and food droplets can settle behind the hob and continue to smell.
Worktops
Clean spills and food residue according to the worktop manufacturer's care guidance.
Cooking utensils
Pans, trays and utensils left sitting with food residue can keep the kitchen smelling of dinner.
Floor
Check for dropped food or grease around the cooking area.
Extractor hood
Grease can build up around the hood as well as in its filters.
4. Don't forget the kitchen bin
Food packaging, peelings, fish scraps and other leftovers can make it seem as though a cooking smell is still hanging around when the real source is now the bin.
Empty food waste promptly when needed and check the bin itself for spills or residue.
A fresh bin bag will not solve an odour if liquid or food residue has collected underneath it.
5. Check your oven if the smell keeps coming back
An oven with baked-on spills or grease can produce unwanted smells when it heats up again.
If you notice a stale, smoky or burnt-food smell whenever the oven is used, check whether it needs cleaning according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Different ovens have different coatings, removable parts and cleaning programmes. Follow the appliance instructions and the label on any cleaning product you use.
6. Wash tea towels, cloths and other kitchen fabrics
Fabrics can hold onto food and grease smells even after the worktops have been cleaned.
Tea towels, reusable cloths, oven gloves and fabric aprons are all worth checking if the kitchen still smells stale.
Wash when needed
Follow each item's care label and make sure fabrics dry properly before being stored.
Don't leave cloths damp
A wet cleaning cloth can create its own unpleasant smell and make a clean kitchen feel stale.
7. Check curtains, sofas and rugs in open-plan spaces
If your kitchen opens directly into your living or dining room, cooking smells have more opportunities to reach soft furnishings.
Curtains, rugs, cushions and sofas may hold onto aromas after the kitchen itself smells clean.
Ventilate the adjoining room
Don't focus only on the kitchen if the smell has already travelled further.
Vacuum suitable upholstery
Use the correct attachment and follow the furniture's care guidance.
Wash removable fabrics where appropriate
Cushion covers, throws and curtains should only be cleaned according to their care labels.
8. Be careful with bicarbonate of soda and vinegar hacks
Bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar appear in almost every list of household odour hacks, but they are not universal solutions for every material or every smell.
Bicarbonate of soda may be useful for certain cleaning jobs, but sprinkling powder across carpets or upholstery is not automatically suitable for the material or your vacuum cleaner.
Likewise, vinegar can affect some natural stone, finishes and other materials, so it should not be treated as an all-purpose surface cleaner.
Follow the care guidance for the surface or appliance you're cleaning, and never mix household cleaning chemicals unless the product instructions specifically tell you to.
9. Can an air purifier help with cooking smells?
An air purifier may help with some cooking-related airborne particles and odours, depending on the purifier, its filters, the room and what is causing the smell.
Different filters do different jobs. A purifier designed only for particles is not necessarily going to deal with gases and odours in the same way as a system that also includes suitable gas-phase filtration.
Kitchen extraction, ventilation and cleaning the source are still important. An air purifier cannot clean grease from a splashback or empty the food bin.
10. What about coffee grounds and bowls of vinegar?
You will often see bowls of coffee grounds, vinegar or bicarbonate of soda recommended as ways to absorb kitchen smells.
These household tricks should not replace ventilation and cleaning, and results can vary depending on what is actually causing the odour.
Coffee also has a strong aroma of its own, so in some cases you may simply notice coffee alongside the remaining cooking smell rather than truly removing the source.
Extract, ventilate, empty the bin and clean grease or food residue before experimenting with bowls of household ingredients.
11. Try a simmer pot after the cooking smell has cleared
If you want to replace the smell of dinner with a temporary kitchen aroma, you can gently simmer water with suitable culinary ingredients.
Fresh & citrusy
Try water with lemon or orange peel for a simple citrus aroma.
Warm & cosy
Orange peel and whole cinnamon sticks can create a warmer seasonal fragrance.
Keep enough water in the pan, use a stable hob and keep children and pets away from the hot saucepan.
12. Add home fragrance once the kitchen is fresh
Once the food smell has mostly gone, you can add the fragrance you actually want your home to smell like.
This works much better than trying to overpower fried food or garlic with an even stronger scent.
Wax melts
Useful when you want a noticeable fragrance after cooking and can use a suitable wax warmer according to its instructions.
Room spray
Handy when you want a quick fragrance refresh rather than continuous scent.
Reed diffuser
Better suited to ongoing background fragrance once the kitchen itself is clean and fresh.
If you want more ideas, our guide to fragrancing your home explains the different options.
Which fragrances work well after cooking?
There is no fragrance that magically neutralises every cooking smell. Once you've removed as much of the unwanted odour as possible, choose a scent you genuinely enjoy.
| Fragrance style | Typical character | Good if you like... |
|---|---|---|
| Lemon & citrus | Bright, zesty and fresh. | A crisp fragrance after the kitchen has been cleaned. |
| Clean & fresh | Laundry-style, airy or crisp. | That freshly tidied feeling. |
| Floral | Can range from soft and airy to richer floral fragrance. | Something different from food-related scents. |
| Fruity | Juicy, sweet or tart depending on the fragrance. | A brighter and more playful home scent. |
| Gourmand | Sweet, vanilla or dessert-inspired. | Keeping a deliberately warm, food-inspired atmosphere. |
For a crisp fragrance style, browse our clean and fresh wax melts or explore our lemon wax melts.
Should you use candles to get rid of cooking smells?
A scented candle can add another fragrance to a room, but it should not be relied on to remove the physical source of a cooking odour.
If you enjoy candles, use them once you've ventilated and cleaned the kitchen rather than trying to cover a strong food smell while you're still cooking.
Follow the candle's safety instructions, keep it on a stable suitable surface and never leave a burning candle unattended.
How to stop cooking smells spreading through the whole house
Prevention is usually easier than trying to freshen every room afterwards.
Start extraction early
Don't wait until strong cooking smells have already filled the kitchen.
Ventilate where practical
Use windows and appropriate kitchen ventilation to help clear cooking-related air.
Close internal doors if useful
Where your layout allows, closing doors to bedrooms and other rooms can help reduce how far cooking aromas travel.
Clean soon after cooking
Once surfaces are cool and safe, deal with grease, food scraps and pans rather than leaving them overnight.
Add fragrance last
Once the unwanted smell is under control, use the home fragrance you actually want to notice.
What if the kitchen still smells after cleaning?
If the smell keeps returning, it may not be the meal you just cooked.
Check other common kitchen odour sources before adding more fragrance.
| Possible source | What to check | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Bin | Food residue or liquid underneath the liner. | Empty, clean and dry the bin as appropriate. |
| Fridge | Old food, spills or forgotten leftovers. | Remove spoiled food and clean according to appliance guidance. |
| Dishwasher | Food debris, filters or seals. | Follow the dishwasher's maintenance instructions. |
| Sink area | Food residue, plughole or damp items nearby. | Clean appropriately and investigate persistent drainage smells. |
| Washing machine | Moisture or residue around drawers, seals or filters. | Use the manufacturer's cleaning guidance. |
| Damp | Leaks, condensation or a persistent musty smell. | Find and deal with the moisture source rather than covering it. |
Our guide on why your house can still smell after cleaning has a wider room-by-room checklist.
A quick post-cooking freshen-up routine
You do not need to deep-clean the entire kitchen after every meal. For everyday cooking, a simple routine can stop smells hanging around unnecessarily.
Keep ventilation going
Follow your extractor guidance and ventilate the room where practical.
Deal with food waste
Put leftovers away and remove particularly smelly waste when needed.
Clean the cooking area
Once safe to do so, wipe splashes and grease using products suitable for the surfaces.
Check fabrics
Hang damp tea towels to dry and replace dirty cloths rather than leaving them on the worktop.
Choose your fragrance
Once the food aroma has cleared, add a wax melt, room spray or other home fragrance if you want one.
Freshen your home after cooking
Once the kitchen is clean and the food smell has cleared, these fragrance collections can help you choose what you actually want the house to smell like.
Final thoughts
Getting rid of cooking smells is mostly about dealing with the smell before it has time to settle everywhere.
Use your kitchen ventilation while you cook, bring in fresh air where practical and clean grease, pans, food waste and damp fabrics afterwards.
If the smell has travelled into an open-plan living area, remember that curtains, rugs and upholstery may need attention too.
Then, once your home smells neutral again, bring in the fun part: the fragrance you actually want to smell.
Extract while cooking, ventilate, clean the source, check fabrics and add home fragrance last.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get rid of cooking smells quickly?
Use your kitchen extraction according to its instructions, ventilate where practical, remove food waste and clean cooking residue once surfaces are safe to handle. If the smell has reached adjoining rooms, ventilate those areas too.
How do I stop cooking smells spreading through the house?
Start extraction early, use appropriate ventilation and close doors to other rooms where your layout allows. Cleaning grease and food residue soon after cooking can also stop the smell lingering at its source.
How do I get rid of fried food smells?
Frying can spread food aromas and grease-containing droplets through the kitchen. Use extraction while cooking, ventilate the room and clean the hob, splashback and nearby surfaces after they have cooled.
How do I get rid of fish smell after cooking?
Ventilate during and after cooking, clean pans and surfaces promptly and remove fish packaging or scraps from the kitchen. Check fabrics and adjoining rooms if the smell has travelled.
Does vinegar remove cooking smells?
Vinegar is often recommended as a household odour remedy, but it should not replace ventilation and cleaning, and it is not suitable for every surface. Always check the care guidance for the material before using vinegar as a cleaner.
Does bicarbonate of soda remove food smells?
Bicarbonate of soda is used for some household cleaning and odour-control jobs, but it is not a universal fix. Check that it is suitable for the surface and avoid sprinkling powders onto carpets or upholstery without checking their care instructions and your vacuum manufacturer's guidance.
Can an air purifier remove cooking smells?
It may help depending on the purifier and its filtration system. Some filters target airborne particles, while suitable gas-phase filters may help with certain odours. Extraction, ventilation and cleaning the source are still important.
What is the best fragrance after cooking?
Once the cooking smell has cleared, choose a fragrance you genuinely enjoy. Citrus, clean and fresh, floral and fruity scents are popular when you want a brighter feel, while gourmand fragrance works if you prefer something warmer.
Can wax melts get rid of cooking smells?
Wax melts add fragrance rather than cleaning away grease, food waste or other physical sources of cooking odour. Deal with the unwanted smell first, then use wax melts to add the fragrance you want.
