Chances are, you’ve walked into your house before and realized that something smelled…off. Instead of having to walk around like a bloodhound trying to sniff out where the smell is coming from, let me save you some time.

 

The kitchen is most likely the culprit of the mystery odor, some odors are pleasant, while others leave you throwing open windows, turning on fans, or rushing out of the house.

If you need to freshen the air fast, try one of these tips for eliminating those.

– Feed Lemons to Your Garbage Disposal
Save lemon rinds or other citrus fruit peels in the fridge for a quick sink refresh. Pull out a few pieces twice a month, and run them through the garbage disposal to sweeten a funky sink. The cleansing power of citric acid will break up the gunk and grease causing the unpleasant odor, and create a light and lemony scent.

– Keep Your Sponges Dry
A wet sponge can get seriously stinky. Prevent the growth of smelly bacteria by squeezing out sponges after every use and then storing them on a surface that receives good airflow. Lengthen the life of a dirty sponge by popping it in the dishwasher to get rid of that yucky sponge funk.

– The Dishwasher
If you don’t rinse off your dishes before loading the washer – or even sometimes when you do – little bits of food can get stuck in the machine and create a funky smell. Clean the filter (which is underneath the racks) by getting out any loose bits of food with a paper towel. The run a quick rinse cycle with the machine empty to wash out anything else, and afterward leave the door open to air out.

– Clean the Garbage Can and Recycling Bin
Wipe the inside of the garbage can and recycling bin every time you take out the trash, using an odor-eliminating spray like Lysol or your own homemade version. Keeping the cans clean will help knock out bad odors before they make the whole kitchen sink.

– Start home preparation
Here’s yet another way to use your stovetop to freshen your kitchen—whip up a homemade liquid potpourri. Create your own by combining water, mint, an orange rind, and sliced lemons. Leave the mixture simmering on the stove, adding more water as the mixture cooks. You’ll not only cure odor problems in the kitchen, you’ll make the whole house smell amazing.

A great way to avoid odor problems in the kitchen before they start is to purchase products for your kitchen that feature antimicrobial product protection, which helps inhibit the growth of odor-causing bacteria.