You’re cooking up a storm in your small Brooklyn apartment, whipping up your favorite dish—only to realize the smell of garlic, onions, and spices is still lingering hours later. Or maybe you’re in a shared rental in Chicago, and your roommate isn’t as enthusiastic about last night’s fish tacos as you were. Perhaps you’re in a townhome in San Francisco, struggling to keep strong cooking smells from taking over your space. Either way, getting rid of strong cooking smells in a small space can be tricky.
Luckily, we’ve got you covered with expert-backed tips in this ApartmentGuide article. You’ll learn how to clear the air fast—from simple tricks like improving ventilation to DIY odor-neutralizing solutions. No need to mask the smell with endless candles—let’s get your place smelling fresh again.
1. Mist a dryer sheet with a little water
“An easy trick is to mist a dryer sheet with a little water and wave it in front of a fan or your air vent or better yet put it in your HVAC filter and put the fan on run. This releases negative ions that bond with odor molecules, making them drop out of the air faster than passive absorption methods.” – Hannah Cummings of Fresh N’So Clean, a house cleaning company in Portland, OR.
2. Wipe down surfaces with vinegar and baking soda
“For stubborn smells that cling to walls and cabinets, wipe surfaces down with a mix of white vinegar and baking soda—it helps absorb odors while cutting through grease.” – Mori Salquist, owner of Simply Clean Spokane, a home cleaning service in Spokane, WA.
3. Deep clean your oven
“One of the best ways to keep odors down is to deep clean your oven regularly. Heat baked-on grease to 200°F for about 15 minutes, then let it cool slightly before scrubbing with a degreaser and a non-abrasive pad. And always make sure your range hood filters are clean so they can actually do their job.” – Joseph Gary of Grime Time Inc., a professional commercial kitchen cleaning service.
4. Create a lemon steam
“At Rover House Cleaners, we suggest making a lemon steam to combat strong cooking odors. Simply slice a lemon in half, toss it into a pot of boiling water, and let it simmer for about ten minutes–leftover peels work just as well. For more stubborn smells, leave a small bowl of baking soda or vinegar out on the counter while cooking or overnight to absorb any odors.” – Kenny of Rover House Cleaners, a premium cleaning service in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
For a slightly different approach, Jessica Williams of USA News adds, “One of the best ways to eliminate lingering cooking odors is to simmer a pot of water with white vinegar and citrus peels (such as lemon or orange) on the stove for 15-20 minutes after cooking. The acidity of the vinegar helps neutralize odors, while the citrus adds a refreshing scent.”
5. Simmer white vinegar, lemon slices, and cinnamon sticks
“One of the best ways to eliminate lingering cooking smells is to simmer a pot of water with white vinegar, lemon slices, and a few cinnamon sticks on the stove for about 15-20 minutes. This neutralizes odors naturally. Additionally, wiping down kitchen surfaces with a baking soda and water solution helps absorb stubborn smells trapped in cabinets and walls.” – Michael Shaw, Founder & Managing Director of We Clean Homes, a cleaning company in the UK.
6. Try out a different simmering recipe
“For a quick fix to stubborn cooking smells, simmer a pot of water with lemon slices, a splash of vinegar, and a few sprigs of rosemary” – Leila of Office & Home Cleaning, a cleaning service in Leominster, MA.
“This natural deodorizer neutralizes strong smells while refreshing the air. Additionally, wiping down kitchen surfaces with a baking soda and water solution helps absorb odors trapped in countertops and walls.” – My Happy Home Cleaning, a cleaning service with locations across the country.
7. Simmer just a pot of vinegar
“To help freshen your kitchen and cleanse it of any lingering cooking smells – or any smells for that matter – simmer a bit of white vinegar for 20ish minutes. The acetic acid will neutralize the odor-causing compounds, leaving the room rank with vinegar! Open the windows, open the doors. Even if you have to strategically position a fan, find a way to get some air flowing and those neutralized odorants as well as the vinegar will be quickly blown out of your home.” – Dennis Dziedzic of Lone Star Cleaning Solutions, a house cleaning service in Nampa, Idaho.
8. Get some proper ventilation
“Bellevue Clean’s first tip to get rid of cooking smells is to prevent them in the first place: open up windows, turn on your stove fan, and make sure you get good ventilation! Our second tip is to clean your stove top fan, you will be surprised at how much of a difference this makes.” – Eric Phan of Bellevue Clean, a house cleaning service in Bellevue, WA.
9. Use a deodorizer like OdoBan
“One of our favorite little secrets for a fresh-smelling home is OdoBan in fresh linen — it’s a total game-changer for lingering cooking odors. A quick spritz on fabric furniture, drapes, and textiles, and suddenly, your home smells like a warm, fluffy basket of laundry fresh from the dryer.” – Kristen Fox of Lowcountry Quality Clean, a cleaning company in the greater Charleston, South Carolina area.
10. Take advantage of a diffuser
According to Fikes Scenting and Odor Control Specialist Jim Hestkind, home scenting technology has become increasingly effective and more accessible to homeowners than ever before.
“You wouldn’t see half the technology we have today for odor control and scenting just 10 years ago,” Hestkind said. “The diffusers available now, from smaller wall mounts to the big ones that install into HVAC systems for max coverage, are easier than ever for homeowners to get and install themselves to bring commercial-level scenting into their own homes.”
This increased accessibility gives homeowners more high-quality options for combating odors, such as cooking smells, compared to passive wall plug-ins, which don’t have as strong of an output or last as long as technology-based options.
“They pack a punch, you know, because they’re designed to get rid of all kinds of odors in large spaces,” Hestkind continued. “It’s what large offices and apartment buildings use to remove odors caused by pets, smoking, food, garbage. They’re a great tool for people to use in their homes to get rid of unwanted odors.”
11. Use essential oils or coffee
“You can try diffusing citrus, lavender, or peppermint essential oils to freshen up the space. If that doesn’t work, brewing a fresh pot of coffee not only smells great but also helps mask lingering food odors.” – Michael of Eyedeal Cleaning Services, a residential and commercial cleaning service in Portland, OR.
12. Clean the walls and tiles near the stove
“A commonly overlooked area when combating cooking odors is the walls and tiles near the stove. Over time grease and food particles can build up, trapping unwanted smells. Regularly cleaning and degreasing these surfaces keep our kitchen fresh and prevent lingering odors from sticking around.” – Nancy Cleaning Services, a professional cleaning service in Maryland.
13. Get scents out of fabrics or walls with activated charcoal
“For lingering scents in fabrics or walls, a natural air purifier made from activated charcoal works wonders. Finally, crack open a window and position a fan to blow air out, creating a cross-ventilation effect that swiftly removes stubborn smells.” Matt Chase of Crystal Clear Arizona, an eco-friendly home cleaning company in Arizona
14. Getting cooking odors out of your clothes
“If you want to eliminate cooking smells from your clothes by taking them to the dry cleaners, here are some steps you can follow:
Inform the Dry Cleaner: When you take your clothes to the dry cleaners, inform them specifically about the cooking smells. They may have specialized treatments to handle odor removal.
Request Odor Removal Treatment: Ask the dry cleaners if they can use an odor removal process, such as steam cleaning or specialized solvents, which may be more effective than standard dry cleaning.
Pick Up and Assess: After the cleaning process, pick up your clothes and smell them to ensure the odors have been removed. If they still have a smell, discuss further options with the cleaners.” – Joseph Cleaners, a dry cleaning company in New York, NY.
15. Use fan power to clear the air
“Crack the windows, crank up a box fan, and let the fresh air do its thing. By positioning a fan near an open window, you can create a cross-ventilation effect that quickly whisks away stubborn cooking smells and brings in a burst of freshness.”– D Poole Commercial Kitchen Cleaning, a premier commercial kitchen cleaning service in Michigan.
16. Spritz a natural linen spray
“Curtains, carpets, and couches trap cooking smells. Freshen them up with this simple DIY spray: Mix 1 cup water, 2 tbsp vodka (or witch hazel), and 10 drops of essential oil (like lavender, citrus, or eucalyptus). Lightly mist for an instant refresh.” – the team at Zumari Cleaning Co., a residential cleaning service based in Beaverton, OR.
