About Cooking Odors

"What's that smell?" If the answer is, "Last night's dinner," then you're all too familiar with cooking odors. Not to be confused with grandma's cookies, cooking odors can hang on for days and sometimes weeks, haunting your kitchen with the smell that won't go away. Sometimes learning the cause is as important as learning the solution, so arm yourself with the knowledge of cooking odors and you'll never be defenseless in the kitchen again.

Significance

Smelly cooking odors can be repulsive to some people, and can be problematic if you're planning a get together or trying to sell your home. If you have moved into an apartment with lingering odors or are expecting company, it is important to get to the root of the problem to deal properly with cooking odors.

Time Frame

Remember that all cooking smells, and it's sometimes a matter of personal preference whether a smell is considered an aroma or an odor. A good rule of thumb is, if a cooking odor has not dissipated within three hours after the end of a meal, it should be considered an odor and steps should be taken to remove it.

Effects

Smelling last night's cooking odors may not seem like a major problem, but realize that odors can seep into upholstery and carpet and become an attraction to insects and other pests. Persons with allergies or breathing problems may find that their conditions worsen when exposed to cooking odors that linger too long. Another thing to remember, according to Craig Warren from the Sense of Smell Institute in New York City, is that only half of the population can smell odors in their own home, as opposed to detecting three-quarters of the smells in other people's houses.

Misconceptions

Spraying a commercial "odor remover" has become the most popular method of dealing with cooking odors today, but few people realize that the products on the market today do not remove the odor; they just cover it up better than traditional air fresheners. The main ingredient in these products is Cyclodextrin, which basically surrounds the odor molecules and weighs them down, making the original smell less noticeable while perfuming the air.

Prevention/Solution

Turning on your stove's exhaust fan while cooking is the best way to prevent cooking odors from seeping into your home. Exchanging fresh air for stale is always an important step in removal of cooking odors, as well as cleaning any surfaces that may have the residues clinging to them. This may initially include walls, cupboards, upholstery and floors, as well as cleaning the exhaust fan and furnace filters. Once your home is clean, maintain with a regular air exchange to avoid future cooking odors.

Resources

• eHow article "How to Remove Cooking Odors"