My Kitchen Smells Like Garbage – How Can I Fix It?
Garbage smell in the kitchen is a common issue that many homeowners have to deal with. Since nobody wants a stinky home, stopping those strange smells in the kitchen is crucial before they spread into the whole house. A variety of factors can cause the smells but knowing what they are is important to know how to fix them. This article will discuss the most likely causes and explain how to get rid of the garbage smell in your kitchen.
What Can Make Your Kitchen Smell Like Garbage?
Of course, waste is the primary culprit of bad kitchen odors, especially if it has stayed for too long in your kitchen bins, but there are some other causes of garbage smell in the kitchen including spoiled food and clogged drains just to mention a few.
Rotten food
If you have rotting food anywhere in your kitchen, it can cause a strong smell that is hard to get rid of until you throw out whatever is affected. The odor comes due to the growth of mold, yeast, and bacteria.
Such growing microbes cause not only smell but also cause food-borne illness, so make sure to throw any suspicious food items out.
Clogged drains
If your drains are clogged and dirty, food and debris will build up in the pipes where bacteria will cause them to decay resulting in an awful foul odor emanating from them. To stop your kitchen sink from smelling, deep clean then deodorize it.
Dirty sponges, dish clots and kitchen towels
Sponges, dish rags, and towels are essential items we use daily to keep our kitchen area, cookware, and other equipment clean and tidy. But if they aren’t changed frequently using the right methods, such items can easily become a source of funky smells as well as dangerous bacteria.
Therefore, washing stinky kitchen towels and preventing sponges from smelling should have a high priority on your kitchen cleaning checklist.
How to get rid of garbage smell in your kitchen?
Kitchen odors do happen, but there are several things you can do to get rid of nasty smells. Check this list for some tips on what to do when your kitchen smells like garbage.
Clean your garbage cans regularly
Cleaning your garbage cans is one of the best ways to prevent bad kitchen smells. Ensure you empty them completely and give them a good scrub at least once a week.
Deodorizing your garbage cans with vinegar is a chemical-free solution you can try. It acts as a natural disinfectant and will help prevent bad smells in your kitchen. Alternatively, you can also get store-bought garbage can odor eliminator.
Use trash can liners
If you don’t want to clean your garbage cans every week, using bin liners will help to stop trash odor in your kitchen by preventing rotting waste from coming into contact with the inside of the can. The garbage can liner also keeps the waste contained, which means it can be easily disposed of when it is full. For the best result, I recommend using odor-blocking trash bags!
Dispose of garbage properly
Another way to reduce bad kitchen smells is to dispose of your waste properly. Make sure you take your trash out regularly and don’t let it sit in the bin for too long.
If you have a compost bin, make use of it. Composting helps keep food waste out of landfills, and it also creates nutrient-rich soil that can be used in gardens and landscaping projects. If you are composting properly, there won’t be any smell so it can be done even in an apartment. If you experience odors, read how to keep compost in the kitchen with no smell.
Throw away rotting food
Old food is one of the main reasons when it comes to kitchen odors. If you have noticed an unusual smell, check if there is anything rotting anywhere, including the fridge and pantry. If you have children, you might have to search at strange places since it could be hidden in your kitchen, but ensure you find where the odor is emanating from.
Once you have located it, throw it away immediately and clean and deodorize the area where it was stored to remove bad smells. Those who like DIY solutions can prepare a Thyme Disinfectant Spray to disinfect the affected surfaces. You might also want to consider using a refrigerator odor absorber after you have cleared all old food out of your fridge to fully eliminate odors.
Clean your drains regularly
Keeping your drains free from food, dirt, and grease is crucial in order to prevent bad odor in your home. For daily cleaning, you can use baking soda and vinegar. Just mix equal parts together, pour it down the drain, let it sit for around 15 minutes to loosen up any food particles or grease, then rinse with hot water.
It is also important to take steps to prevent the drain from clogging. Do not pour oil/grease directly down the plughole and place a drain screen over it to stop food and dirt from entering your pipes.
If the above-mentioned process does not solve the problem or smell persists, then it might be time to call in a professional. A plumber can help clean your drains and get rid of any clogs that might be causing the smell. They can also help identify any other possible causes of the odor and fix them accordingly.
Wash and change your sponges and dish towels often
Cleaning greasy dishes and wiping off spills make your dish towels, and sponges a haven for germs especially if you live in a high-humidity area where such items can never dry out completely. In dirty and wet dishrags and scrubbers, bacteria start to grow quickly turning these kitchen essentials a potential health hazard as well as the source of garbage-like smell.
Pay extra attention to these kitchen essentials. Wash, disinfect, deodorize, and wring them out well after use so they can dry. Also, make sure to replace them if needed to minimize the risk of bacteria growth and prevent odors.
Author’s Tip: For an even more hygienic experience, I recommend getting stink-free dish cloths and sponges that don’t smell!
These are just a few things you can do if your kitchen smells like garbage. Being in such a situation is not pleasant, but you can hopefully eliminate the problem and enjoy cooking in a clean and odor-free space with these tips!
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