Talk

Flip

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Housekeeping

Stale cooking oil smell in kitchen

13 replies

BabCNesbitt · 22/08/2015 09:31

Now I'm fully prepared to accept that the answer to this may be 'scrub your kitchen down, you slummer!'

That said, when we got in last night, it really struck me that our kitchen smelled of old, greasy cooking oil. I'm pretty good about washing up straight after dinner, and (usually, ahem) OK about cleaning up the top of the cooker (don't use the oven or grill much), but we don't have any kind of extractor fan or overhead oven canopy thingy, and we rent, so that's unlikely to change.

What's the best way to get rid of this smell, and to try and stop it coming back in future?

OP posts:

Report

OnMyShoulders · 22/08/2015 09:33

Do you have the windows open? Mine get closed at bedtime and then opened again as soon as we get up.

Report

BabCNesbitt · 22/08/2015 09:38

No, the window never gets opened - it's over the sink and single-glazed, so I have visions of accidentally putting my hand through a pane if I try and force the ancient paint to crack open!

OP posts:

Report

OnMyShoulders · 22/08/2015 09:56

You need some fresh air circulating.

Report

BabCNesbitt · 22/08/2015 09:59

I would like that, but the only other window on the ground floor (we're on a terrace) opens up to the main road, so I keep that shut to avoid lungfuls of petrol fumes. Would some kind of portable fan be any use, do you think?

OP posts:

Report

GooodMythicalMorning · 22/08/2015 10:01

My old kitchen had a window like that. I just opened as many windows that I could an air the whole house. Make sure you clean cupboard and drawer fronts, they tend to get the oil splashback from the hob and its easy to miss.

Report

GooodMythicalMorning · 22/08/2015 10:01

Xpost sorry mine wont be that useful then!

Report

MrsFlorrick · 22/08/2015 10:11

I'm assuming you've already washed out cupboards and washed down cupboard doors too etc.

I would say a build up of cooking fats and oils in your sink and drain.

It can happen even if you don't pour oil directly into it. Just washing frying pans with left over grease from mince, beef chicken etc etc can eventually build up

Or where your job/cooker is, could any cooking residues be running down the back or sides? If you've got a hob the the silicon seal around it could have worn away and little by little fats could escape down and build up.

And obviously is your oven clean.

Report

BabCNesbitt · 22/08/2015 10:50

Oven is clean-ish? Rarely used and we don't cook meat, so no chance for lots of fat to drip down. Good point about scrubbing down cabinet surfaces and sides of the oven, though - I'm pretty lazy about that, so will get around to that.

OP posts: