How to have a fresh smelling house?

[whatabloodyjoke]

I feel like my house permanently stinks of whatever we had for dinner last night. Even when we keep the kitchen door closed and window open somehow the smells ends up in the kids bedroom. I try and open windows and DH would often light a scented candle but I can't tolerate too strong smells so can't have this on all the time. Am I missing something obvious? Definitely cannot tolerate air freshener or fake smelling stuff.

We open a window whilst we cook if it's something pungent, do you use an extractor when cooking on the hob? Also make sure to wash the pots straight away and wipe the kitchen down.

Also opening one window with the door shut won't move much air (it needs as much air to come in as out, think of a straw with your finger blocking the end, nothing will come out the other end). Open the kitchen window, leave the door open, and open a window elsewhere for a through draft.

get yourself down to Aldi, they have coconut disinfectant. splash a bit in your sinks
Its not overpowering

I think it really depends what you cook. Fried food/meat does tend to smell and permeate everything. I have an Aga which typically lets no smell out when cooking. If people are coming I light a candle in the kitchen. Open windows to air out rooms where possible. And one thing that smells awful is wet patches or clothes or food/drinks spills that get left sitting so clean anything that would smell away immediately.

Do you put trimmings/plate scrapings in the kitchen bin? Anything smelly like fish or curry goes straight out to the dustbin.

You need air flow, so I open all the windows in the house to get a real blast through, it always smells fresh afterwards.

Open windows in every room first thing, for me the air has to be able to blow through. Also candles and diffusers, but they’ll
only mask the smell (for a bit) if it’s there. You need constant ventilation in a house to be fresh. Doesn’t have to be long, 10-15 mins is fine

A plain candle will help take away smells. You don’t need a scented one.

unfortunately smells tend to penetrate fabrics and curtains and carpets and its hard to get it out.

My house smells of shoes. I have a DS and a DH who both do lots of sport. Trainers get washed and aired regularly, they both shower, the windows and doors are open but it still smells. They claim not to notice, as do guests, but I think the guests are just being polite. 😭

I find having the extractor fan on before starting to cook makes a difference (air already moving around)

I also leave it on after we've finished for half hour or so. Shut the door into other rooms but leave the windows open.

I light incense occasionally and have a plug in

Clean down the kitchen when you're done, including emptying bins etc then bleach down the plug hole followed by hot water

If none of that works I've heard of leaving an onion cut in half overnight which draws in the smell but have never tried this

PP is right, you need open windows and doors to allow air to move around so if you only have one door into your kitchen I'd leave it open. Open all windows around the house in that case, to allow air to circulate and smell to dissipate