New house and the kitchen cabinets are impregnated with cooking spices

[Homebird8]

What can I do? I love a good curry but don't want everything I put in these kitchen drawers to smell of the spices that were previously stored in them.

I will try bicarb but should I make a solution or a paste and how long do I leave it?

Any other suggestions anyone? Would bleach help? It's not something I keep in but I could get some.

I'd bleach them myself. If that didn't work, then I'd try dettol.

Id leave a bowl of bicarbonate in the cupboard as this can absorb the smell. Bleach etc first to make sure there is no obvious taint.

surely the magic Zoflora would help?

Zoflora for sure.

Zoflora and lots of airing.

Not Zoflora - you'll just be adding to the smell. Try a bowl of bicarb on each shelf for several days with the doors closed and I'd try taking the doors off temporarily to air it all after that.

And clean everything thoroughly with sugar soap first.

You could always paint the inside of the drawers once you've tried the airing and the bicarb. That should help.

Thanks everyone. I now have bleach so that is the next job.

I like the idea of putting bowls of bicarb inside. Does it need to be dry or moist? I though I might need to spread it somehow over the surfaces. Does it really work in a bowl?

I think I have some sugar soap too but other than the smell the drawers are pretty clean. No grease and no dusty grime, still no harm in trying. I might do that before the bleach if I can find it in the heap of boxes in the garage.

You wonderous cleaners who took the time to help me, thank you. I'll report back.

I would try this kitchen deodorizer stick one in your kitchen cabinet and that should do the trick.

I had some smelly drawers in a previous place. I made a paste from bicarb and a little water and rubbed it all over the inside of the drawers and left it over night. Then wiped it out the day after, sprayed with vinegar and left that a couple of hours and wiped over. Left to air dry thoroughly and they were much better.

Oh and dry bicarb left in a dish etc will absorb smells if they linger.

Thanks again everyone, it seems that you cracked it. I sugar soaped and allowed it to dry and then used bleach. Once the inevitable smell of swimming pools had been displaced by the bread I was baking I have lovely odour free drawers. I'll keep the bicarb in bowls as a trick up my sleeve for another occasion.

Good to hear!