Getting Rid of Those Cooking Smells!

Another Great Post By:  www.SaraHibbard.com

It happened again tonight! 

I was showing property to a couple and their two boys who are relocating to the Atlanta metro area from Virginia.  We visited 5 properties late afternoon through early evening.  Two of the five properties had odors even noticeable to the boys.  Prospective home buyers become very "turned-off" at household odors -- the most common of which are pet and cooking odors.  Prospective home buyers who are allergic to pets, can sniff pet odors before they step foot in the house.  I swear people detect kitty litter all the way out to the curbside.  Likewise, if we can tell what you ate for dinner last night -- well...lets just say that's a huge turnoff!

Recently, Tisha Gay, Metro Broker's technology wizard, wrote a column regarding this very subject.  Our experience tonight with extremely strong cooking odors reminded me of Tisha's article written in May and so I share it with you today.  If you are thinking of putting your home on the market soon, or if it's already on the market, Tisha offers good advice.

Does your house have housitosis? The last thing your home needs when you’re trying to sell it is “bad breath”, which is generally caused by all of your delicious cooking. If those cooking smells continue to linger long after the meal is served, it’s time to take action.
The best remedy is preventing the odors in the first place. This is an easy fix through proper ventilation and air filtration. Your cook-top or stove-top should be ventilated with an overhead or downdraft ventilation system that is matched to the needs of the burners. But it’s only useful if you turn on your vented hood while you cook, even if you don’t like the extra noise. 

If you’re in the market for a new vent, let a professional guide you as far as the size and power of the vent that you need. Ventilation systems should at least match an appliance in size, but can go larger, such as vented hoods suspended over an island. Make sure you don’t “underdo” it – for example, microwaves are placed over cooktops with a ventilator built into the unit, but that’s inadequate ventilation for most gas cooktops.

Here’s some other quick tips for freshening the odor of your home:

• Housekeeping can also cause your house to smell like last night’s meal. I always try to clean while I cook, so I don’t have a build-up of dirty pots and pans. Hard-to-clean pots and pans should be soaked immediately after use. Also, store leftovers immediately instead of allowing them to sit on the countertop.
• Some cooking smells like fish or fried foods are simply invasive. Make sure you remove the cooking oil and other trash from the house as soon as you can.
• Buy fresh sponges and wash dish cloths frequently. Used dish cloths get mildew odor and retain food odors. Wash potholders frequently. Don’t let dust and odors accumulate on curtains or hand towels.
• Also, your appliances can be a source of the smell. Make sure your cooktops are clean and not building up dried food stains.
• Disposals can collect food debris that smells foul over time. Freshen your disposal by grinding ice and lemon wedges. I clean out my refrigerator weekly, since leftovers can get “ripe” very quickly even when refrigerated.
• Periodically wipe down your cabinet doors and drawers with a fresh smelling cleaner. Change or wash air filters monthly or as directions dictate. Use washable area rugs or gel rugs that can be wiped down.
• Consider using a air purifier.  Your Realtor, Sara Hibbard has several air purifiers that work great for taking strong odors out of the house.

Finally, what foods seem to linger most? Foods like fish, broccoli and spicy dishes may require a little preparation. Keep the house cooler (warm air makes odors linger), open windows in the kitchen, and use your overhead fans and the cooking ventilation.

Fortunately, housitosis isn’t permanent. If you find that odors are lingering and you have a showing, I suggest using quick fixes like baked cookies or pots simmering with potpourri. Anything citrus-scented also tends to cut the smells of grease and smoke. Just make sure you don’t overdo it and the cure is worse than the problem, and take it easy with candles and room sprays.

Sara Hibbard is a licensed Realtor in the state of Georgia.   Sara works with both buyers and sellers in the north Atlanta metro area.  Sara is easily reached at 404-660-2481 or Sara@SaraHibbard.com.  Visit Sara's websites located at www.SaraHibbard.com, www.SaraHibbardRealEstate.com and www.Georgia-ShortSaleInfo.com.   Sara Hibbard is Glad Georgia Real Estate is on Your Mind!