5 Homemade Natural Air Fresheners For Kitchen

It’s not just surfaces that need regular cleaning in the kitchen: the air is often laden with smells and cooking oils that make it heavy and unpleasant.Commercial air fresheners often simply mask underlying odors with artificial fragrances that make things smell worse, rather than better.

Of course, nothing beats opening the windows wide and letting a fresh breeze into the kitchen! But bad weather can make this an impractical solution at times. Here are a few methods for creating fresher air using common household and garden ingredients.

* Spices and Citrus

This one’s a natural during the holiday season, but it works all winter long or on any gray, gloomy day. To a large pot of water, add 1/4 cup whole cloves, 4 whole nutmegs, 6 cinnamon sticks, and the peel of 2 lemons or one orange.

Bring just to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for an hour or so, to fill the kitchen with spicy-sweet fragrance.

* Herbs and Fruit

Bring a large pot of water to a boil, and add your favorite fruit cut into quarters, or several sprigs of garden-fresh herbs – or make a blend of both for your own signature scent.

Reduce heat and simmer for 1-2 hours, and enjoy the aroma. When cool, strain through a fine mesh screen and into a spray bottle, to spritz when the air needs a little pick-me-up.

* Salt and Baking Soda

This combination is particularly useful for cleaning drains and eliminating the odors that come from them.Pour 1 cup rock salt into the drain, then 1 cup baking soda. Let the fizzing action of the sodium bicarbonate and the power of salt do the tough cleaning work.

* Lovely Lemons

Lemons have remarkable cleaning properties, and freshening up the place is only one of them.For a pure lemon scent that devours heavy grease particles, lingering fishy smells, and other cooking odors, slice 2 lemons into halves or quarters.

Line a baking sheet with foil and place the lemon pieces on top, with some breathing room in between. Then bake in a 250°F oven for 1-2 hours.

* Borax for The Garbage Pail

Borax is another useful household cleaner that works well for absorbing odors.

Deodorize your garbage pail once a month by adding 1/4 cup borax and 2 quarts of hot water. Swish the water around to cover the interior of your pail, then pour the water out.