Did your kitchen pick up a strange, unpleasant smell that refuses to go away even after you’ve taken out the trash and ventilated the room many times? Even when you’ve thoroughly cleaned your kitchen recently, carefully disinfecting all food preparation surfaces, and paying special attention to sanitizing your stainless steel appliances, that persistent odor remains intact. Â
As any true expert in house cleaning services in Kingwood will tell you, there are various possible causes of bad smell in your kitchen, besides the usual lingering whiff of cooking. It could be that your fridge is due for a good cleaning session, or that grease has been getting cozy in the depths of your sink due to plumbing issues.
Luckily, there is a way to get freshness back into your kitchen, and figuring out where the unwanted smell is coming from is the first step in the right direction.
What is the bad smell in my kitchen?

The quickest way to discover the source of bad smell in your kitchen is to eliminate the usual suspects first:
- Trash can
More often than not, you’ll find that the funny odor occupying your kitchen comes from the trash can. Trash that’s been sitting there for a day or two is not the only possible source of bad smells. A broken trash bag might have caused bits of food waste and grease to leak and stick to the bottom of your trash can, allowing the smell to persist even after you’ve taken the trash out. We’ll share tips on how to quickly and efficiently fix this in a moment.
- Kitchen sink
The kitchen sink is one of the essential appliances in every home. As such, when there is an issue with the kitchen sink or garbage disposal, you’ll be able to smell the trouble from a mile away — that terrible stench permeating your kitchen sure is a force to be reckoned with.
Food residue, grease and other debris get caught in the pipes due to plumbing malfunction. Needless to say, if these are not properly removed from your house plumbing, they start to rot, causing a foul smell.
- Forgotten (rotten) food
If you cook frequently, your pantry and kitchen are likely packed with groceries, so there’s a greater chance of misplacing veggies or other foods in the kitchen.
A potato could fall to the floor, roll over to a perfectly concealed corner and stay there until it becomes rotten. Your kids may store a couple of tomatoes behind the dishwasher, thinking it a marvelous idea. You may even discover your cat’s sudden love for cucumbers, or rather — her love for stashing bits and pieces of cucumbers under the carpet. The list goes on.
If you suspect rotten food is behind the nasty smell in your kitchen, make sure to search every corner, check the unexpected places, until you locate the culprit. The longer it stays hidden, the worse the smell will get.
- Other
If none of the above seem to be at the heart of the problem, make sure to examine your fridge and dishwasher. If your appliances are not emitting the unpleasant smell either, and you don’t have a habit of leaving your sponges lying around soaked up with old water — perhaps it’s time for another good kitchen scrubbing or a visit from a plumber.
How do you deodorize a kitchen?
Keeping your kitchen fresh is a piece of cake if you apply the right tips. Here’s a chosen few that’ll help you get rid of those disagreeable smells:
- Spray your trash can with vinegar and let it sit for a bit. Wipe the can and leave it to dry for about twenty minutes more, before inserting a fresh trash bag.
- If your kitchen sink’s drain, disposal or lower pipe are clogged, giving off the smell of grease and rotting food, you can try the following hack:
- Pour approximately one cup of baking soda into the drain, followed by a cup of vinegar. Let it work for about ten minutes, before rinsing with boiling water. Baking soda and vinegar combo should do the trick and dissolve the grease, so that it’s completely removed from your pipes when boiling water comes running.
- A great way to deodorize your kitchen naturally is to use your own homemade air freshener. All you need to make it is a spray bottle, water, some rubbing alcohol and your favorite essential oil. A pleasant whiff of lavender, peppermint or clove will easily replace any residue cooking smells.
Outstanding house cleaning services in Kingwood bring a whiff of fresh air into your home

Dust and dirt never seem to go on a break, but how would you like one? Don’t you think it’s such a pity to stay cooped up at home, cleaning and chasing funky odors for days on end? You could be basking in the sun instead, immersed in a book from Harris County Public Library, while a gentle spring breeze caresses your skin.
Give us a call and That’s Clean Maids will make this dream a reality. Forget all about bad smells and never-ending household chores. We’ll match you with skilled, reliable and meticulous professional cleaners who will do wonders for your home.
Book today and see for yourself!