Tackling musty kitchen cupboards
As enticing as what food aromas emanating from the kitchen are, they become unappealing when they linger and turn into stubborn smells. Here are a few techniques to help get to the root of unpleasant smells, especially in kitchen cupboards. Homeowners should start with the gentlest solutions first and progressively move to stronger treatments if initial attempts to clean cupboards prove ineffective.
Vinegar is a household cleaning cure-all. In addition to cleaning and disinfecting, it has deodorising properties. Fill a shallow bowl with white or cider vinegar and set it in the cupboards. If the scent of vinegar is overbearing to you, mix in a fragrant essential oil such as peppermint, orange or tea tree. The odour should be gone by the morning. Charcoal is another solution. A lump of charcoal placed in a kitchen cupboard is excellent at absorbing odours. Silica gel, a naturally occurring mineral, is effective at combating musty smells, particularly during damp weather. Leave a few packets in your cupboards and let them absorb bacteria.
Sometimes you need to bring out the big guns when bad smells don’t respond to natural solutions. Try mixing a solution of 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol into 560ml of mineral oil. Wipe down the insides and outsides of cupboards and drawers to banish the smell almost immediately. This not only wipes away bad smells but seals the wood to prevent new odors from forming. Unlike paint, this gentler solution preserves cupboards while offering extra protection.
If smells persist, it is likely that mould or mildew has penetrated the wood and it’s time to turn to a more powerful solution: bleach. Using a spray bottle or bucket and rag, thoroughly saturate the cabinets, reaching into every corner and crack. Let it soak for at least 15 minutes, then use a sponge to wipe the surface. Be sure to wear gloves and old clothes when working with bleach as it can cause permanent stains. If the smell of bleach becomes overpowering, add a few drops of essential oil.
Once you have resolved the source of unpleasant kitchen cupboard smells, you can freshen up stale air by making your own air freshener.
In a large pot of water, simmer a handful of whole cloves, 3-4 whole nutmegs, 4-5 cinnamon sticks, and it’s optional whether you would like to add a few orange or lemon peels for an hour.
Strain the cooled liquid into spray bottles and use it in the kitchen and elsewhere whenever the air needs a little freshening up.
Unpleasant smelling drains
Use salt and baking soda to unclog a drain and put an end to bad drain odours at the same time. Pour 1 cup salt into the drain followed by 1 cup baking soda. Pour a kettle full of boiling water down the drain and let all that hard-working sodium get busy.
Borax in the Bin
Garbage bins are great incubators for odour-causing mould and bacteria. To fend off accumulations of these microscopic growths, sprinkle 1/2 cup borax in the bottom of your garbage can and renew it each time you empty it.
