Does your crisper drawer look like ours (above)? A few fresh ingredients you hate to waste but don't know how to use before you leave for a long weekend? We've rounded up some of our favorite cupboard challenges and fridge-clearing tips to help you turn 1/2 cup of sour cream and some wilting cilantro into dinner. More

Q: One run of the washing machine and my frying pan is seriously tarnished. What happened?

Sent by J.P. More

Q: I live in a cozy 400SF studio apartment, including a tiny open kitchen. I love it — except for one small issue: after I cook a more fragrant dish (salmon, bacon) the scent hangs in the air despite my best efforts of homemade natural air sprays, fans, and open windows. Any ideas for how I can enjoy cooking in my mini kitchen but keep the air fresh?

Sent by BHS More

Laundry machines in the kitchen aren't the most common thing here in the States, but we've seen them in Europe, and the idea catching on here in big cities and small apartments. Lots of things make sense about this: the kitchen is a wet space with other plumbing hookups. It's often central to a home's layout, making it a convenient place to get the laundry going (and so easy to do the kitchen towels!). Here are a few examples of washers and dryers sharing space with ranges and fridges. More

We've talked about removing the garlic smell from your hands, and ways to keep it off in the first place. Rubbing your hands on stainless steel really works, and the most convenient surface we've come to use is: More

Fruit flies got you down? Yes, they breed like crazy this time of year, coming home with your precious fruits and vegetables. But you don't need to suffer their annoyances; make a cheap trap that will end their reign in your kitchen forever. More

A long time ago, I was told to put a few drops of bleach in my dishwashing water to combat the smell dishes can sometimes get, especially when washing up after eggs. This seemed a little odd to me and I never adopted the practice, although I still haven't solved the eggy smell, either.

Chlorine bleach has a bad rap with most eco-minded folk because of its toxicity to humans and to the environment. But many people find it indispensable in the kitchen, both as a sanitizer (to clean up after raw chicken, for example) and a stain remover.

Take our survey below, and defend your bleach use or tell us your bleach alternatives in the comments. (And how does one get rid of that eggy smell?) More

Q: I have a convection toaster oven that I use on a daily basis, including when I make bacon. While the bacon is delicious, the bacon splatter left inside the oven is less than desirable.

I was wondering if there was some secret efficient way in cleaning off the baked-on grease.

Sent by Sydney More

Remember the great peeling debate? Here's a quick and simple tool that might satisfy both sides. With their abrasive scrubbing power, Skrub'a gloves eliminate the need for peeling but still get carrots, potatoes, and other vegetables clean. More

Q: The guy who lives in the basement of my house loves onions and curry. He cooks with them daily and stinks up the entire house. I'm sure we've all dealt with stanky smells from neighbours or our own kitchens.

Do you have any tips for getting rid of the onion smell? When I leave my house I smell like a diner, which is uncool.

Sent by Jody More