5 Smart Tips to Get Your Kitchen Smelling Absolutely Amazing, According to Airbnb Hosts

While it sure would be nice to bake delicious-smelling cookies every single day, we know that’s not always possible. But a good-smelling kitchen just feels, well, cleaner. That’s why we’re on the lookout for the best tips on how to keep our kitchens smelling good.

We figured busy Airbnb hosts must know a thing or two about airing out a home for their next guests, so we asked them to share their best tips on how to freshen up a smelly kitchen.

Sonja Wosnitzer, host of the Luxe Duplex Guesthouse in Rumson, New Jersey, has been an Airbnb Superhost for three years, and personally checks every room after her professional cleaning crew comes through to ensure everything is in place and her guests have everything they need for a relaxing stay.

Together, these two Airbnb hosts have five smart tips to get your kitchen in tip-top shape for your nose!

“I love slicing fresh citrus — lemons, oranges, even limes — and boiling them on the stovetop to fill my kitchen with a natural clean scent after cooking or entertaining!” Wosnitzer says. For best results, bring the water to a gentle boil so that the liquid doesn’t evaporate too quickly. “I also find that using the rinds of used lemons or limes works equally well, and reduces your kitchen waste.”

A lot of cleaning products smell cleanish, but they don’t necessarily smell good. That’s why, for the kitchen, Olarte buys fragrance-free dish soap in large bottles which can be used to refill smaller ones. “In general, all of our cleaning products are refillable; we use little tablets alongside water to refill spray bottles,” she said. “We’ve tried a bunch of the refillable brands but have stuck with Blueland, as they’re minimally scented and very effective!”

“Using a few sprays of Mrs. Meyer’s Room Freshener in the kitchen area (and frankly, all over my spaces) really helps lift my mood,” Wosnitzer says. “I am currently obsessed with the Pear Tree scent, a seasonal release that is bright, non-aerosol, and so great for the summer!” Some popular scents that are available year-round include lavender, basil, and geranium.

Filters can’t do their job if they’re covered in dirt and grease. “Depending on whether you have a hood vent on your range or not, investing in keeping your hood’s filter clean and free of grease buildup goes a long way in sustaining the freshness of the kitchen,” Olarte says. “Like many things in our house, our filter is reusable; we simply remove it, run it through the dishwasher, and replace it when it is dry.”

“I believe a kitchen should smell like the food you’re cooking and not be overpowered by strong fragrances,” Olarte says. Keeping overpowering fragrances to a minimum is the best, and it’s the most inclusive way to also host people that have sensitivities, she explains. “As long as you’re not letting things spoil on the counter or in the garbage, this should be your North Star for a nice-smelling kitchen.”

How do you keep your kitchen smelling good? Tell us your tips in the comments below.