The smoke inside your kitchen every time you cook may have an inviting smell, but it can also stick to your walls which can cause unflattering dirt. It is why some kitchens invest in installing range hoods or smoke vents roof hatches.
The range hood is a piece of equipment you can have inside your kitchen. This appliance contains a canopy and motor blower to extract the thick smoke or air pollution caused by cooking. The range hood is essential in the kitchen since it helps by sweeping and eliminating the vapor or smoke right at the source, the range hood maintains the air quality in the kitchen and makes cleaning much more accessible. In addition to its function, it also filters out the airborne grease before it has a chance to settle to your walls, ceiling, and cabinets, which is such a hassle to clean.
Smoke vents are also essential for the kitchen area since it allows proper ventilation to prevent anyone from suffocation because of too much smoke present inside the kitchen.
But what if you don’t have enough money and space to buy a range hood or a smoke vent for your kitchen? Here are other alternatives you can try to keep your kitchen clean and grease-free.
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Window Fans
If you don’t have range hoods or smoke vents in your kitchen, then your windows are going to be your kitchen savers. If your kitchen doesn’t have a window, then it’s probably time that you should think about installing one. If you already have a window, or at least nearby your kitchen, you can install a small window fan or an exhaust fan. Make sure to turn your fans on every time you prepare something good in the kitchen. They will assist the air out of your kitchen, and while it may not do much for grease, it will surely help minimize the amount of smoke and air pollution.
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Portable Air Filters
If your kitchen does not have a window, you can try another helpful hack by bringing in a portable air filter. The portable air filter will help capture unwanted smells, especially for searing meat or cooking fish. Portable air filters help improve indoor air quality so your kitchen will never smell like yesterday’s meal.
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Grease Splatter Guard
If scattering grease is your ultimate problem inside the kitchen, stopping it from its source seems like an ideal plan. A splatter guard is an equipment that fits over any frying pan to capture grease splatters. They sell for only around $10, making it a must-have at that price. You can reduce the amount of junk that ends up on your walls, ceiling, or cabinets because this equipment traps the grease when it evaporates into smoke.
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Frequently Wipe Down Kitchen Cabinets and Walls
This is the reality of not having range hoods or smoke vents inside your kitchen; you have to wipe down areas where grease splatter is commonly affected. These areas are usually your cabinets, walls, and even kitchen ceilings. To prevent any stains and unwanted smells, regularly wipe down these areas or every after you whip something in the kitchen. When wiping these areas, make sure you use a grease-fighting soap.
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Use a Semi-Gloss Finish for Your Walls
Kitchen repainting is a fun task, and if your kitchen does not happen to have any range hoods or smoke vents, this tip will be beneficial. If you’re planning to paint your kitchen, make sure to get a paint finish that won’t have a rugged surface to scrub on like a satin or semi-gloss finish. These options are proven to be one of the most practical paint finishes for kitchens. The smooth texture of the walls will make cleaning the walls much easier, and any grease or dirt will slide off your walls quickly, and it won’t cause any stains.
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Install a Carbon Monoxide Meter
Having proper kitchen ventilation isn’t just essential for eliminating smells, but it is also a safety concern if you’re using a gas stove, which often releases carbon monoxide. Opening a window or just by using an exhaust or window fan can help, but you may also want to purchase a carbon monoxide meter. This is most convenient, especially if you don’t have a window. It will help you monitor the carbon monoxide content of your kitchen, and if the reading shows high CO levels that can be harmful to your health, it’s time to turn on your window fans.
In addition, high levels of carbon monoxide can have the potential to cause unwanted fires at high levels. High amounts of carbon monoxide can pose a significant threat to your health. They can also deteriorate the quality of your kitchen walls by causing mold, wood rot, and even peeling paint finishes.
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Fight Bad Smells With Citrus
One fun way to fight stinging and unpleasant cooking smells is to replace them with something more pleasant to our senses. This is one of the life hacks that are very simple to execute, and you only need some things that are usually just lying around in your kitchen. Grab a pot and simmer some lemon slices or any citrus wedges. You can also try using a few spices like cinnamon or even coffee beans. The boiling water will bring us a pleasant smell that will block the unpleasant odor from your last meal.
Humans are very resourceful and will always find a way out of any obstacle, even if it involves kitchen grease and smoke. Installing range hoods and smoke vents is the most practical thing you can do to keep your kitchen in excellent quality and state. However, if there are instances that a range hood and smoke vent may seem impossible to have, then there are still other alternatives you can try which are budget-friendly. Keeping your kitchen spotless will give an excellent impression to your guests and hugely contribute to your food’s sanitary.
