Keeping your kitchen smelling fresh all the time can be a challenge if you’re actually using it – you know, when you’re actually cooking in them? And since first and foremost, it’s the kitchen, you probably want to use natural deodorizers as much as possible.

Sure, chemical deodorizers or air fresheners can come handy as well but you’ll be surprised at how natural deodorizers are that readily available and most probably already in your kitchen. Not to mention – that you have probably thought of it as well, too, but wasn’t just so sure. You know, like when you’re thinking how the room you ate orange in still smells like orange even a few minutes after having it there? And you’re like, hmm, probably that’s why some air freshener is ‘flavored’ orange.

But of course, you want a deodorizer that, well, actually deodorizes. Meaning it can eliminate or prevent the awful smell and not just mask it which is usually the case with most chemical-based fragrant air sprays. And this is also why I’m a little biased to natural deodorizers – aside from the fact that they’re natural, they also actually eliminate or prevent the foul odor.

Not convinced yet? See here our list of the 8 natural deodorizers that can naturally freshen up your kitchen. Find out which ones you would like to give a try the next time you smell something awful in your kitchen.

9 Natural Deodorizers

1. Oranges

Yes, like mentioned above, I’ve always noticed how eating an orange in a room leaves a fresh orangey scent to it (I usually peel mine while I sat watching tv, so I guess that’s where the ‘magic’ begins). As I peel through the skin, I’m unintentionally releasing the oil which is the source of the fresh fragrance. It turns out, that it’s the pith – the spongy white part between the skin and the orange rind, that neutralizes odors. Pretty neat, right?

To use orange as natural deodorizer:

You can simply place the orange rind in the fridge, in the musty-smelling cabinet, or anywhere in the kitchen you think is the source of the foul odor. You can also feed the rind to the garbage disposal or if you’re in a rush to deodorize and freshen up the kitchen – boil it in water. Heck you can even add spices if you want, say cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, star anise, or cardamom pods.

2. Charcoal

Now this is the first natural deodorizer that I came to know even at a young age – enter Grandpa Eddie who always have that cup with charcoal in the fridge! As a young child, I don’t understand it of course, and Grandpa Eddie would just say ‘so that the fridge would not smell’ – which is puzzling to me because I don’t even know what ‘smell’ he’s talking about. Anyway, fast forward to much later, I learned that charcoal absorb odors and toxins in the air.

To use charcoal as a natural deodorizer:

Simply add them in discreet areas or corner in the kitchen. You can wrap them in fabric bags or you can just get a container and place them in there – after all they’re hidden. (If you find it unsightly, then of course, you can always use decorative containers. You can also add charcoal lumps or briquette at the bottom of your trash can. And of course, the fridge, don’t forget the fridge! I got mine in a tiny shot glass (I just put a tiny chunk in there) and just keep it by the refrigerator’s door.

3. Lemons

Now lemons, similar to orange, pretty much works the same way. So, if you usually used lemons in the kitchen then you just found a new use for it! Oftentimes, as deodorizer or cleaner, you’ll hear lemon getting paired with baking soda.

To use lemon as a natural deodorizer:

You can pretty much use it the same way you would the orange peels. I addition, you can use it to deodorize and clean your chopping board as well – simply rub lemon and salt against the chopping board, let it sit for a few minutes and then rinse. You can also microwave a few drops of lemon juice in water to clean and freshen it up.

4. Coffee grounds

After enjoying your fresh coffee, don’t throw those coffee grounds just yet! They’re perfect for naturally freshening up the air. Apparently, coffee contains nitrogen which helps in neutralizing odor. These coffee grounds can also be re-purpose as cleaning agent and as plant fertilizer.

To use coffee grounds as a natural deodorizer:

Just collect your coffee grounds and air dry them. Then simply put them in container or an old sock or stockings – and placed in areas that you suspect to be the cause of the foul smell in the kitchen. For the fridge, just put them in a small dish – or again, you can use a shot glass and simply keep it in the fridge.

5. Oats

Yes, your good old oatmeal, the one you’re eating for breakfast in the morning. It turns out, oats are very absorbent even with odors. And similar to coffee grounds, oats can be used as well in house cleaning because it also absorbs oil and liquid easily (say when you spill oil or something). And even bathing your smelly dog in water with soaked oats also does the trick of deodorizing them (and even soothing any skin conditions they may have).

To use oats as a natural deodorizer:

Simply put it in a dish and then place it in the fridge. Same thing if you’re trying to freshen up the kitchen, keep it in a container, uncovered – and let it do it’s magic in deodorizing the room. For your furry pet – simply ground the oats first and mix it to their bath water.

6. Vinegar

Not only is vinegar a natural deodorizer, it can also act as a disinfectant. Its acetic acid content is the one responsible for neutralizing alkaline odors. Vinegar is also usually paired with baking soda when use in cleaning.

To use vinegar as a natural deodorizer:

Simply put it in a small dish and leave it in the open. This is particularly useful when you cook a strong-smelling dish in the kitchen. You can also microwave it for a couple of minutes to not just deodorize but disinfect your microwave at the same time. You can also mix half and half water and vinegar and pour in a spray bottle then just use it to wipe down kitchen counter or the stove.

7. Snake plants

Snake plant, particularly the Sanseviera Laurentii, according to NASA is one of best air-purifying indoor plants. It has elongated green leaves with yellow edges. Not only do these plants convert carbon dioxide to oxygen, they also remove formaldehyde, xylene and nitrogen oxides from the air. Now you may argue, does it necessarily mean it eliminates the unwanted odor as well? Well, if they’re producing oxygen and purifying the air, I think it also helps in getting rid of the awful smell.

To use snake plants as a natural deodorizer:

Well, very simple, just put it anywhere in the kitchen! You may have had bad experiences in keeping indoor plants alive and well (I know! I’ve had a bunch die on me, too!). My suggestion is to make sure that your plant has a designated ‘rotating partner’ – one is outside freely soaking as much light it can tolerate while the other is doing its bid at purifying air indoors. Then say weekly or bimonthly, alternately change them, bring the one outdoors in and bring the one indoors out. (Because based on personal experiences, even if they’re getting a bit of light indoors, they still grow and appear differently when given proper sunlight.)

8. Baking soda

Easily one of my favorites among natural deodorizers, baking soda, also called sodium bicarbonate. And while it’s of course use in baking, it’s also great for cleaning especially when paired with vinegar. It’s so effective in removing foul odor that I always make sure I have at least 4 small boxes in my grocery cart every month.

To use baking soda as a natural deodorizer:

Just put it in a small container or dish and put it anywhere in the kitchen. I personally put one in the fridge (yes, when I discover its power, I actually prefer using it instead of charcoal), corners of the kitchen counter, inside the cabinet, and yes even inside the drawers. When I microwave a strong-smelling food, I would simply put the box of baking soda inside the microwave and leave it there until next use.

9. Candle

Go for the non-toxic or natural candles like soy wax, beeswax or apricot wax. Even if the candles are unscented, they still do its job in eliminating unwanted odor. If you have a favorite scented candle, it’s fine to use as well as long as it’s lightly scented – I mean you don’t want one that’s too empowering.

To use candle as a natural deodorizer:

Simply light up the candle when cooking fragrant dishes. Lighting it up after cooking also works. In either cases, make sure that you don’t leave them unattended.

So there goes the nine natural deodorizers that can keep your kitchen smelling fresh. Let us know, which ones have you tried before and which one’s you’re excited to try.