How to get fish smell out of your house after cooking

Step by step: how to get fish smell out of your house after cooking

1. 1

   Ventilate right away

   Turn the range hood to high and open windows on opposite sides of the house to get a cross breeze. Put a box fan in a window facing out to pull air from the kitchen. Keep it going for at least 30 minutes after you finish cooking.

2. 2

   Get the scraps out of the house

   Wrap fish skin, bones, packaging and the paper towels you used in a tied bag and take it to an outdoor bin tonight. A kitchen trash can with fish scraps in it will smell worse by morning. Rinse the fish packaging tray before it goes into recycling.

3. 3

   Wash the pan and utensils immediately

   Fish oil keeps releasing smell as long as it sits on a warm pan. Fill the pan with hot water and dish soap while it is still warm, scrub, rinse, and dry. Do the same for spatulas, the cutting board and any plates.

4. 4

   Degrease the stove and backsplash

   Wipe the stovetop, knobs, backsplash, the front of the range hood and nearby counters with a degreasing cleaner or hot soapy water. Splattered fish oil on these surfaces is often what keeps the kitchen smelling the next day.

5. 5

   Clean the sink and drain

   Scrub the sink, then run hot water. If you rinsed scraps into the garbage disposal, run it with cold water and a handful of ice, then a squeeze of lemon. Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda followed by 1 cup of vinegar into a smelly drain, wait 10 minutes and flush with hot water.

6. 6

   Wash the range hood filter

   A greasy hood filter traps fish oil and releases it each time the hood runs. Soak a metal filter in hot water with dish soap and a little baking soda for 15 minutes, scrub, rinse and dry, or run it in the dishwasher if the manual allows.

7. 7

   Absorb what is left overnight

   Set shallow bowls of baking soda or a few cups of white vinegar on the counter and in the next room and leave them overnight. Both help with lingering odors in still air. Throw the baking soda away in the morning.

8. 8

   Simmer lemon and vinegar if needed

   Slice a lemon into a small pan with 2 cups of water and 1/4 cup of white vinegar, and simmer it gently for 15 to 20 minutes with the hood running. Do not leave it unattended or let it boil dry. This freshens the air but does not replace cleaning the source.

Why does fish smell linger so long?

Fish smell lingers because cooking spreads fishy oil as fine droplets and vapor that settle on surfaces, fabrics and the range hood filter, and keep releasing odor until they are cleaned off. Air fresheners only cover it for a while.

Ventilation is the fastest fix. The EPA notes that kitchen and bathroom fans that vent outdoors remove pollutants from the room directly and increase outdoor air exchange, and recommends ventilating more during short-term activities such as cooking. A recirculating hood that blows back into the room only filters grease, so lean on open windows if yours does not vent outside.

How to get fish smell out of fabrics and furniture

Fabrics near the kitchen hold the smell longest, so wash what you can and air out what you cannot.

• Wash kitchen towels, oven mitts, tablecloths, seat cushions and curtains near the kitchen on the warmest setting the care label allows.
• Sprinkle baking soda on upholstered chairs, rugs and the sofa, leave it for a few hours or overnight, then vacuum it up slowly.
• Hang coats and clothes worn while cooking outside or near an open window for a few hours.
• For smells that have settled into the whole house, see our broader guide on how to remove household odors.

How to cook fish without making the house smell

Start with fresh fish and cook it in a way that keeps the oil contained. The FDA says fresh fish should smell fresh and mild, not fishy, sour or ammonia-like, and that spoiled seafood odors get stronger after cooking, so a strong smell before cooking means a stronger one after. Store fish at 40°F or below and use it within 2 days, or freeze it.

What if the house smells fishy and you did not cook fish?

Rule out an electrical problem first, especially if the odor is sharp, chemical or close to hot plastic. Consumer Reports warns that a burning plastic smell may signal overheated wiring in an appliance or in the heating and cooling system. If you notice an odor like that near an outlet, switch or device, or see scorch marks, turn off that circuit at the breaker, unplug what you can safely, and call an electrician. If you also see smoke or sparks, leave the house and call 911.

Other common causes are forgotten food in the fridge or trash, a dry drain trap, a dead mouse in a wall, and fish food or water in an aquarium that needs changing. If you suspect a dead mouse, see mice in walls and ceilings.

Mistakes to avoid

• Spraying air freshener instead of cleaning the pan, stovetop and hood filter.
• Leaving fish scraps in the kitchen trash overnight.
• Letting the fishy pan soak until morning.
• Running a recirculating hood with the windows closed and expecting the smell to leave.
• Ignoring a hot plastic smell near an outlet or appliance when no one has cooked anything.