Ayşe Koştu · Last updated: October 6, 2026
You made an onion-heavy stew for dinner. An hour later the doorbell rang, your guest sat down on the couch and asked, “What did you cook in here?”
That is what an open-plan kitchen costs you. Airy and social, yes, but the moment fish hits the pan the smell reaches the couch, the throw pillows and the sheers. In a closed kitchen you pull the door shut and open the window. Here there is no door to pull.
This post deals with odor that has already formed. To stop it early when you fry, read our frying odor rules; for fish there is the fish smell guide.
Why does cooking odor settle into the living room in an open-plan kitchen?
Food releases volatile compounds into the air as it cooks. In a closed kitchen they stay inside four walls and leave through the window. In an open-plan kitchen nothing stops them; they drift into the living room with the steam and cling to the first fabric where they cool.
Open the window and the air clears, but the residue in the curtain and the sofa stays put. That is the smell you notice in the living room the next morning.
Which food leaves which kind of odor?
| Food | Source of the odor | Where it settles most |
|---|---|---|
| Fish, seafood | Amine compounds | Curtains, sheers, kitchen towels |
| Onion, garlic | Sulfur compounds released by heat | Sofa fabric, throw pillows |
| Fried food | Oil vapor; leaves a greasy film on surfaces | Cabinet doors, range hood, walls |
| Heavy spices | Fine particles that hang in the air | Carpet, open shelves |
How do you cut down the odor while you cook?
- The range hood is the only wall you have between the kitchen and the living room. Turn it to the highest setting as soon as you light the stove. A filter coated in grease does not pull; wash it regularly.
- Crack a window on the far side of the living room too, so the steam has a way out.
- Wipe up splatters around the stove right away. Oil burning on a hot burner keeps giving off odor while you are at the table.
- Keep the lid on the pot.
In what order do you clear the living room after a meal?
- Clear the table and any uncovered food, and take out the trash.
- Mix 15 mL of ODORGO Multi-Purpose Odor Eliminator Liquid 500 ml into 1 liter of water and wipe the stove, the counter and around the range hood. The liquid is used together with detergent.
- Shake ODORGO Odor Eliminator Spray 250 ml well. Spray the air first, then the curtains, the sheers, the couch and the throw pillows.
- Let the fabrics dry. If the odor is still there, spray once more.
The spray is water-based; you can use it on any surface that water does not harm. On water-sensitive fabrics and surfaces (unfinished or untreated wood, silk, leather, electronics, etc.), test on a small hidden area first.
A small bowl of baking soda on the counter absorbs part of the odor in the air, but it does not reach odor settled into fabric.
Where does the gel go in an open-plan kitchen?
ODORGO Odor Eliminator Gel 250 g sits where the kitchen meets the living room, on a flat, steady surface: the end of the island, a console table, a bookshelf. Open the lid and leave it; no plug, no batteries. Keep it away from the stove and the food.
Kitchen odor does not always come from the pot. If a heavy smell meets you when you open the fridge door, see the fridge odor guide.
How does ODORGO remove cooking odor, and what is in it?
ODORGO is built on five plant-derived essential oils: pine needle, anise, clove, cedarwood and lime. They draw the odor molecules in, hold them and turn them into an odorless compound. The spray and the gel show up to 98% odor elimination effectiveness, and both are vegan.
One note: the light plant scent you get on spraying fades quickly. Don't expect anything to linger; ODORGO is not a perfume.
Keep your open-plan kitchen and living room fresh
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is odor harder to clear in an open-plan kitchen than in a closed one?
With no door to close, the odor goes straight into the living room fabrics. Airing clears the air, not the fabric.
How do I get fish or onion odor out of a fabric sofa?
Spray the sofa with ODORGO Odor Eliminator Spray, let it dry and repeat if needed. Perfume on top only mixes the two smells.
Do the spray and the gel mask the odor?
No. They are fragrance-free; they bind the odor molecule and turn it into an odorless compound.
Can I use it in the kitchen, near food?
Not directly onto food. Clear the table and any uncovered fruit and vegetables first, then spray into the air or onto the surface.
Does the spray leave marks on curtains and sofas?
No, not on ordinary textiles. On water-sensitive fabrics such as silk and satin, test on a hidden corner first.
How long does the gel last in an open living room?
We give no duration for open areas; it depends on room size and airflow. It lasts up to 30 days in enclosed areas of up to 15 m²; longer in smaller spaces such as drawers and cabinets.
Do I need to open a window while the range hood is running?
Yes. With two windows cracked on opposite sides the steam heads outside and the hood has less work to do.