11 Tips for Eliminating & Preventing Fishy Smells in Your Home

Say goodbye to stinky odors with a few nifty tricks and natural remedies

Co-authored by Aly Rusciano

Last Updated: February 13, 2023 References

You walk through the door after a long day to be hit by the awful smell of fish. Great, the salmon you made last night is coming back with a vengeance. So, how can you get rid of the fishy smell for good? We’ve got the best tricks to help you eliminate that stinky odor fast, prevent it from returning, and keep your home or apartment smelling nice and fresh. Now, let’s un-pinch that nose because we’ve got some deodorizing to do!

Things You Should Know

Get rid of fishy smells in your kitchen by simmering white vinegar and lemon peels on the stove.
Deodorize any space by placing a cup of ground coffee on a table or countertop.
Use essential oils or a store-bought deodorizing spray to quickly eliminate odors and freshen your home.

1

Set a bowl of vinegar on the counter.

Believe it or not, vinegar absorbs odors. Whether you’ve recently cooked fish or you're dealing with an overheating appliance, putting a bowl of white vinegar in the smelly space can do wonders. Simply fill a bowl or open container with 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) of white vinegar and leave it on a counter or table.^{[1]
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- If you’re preparing to cook fish, try placing a couple drops of vinegar on the raw fish to help eliminate odors.
- If a fishy odor is in your home and you haven’t recently prepared fish, it’s most likely because a wire, circuit breaker, or outlet is overheating. This is extremely dangerous, so contact an electrician right away.

2

Leave out a cup of coffee grounds.

Coffee isn’t just for waking you up—it also eliminates odor. If that fishy smell won’t go away, pour a handful of coffee grounds into a cup and leave it in the smelliest room. The coffee grounds will suck the fishy smell from the air and mask it with a bold scent.^{[2]
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- This trick is also great for smelly refrigerators, so consider popping a cup of coffee grounds in the fridge if you have fish leftovers.^{[3]
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- Use this odor-eliminating after you’ve burnt toast to get rid of the smoky smell.

3

Simmer vinegar and lemon peels on the stove.

Vinegar and lemon naturally neutralize and freshen the air. This DIY air freshener is perfect if your kitchen smells of fish (or you live in a smaller space). Simply put a pot with 1 cup (8.0 fl oz) of water, 3 tablespoons (0.19 c) of white vinegar, and a handful of lemon peels on the stove.^{[4]
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Research source} Bring the water to a boil and then let it simmer for 20 or so minutes.
- If the scent of lemon isn’t your thing, no problem! Rosemary, vanilla, orange peels, and bay leaves are great alternatives.
- You can also try this trick after chopping or cooking garlic, peppers, and onions to neutralize their pungent smells.

4

Diffuse a deodorizing essential oil blend.

The right essential oils can smell nice and neutralize odors. Have a diffuser and a handful of essential oils laying around? Well, now’s the perfect time to use them! Many essential oils have antibacterial and deodorizing benefits (not to mention they smell lovely).^{[5]
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PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source} Here are some oils you can try to get rid of that fish odor:^{[6]
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- Grapefruit, lemon, and orange
- Tea tree or melaleuca
- Clove and lavender
- Peppermint and eucalyptus
- Try blending one or more of these essential oils together to create an odor-reducing power blend.
- This trick also works wonders on other kitchen-related odors, like bacon grease.

5

Use a store-bought deodorizing spray.

Sprayable air fresheners can mask odors in a pinch. Nowadays, there are hundreds of deodorizing sprays on the market, so you can find one that fits your needs (and taste). Simply give your house a good spritz for quick relief.
- Look for air fresheners that “eliminate” or “deodorize” odors for the best results.
- Most air fresheners won’t get rid of a fishy odor on their own, so use this method in tandem with other odor-eliminating tricks.

6

Light a candle.

When all else fails, turn to your favorite candle. Masking fishy odors can be as easy as lighting a few candles around the house. Now, candles don’t eliminate odors, but they can help disguise the smell for a short period of time.^{[7]
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- Use this method with another method that eliminates odors for the best results.

7

Wash all surfaces and kitchenware the fish touched.

Immediately wipe down everything after you’ve cooked fish. If you’ve cooked fish recently, more likely than not, the smell is coming from food residue. Clean the counters, backsplash, tabletops, sink, and any dishes the fish touched right away.^{[8]
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FoodSafety.gov
Online portal combining food safety information from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Food Safety and Inspection Service, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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- Don’t forget to clean the cutting board and pans! Leaving dishes in the sink after preparing a meal can be easy, but that can lead to food-borne bacteria and foul smells.^{[9]
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- If the smell still lingers after you’ve cooked fish, consider deep cleaning the kitchen.

8

Air out the room.

Open windows and doors to let in the fresh air. One of the best things you can do to get rid of odors is to let the smell out. If it’s a nice day, prop open doors and windows and position fans out of the smelly rooms to help pull the fishy smell out of your house.^{[10]
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- Now, this method won’t eliminate a fishy smell caused by an overheating electrical unit. Use fresh air to minimize smells while waiting for an electrician, not as a permanent solution.

9

Take out the trash.

Prevent foul kitchen odors by staying on top of the trash. We get it—taking out the trash is no fun. But it can help your home stay tidy, clean, and odor-free. Always take your trash out when it starts to stink or nothing else can fit in it.^{[11]
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- Plan on cleaning the garbage can itself at least once a month, as this can help keep lingering food and trash residue from smelling.

10

Wash your dish towels.

Fabrics can hold odors longer than other surfaces. If you’ve cleaned your kitchen from head to toe, taken out the trash, used a deodorizer and still smell fish, it could be because it’s on your kitchen towels. Swap out and wash your dish towels and rags regularly to prevent lingering odors in your kitchen.
- Toss the lightly used towels in with your weekly laundry load.
- Wash heavily-soiled towels in their own load to avoid spreading bacteria.^{[12]
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- Have multiple towels ready to go, so you can swap them out the minute one gets dirty.

11

Invest in an air purifier.

Air purifiers can come in handy if fish is a food staple in your house. These devices clean the air and trap airborne particles that cause odors. Think of them as giant filters for your home. If you cook fish regularly, set up an air purifier in your kitchen to prevent the house from getting stinky.^{[13]
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- If a nice-smelling home doesn’t get you on board to buy an air purifier, know that filtering your air can help improve your lung and heart health.^{[14]
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  Cleveland Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
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Warnings

Fishy smells can occur after you’ve cooked a delicious meal or when an electrical appliance is overheating. If you haven’t prepared fish, err on the side of caution and call an electrician if you smell fish.

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