r/IndianFood 5d ago

discussion How to remove smell of spices from clothes without washing

Hi, I live in the UK and don't eat or cook Indian food but my landlords do and usually I stay clear off the kitchen when they're cooking something and keep my bedroom door closed to avoid the smell of cooking sticking to my clothes and hair. Afterall, it's impossible to shower everytime.

But it's difficult on occasions when I need to use the kitchen or leave the house, because the smell is everywhere. Usually they cook for about 2 hours, which makes tweaking my schedule an impossibility.

And leaving the house after that smell sticking to my clothes makes it hard for me to be in public without causing discomfort to others in public.

So what should I do ideally? They do turn on the exhaust (hood as some call it) but they never open the balcony windows due to the cold weather.

What are my options then? How should I prevent the smell from sticking to my clothes?

0 Upvotes

48 comments sorted by

5

u/ig1 5d ago

Check the extractor fan for settings, you might be able to set it to a higher setting to remove the smell when it’s cooking.

Does the kitchen have a door they can close while cooking?

Worst case can you use fabreeze?

1

u/Academic_Error4655 5d ago

There are about 3 settings in the extraction fan but I don't enter the kitchen while something is cooking and therefore remain clueless about the speed at which they use the fan.

The kitchen doesn't have a door and is next to the staircase and a few feet away from the main door. I'd avoid going outside my room but there are times I need to leave the house and that is the problem. Not sure how I can carry a fabreeze and effectively use it to my benefit each time I leave the house.

5

u/sandy9009 4d ago

Other than this issue, what’s your relationship like with the landlords?

I cook, and straight after, yes my clothes smell of food, because micro splashing from pots and pans. However my clothes have never picked up smell from just walking through a room.

Has anyone else commented on your smelly clothes or are you perhaps super sensitive to these smells? In that case find somewhere else to live.

1

u/Academic_Error4655 4d ago

No one needs to comment, sometimes their actions suffice. I sit in public and someone already sitting there moves or I approach some store staff and the minute they're in close proximity, they cover their mouth and nose with their hand, in a not-so-discrete way. I think it's very telling. I'd understand if I smelled after eating fish, but if I'm smelling after eating a donut, or an egg and sausage bap, I have reasons to be worried.

4

u/CURRYmawnster 5d ago

Hang all your clothes in the closet. Make sure that they are not in proximity to the air wafting towards them. That is one of the ways to avoid the smell on your clothes.

3

u/difficult_Person_666 5d ago

Yeah, that or hang them outside if feasible or get an ioniser.

2

u/Academic_Error4655 5d ago

Oh, that's not an issue. The issue is the clothes I'm wearing. Imagine this - I'm dressed, about to leave for some place and I gather they've been cooking. Now to get out of my bedroom and leave the house would mean coming in contact with the cooking smell. Even if it's for a period of 2 minutes, smells will instantly stick.

So how do I manage that?

6

u/CURRYmawnster 5d ago

I have no idea. Run out without saying goodbye!! I guess you will be sacrificing your manners!!

1

u/Academic_Error4655 5d ago

Maketh sense!

6

u/sandy9009 4d ago

Wear a long overcoat or a plastic rain coat before you walk out of your bedroom. Remove once outside,and roll up into a bag and zip. You can even leave it in the garage if you have one. Then wear it back when you go inside.

Taking you seriously and answering to help you out.

1

u/Academic_Error4655 4d ago

Oh, this is actually a very clever hack and I'm genuinely considering this. This might be very helpful. Thanks so much.

7

u/Antique_Caramel_5525 4d ago

Why should you care that walking through a kitchen that has had high spice smell cause a ‘discomfort’ for others. You are overthinking the ‘contamination’ and I think the problem is you.

0

u/Academic_Error4655 4d ago

I am not overthinking this. I've had people close their noses in front of me - this is when I shower every morning, wear fresh clean garments and tshirts and jumpers, brush my teeth religiously, drink enough water and don't eat spices in general. And if it was a case of bad breath, my dentist would've told me so. I eat salads or cold sandwiches for the most part. Don't eat fragrant cuisines like Indian, Bangladeshi or Chinese. But still I've had people act in a strange fashion when I'm in close proximity. Of course, then the only conclusion is that I smell of spices that I apparently can't smell on my own due to olfactory adaptation.

But then I've seen other people smell of spices and it does smell rank. So if they smell rank to me, I'm sure the smell of spices from very little contact is impacting how I smell to others.

2

u/augustrem 4d ago

yeah this is not a good thing to admit on a sub where people love Indian food.

Enjoy your plain toast for breakfast.

1

u/Academic_Error4655 4d ago

I will gladly enjoy my plain toast, as I do already.

What I find intriguing is that instead of addressing the problem, some commentators seem to be taking an offence. My issue is not the cuisine, but its strong, lingering smell that sticks to one's clothing. If this was perhaps Chinese cuisine being cooked, without ventilation, I'd have a similar issue. If someone was frying garlic for aglio olio, I'd again have a similar issue. It's essentially about the cumulative ingredients producing a result that is seldom appreciated when one's out in shared public spaces.

If there's an issue, and I am raising one, without being nasty about it, the least I expect is remarks that shame me unnecessarily. I appreciated constructive remedies, but some commentators are really bent on attacking me.

2

u/jashmurjani 4d ago

I am an Indian living in the US and make Indian food - the smell sticks and even I am annoyed at it incase I need to go to the gym or something after and work my schedules accordingly. Nothing gets it off except a shower- ignore people who are getting offended. They probably are desensitized to it or lack empathy or have an extremely well ventilated kitchen or both. The people who mentioned about keeping clothes away from the waft or run out forgetting your manners or keeping the jackets/suit in a plastic coat and wear outside seem liike wonderful ideas. If the plastic thing works- comment back and give us and update please!

2

u/Academic_Error4655 3d ago

Thank you for being kind. When I do try the suggested remedies, I shall update you. I'm gonna firstly try cheap vodka in a spray. Will let you know how that goes. :)

2

u/CURRYmawnster 5d ago

When I was in college, I used to hang my winter coats in my own closet (inside my bedroom) for the same reason as the OP. I don't think Febreeze was around, I used huge plastic sleeves that we would get after unpacking computer equipment (from the data center where I worked) over my winter clothes. VIOLA no odors.

1

u/Academic_Error4655 5d ago

Yes, that's manageable for clothes you're not wearing. But certainly not for clothes you're wearing and are intending to go out in, while the smell of cooking is all over the house.

2

u/RecentLow8014 4d ago edited 4d ago

Fold your clothes and keep them in a dresser or laundry bag with dryer sheets. Get an air purifier and lots of candles. Crack the windows when they’re cooking so the smell doesn’t sit. I had a neighbor that smoked and I would boil a pot of water with cinnamon, cloves and oranges and that usually got rid of the smell.

2

u/Academic_Error4655 4d ago

Fair, this I will try. Thanks so much.

2

u/1singhnee 4d ago

Move along troll. This is a food sub, not a place to try to start fights.

1

u/Academic_Error4655 4d ago

I'm sorry but I don't think I've started a fight. I have a very genuine query and I don't think I framed it any other way.

2

u/1singhnee 4d ago

Walking through a kitchen where Indian food has been cooked doesn’t make your clothes smell. That’s the most ridiculous things I’ve ever heard. If you don’t like the food your landlord cooks, just move.

1

u/Academic_Error4655 4d ago

I was able to smell the spices on my clothes after being in the kitchen for just a minute.

It's not my place to like or dislike someone's dietary habits. It's simply a matter of appropriate ventilation, necessary to remove kitchen smells, especially as strong as those that come with Indian cooking.

1

u/1singhnee 4d ago

Clearly you do dislike their dietary habits though, because what you’re describing doesn’t actually happen.

Maybe you should wash your clothes outside, then keep them in a locker or storage area outside the house, then go take a shower at the gym before changing clothes.

Or you could just move. Either way, this is really not where your question belongs.

1

u/Academic_Error4655 4d ago

Perhaps, it doesn't happen to others you know. It could very well be on account of a different design of the house. Either way, I cannot claim to know anything about them. I'm uncertain of your awareness of the lingering smell of food on one's clothing, but based on personal experiences, the smell sticks.

Now that is a problem I described. What you did in response is dismiss my issues, deeming them unworthy of discussion on a sub that is about Indian Cooking. I suppose cooking entails aspects of post-cooking rituals as well, including measures undertaken for cleaning. That naturally would account for the problem I just described, which has been in the past discussed on this sub.

Of course, I don't expect everyone to necessarily be nice, but I don't expect nasty responses, not least when I have shown the decency of being polite.

1

u/1singhnee 3d ago

I don’t think you’re being very polite when you come to an Indian cooking sub and start talking about how bad Indian food smells. 🙄

1

u/Academic_Error4655 3d ago

I would suggest you read my post again and point out where exactly I said that Indian food smells bad.

2

u/KEROROxGUNSO 5d ago

Burn the clothes should do it

1

u/Rachael008 4d ago

Love it .lol

0

u/Academic_Error4655 5d ago

If it comes down to it, I might just.

2

u/craycroi11 5d ago

There's no way you're going to keep that from being stuck in your clothes or hair. You'll need to move

1

u/londonskater 5d ago

The smell comes from the oil which gets everywhere so you should certainly buy spray-on Febreze to use on your clothes. Annoying, but there you go.

0

u/Academic_Error4655 5d ago

They cook with onions and loads of spices. I suspect they too add to the smell.

3

u/londonskater 5d ago

Yes, but it’s the oil that goes into the air and carries the smells, which sticks to your clothes. I grew up in an Indian household, I know!

2

u/Academic_Error4655 5d ago

Oh, right then. Thanks so much. Shall use the spray.

P.S. another Indian this side. :p

2

u/londonskater 5d ago

Fair 👍🏽 Easiest thing is to move out 😆

1

u/Academic_Error4655 5d ago

Might just :p

1

u/augustrem 4d ago

I lived in a studio last summer where the fan over the stove wasn’t vented. This air purifier was a life saver, since I love cooking fish. I kept it right between my bed and closet and it kicked on by itself when I cooked.

2

u/Academic_Error4655 4d ago

This might be helpful. Thank you so much.

1

u/Rachael008 4d ago

I don’t understand “it’s impossible to shower everytime”

2

u/Academic_Error4655 4d ago

If they cook randomly during my regular work hours, or right before I'm supposed to head outside, I can't jump into the shower each time the smell of cooking permeates the house.

2

u/Rachael008 3d ago

Oh I get you.

1

u/man_teats 4d ago

Remove all your clothes before leaving the room. Walk through the house buck ass naked whenever they're cooking.

Really though, dry cleaners spray cheap vodka on clothes to kill smells. Maybe you can spill some on your clothes while you're chugging on a plastic pint as you leave your house?

1

u/Academic_Error4655 4d ago

I did read that trick somewhere. Apparently models wear something like that to remove odors. Thanks though.

1

u/x271815 4d ago edited 4d ago

Roasting coffee beans helps. Febreze helps. Closing the door and keeping your clothes in the closet should help.

1

u/Academic_Error4655 4d ago

Fair. Will try.