Why did yelnats apartment smell of food odor and burning rubber?

Yelnats' apartment smelled of food odor and burning rubber because of the cooking mishaps in the kitchen, likely due to the family's struggles with poverty and their attempts to prepare meals with limited resources. The smell of burning rubber could be attributed to faulty appliances or Cooking Equipment that was overused and not properly maintained. These odors reflect the chaotic living conditions and the challenges the Yelnats family faces in their daily life.