Cleaning a stinky garbage can isn’t as simple as hosing it off. If you’re like me, that’s probably where your process started and ended.
However, that will not get rid of strong smells and stains.
This article will cover some simple tips and tricks to clean and deodorize your garbage can.
How to Keep Your Garbage Can From Smelling
Properly cleaning a smelly garbage can is actually a three-step process of cleaning, deodorizing, and disinfecting.
Step 1: Cleaning Your Trash Can
The first step is always to empty your trash can.
Remove the garbage until you can see the bottom of the bin. Once you’ve removed everything, you can see where the foul smells are coming from.
One of the more common reasons for the smell is when liquids leak out of trash bags into the outdoor garbage cans. Even if you don’t throw open containers in the trash, juices can seep from food scraps, or fast food cups can spill.
It’s easy for the liquid to mix with your other trash and marinate into something that smells repulsive.
Even worse, it could attract flies or other insects, which can lead to maggots in your trash can.
Similarly, during warmer temperatures, the sun beating down on a black plastic garbage can starts to cook the trash inside. This can soften any leftover food or animal waste, causing it to stick to the inside of the trash can.
In either case, it’s critical to thoroughly clean the garbage can to remove any lingering odors.
We’ll need sufficient water pressure to remove scraps or caked-on garbage stuck on the surface. A pressure washer is ideal, but a garden hose will work if the nozzle has a ‘jet’ setting.
If your pressure washer has an attachment that mixes soap with the water, you’ll definitely want to use it. I recommend Simple Green dPRO 3 Plus, a combination cleaner and disinfectant for most homes.
If your trash has a lot of greasy food waste or automotive byproducts, Simple Green also makes a Heavy-Duty Cleaner & Degreaser that works well.
For tough-to-remove stains, fill part of the garbage can with lukewarm water and mix in your Simple Green. Then, scrub the garbage can inside and outside with a deck brush.
Once the stains are gone, rinse and continue to eliminate any residual odors.
Step 2: Eliminate odors
Usually, you’ll want to both deodorize and disinfect your garbage can. Occasionally, you’ll just want to quickly freshen it up. If you’re required by your HOA to store your garbage cans in your garage, like I am, you may want to do this every week.
Most off-the-shelf trash can deodorizers contain harsh chemicals, but some natural remedies can be just as effective. However, some commonly used substances in your household can also clean your can effectively.
If you prefer to use chemical-based store-bought solutions, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to eliminate odors.
Some of the more popular solutions, like vinegar and bleach, will disinfect and eliminate odors at the same time.
I’ll cover them in the next section.
Still, finding cleaning products that will clean, deodorize, and sanitize your trash cans has never been this easy.
Dryer Sheets
Dryer sheets are incredibly versatile and can be used in your laundry or polish bathroom appliances. They also have to ability to capture foul odors coming from your garbage.
All you need to do is add one or two sheets to the bottom of your kitchen garbage bag. I also like to add one to my outdoor garbage can whenever I add any food waste.
Dryer sheets are best used to maintain your trash can after thoroughly washing, deodorizing, and disinfecting.
Swap old sheets for new ones every time you empty the bin or replace the trash bag.
Cat Litter
Even if you don’t have a cat in your house, it’s worth keeping some cat litter around.
Not only is it great at absorbing oil and gasoline spills in your garage, but it also helps to deodorize the garbage smell, as well.
Adding a layer of cat litter to the bottom of the trash can (after cleaning it) will spilled liquids from your garbage. That helps trap foul smells and stop them from permanently staining your trash can.
Baking Soda
Every home should have baking soda on hand. Not only is baking soda a great way to extinguish small kitchen fires, but it’s an excellent odor absorber for trash cans.
You’ll usually find an open box of baking soda in your fridge, absorbing the smell of those week-old leftovers.
The same principle works in your trash bin, too.
During your initial washing and scrubbing phases, you can use a solution of baking soda and water. This creates a paste that not only eliminates stains but helps remove garbage odors.
If you prefer washing your garbage cans with commercial products, you can still use baking soda to help deodorize your trash can.
Once your garbage can is clean and dry, sprinkle baking soda on the bottom to help absorb odors until the next wash.
It also helps absorb any moisture and liquids that leak out of your garbage, preventing them from sticking to the surfaces of the bin.
Step 3: Disinfect
The final step in cleaning that smelly trash can is to disinfect. Here, we’ll focus on killing germs and bacteria that live on your trash can’s surfaces.
This isn’t always required, but it’s necessary if you keep your garbage can inside the house.
Bleach
Bleach is among the most potent disinfectants out there. As an added bonus, it’s very inexpensive and easy to find. In fact, there will probably be a bleach bottle somewhere in your house.
Unfortunately, bleach leaves a powerful smell of its own. However, bleach is your best bet if you’ve tried other methods to eliminate the odor in your garbage can without success.
It will kill the germs responsible for the odors spreading from your trash can.
Any time you use bleach, take some essential precautions, such as:
- Avoid leaving the bleach in the trash can for too long. This can cause permanent discoloration.
- Always use bleach outdoors or in a well-ventilated area to avoid inhaling excessive fumes.
- Always wear gloves throughout the cleaning process. My mum cleans with bleach so often that it’s actually melted off her fingerprints! (true story)
- Avoid touching your face and protect your eyes with goggles.
Vinegar
Alternatively, undiluted white vinegar or cleaning vinegar is an all-natural solution that is affordable, eco-friendly, and just as efficient as store-bought products.
You’ve probably used vinegar for cooking. However, vinegar is also great for cleaning concrete or removing rust from tools. It is also a great natural disinfectant and deodorizer.
Like baking soda, vinegar is helpful for cleaning your garbage cans from start to end.
Vinegar contains acetic acid, which is also found in most store-bought home cleaning products. You can choose white or apple cider vinegar if you have extra. However, cleaning vinegar should be available in your grocery store’s cleaning supplies aisle and may be less expensive.
Best of all, vinegar is potent enough to thoroughly disinfect your cans and kill any germs.
