How to Keep Trash from Smelling in The Summer
When it comes to keeping your home smelling fresh and clean, there are few offenders worse than the kitchen garbage. From leftovers to dirty diapers to spoiled veggies, the kitchen garbage is teeming with offensive smells and odors.
But if you’re looking for some easy and practical steps to keep your trash from smelling, particularly during the hot and humid summer months, then look no further!
Below, we are going to review just how to keep the trash from smelling in the summer and ensure that those foul odors and smells are kept at bay.
Why Do Kitchen Trash Cans Smell So Bad?
As the communal trash and garbage can, the kitchen one can often teem with the worst offending smells and odors. Utilized by the majority of the household, the kitchen garbage tends to bear the brunt of the household and their waste and refuse.
In addition, many of us, often without knowing, will utilize the kitchen trash can for items which can be more effectively disposed of via the outdoor trashcan. From leftovers to dirty diapers to cat litter, the kitchen trashcan definitely bears the brunt of the household and its waste.
Steps to Take to Keep a Trash from Smelling Bad
Before you can reduce the odor emanating from a trashcan, you will need to first clean the trashcan and bring it back to new. To do this, simply follow the five steps outlined below. For these steps, you will need the following items:
- Rubber gloves
- A garden hose
- All-purpose cleaner
- Baking soda
- A sponge or microfiber towel
- Paper towels
- Face mask (optional)
Empty the Trash Can
Before you can effectively clean out your trash can, you will need to ensure it is completely empty. With your rubber gloves on, take your trash bag out of the trash can and make sure that any fallen food particles or debris have been removed from the inside of the can.
Rinse the Trash Can Out
Taking your trash can outside, thoroughly rinse both the inside and outside of the trash can with water. Be sure to get deep inside the trash can and that the entire can has been rinsed with water. If you don’t have an outdoor garden hose, you can fill a bucket with warm water and dump it into the trash can.
Spray the Trash Can with an All-Purpose Cleaner
Once you have rinsed the trash can with water, use an all-purpose cleaner and spray down both the inside and outside of the trash can. Be sure to spray all the crevices, nooks, and crannies of the trash can with your all-purpose cleaner of choice. If you want to go an extra step, sprinkle about half a cup of baking soda inside the trash can and let it sit for 10 minutes.
Scrub Down the Trash Can
Using a sponge or microfiber towel, scrub down the entirety of the trash can. Working from inside to out, you should be sure to scrub away all remaining dirt, debris, and nicks from the trash can.
Rinse Again and Dry
With your trash can fully scrubbed down, rinse both the inside and outside of your trash can once more. After a second rinse, dry both the inside and outside of the trash can with a paper towel and let sit until fully dry. Once fully dried, you can bring the trash can back into the house.
Keeping Your Trash Can from Smelling Bad
Once your trash can has been cleaned inside and out, you can start taking some relatively simple steps to ensuring it smells fresh and clean. This is particularly useful during the hot and humid summer months and can help to stave off any lingering smells and odors.
Separate the Worst Offending Foods and Items
Leftover foods, particularly fish and seafood, are some of the worst offending smells. In addition, dirty diapers, cat litter, and even fruits and vegetables can leave lingering odors in your trash can. That’s why you should bag those items in a separate bag and take them to the outside trash can as soon as possible.
Line the Bottom of the Trash Can with Newspaper
Before placing your bag inside the trash can, line the bottom of the trash can with several layers of newspapers. These papers will help to absorb smelly leaks and will help to prevent leaks from coalescing into the bottom of the trash can.
Add Baking Soda
Baking soda is one of the most versatile tools in a household. And to help remove stinky odors, sprinkle about half a cup of baking soda on top of the newspapers lined within the trash can. Baking soda does a great job of neutralizing and deodorizing so placing a half cup over the newspapers should help to remove and prevent any further odors.
Drop in a Dryer Sheet
While dryer sheets can do wonders for your clothes, they can also be used to help your trash can to smell fresh and clean. Simply drop a couple of dryer sheets over the baking soda in your trash can and soon your trash can will be smelling almost as good as your laundry does.