Everybody knows that the trashcan is gross. Whether it is an outdoor can, or in your bathroom or kitchen, trash gets smelly quickly. Unfortunately, that smell sometimes lingers after the trash is gone. Even people who take their trash out twice a week sometimes develop trash can odor. This week, we are providing ideas to help you battle trash can odor. Read on to learn the most in-depth way to clean your can as well as tips on neutralizing trash can odor.

Cleaning The Trash Can

The most important step in battling trash can odor is making sure the can itself is clean. For some people, this step seems counterintuitive. However, when trash can odor becomes truly overwhelming, that is often thanks to the can itself. Before you begin cleaning, completely empty the can.

Start With Water

Spray down the inside of the trash can with water. The best option is to do this inside so nothing clinging to the inside of the can ends up in your house.

Bring In The Cleaning Power

While water might eliminate some of the problem, most bins need more power to eliminate the odor. Partially fill the in with water and choose your cleaning agent. The two top recommendations are dish soap and distilled white vinegar.

Deodorize

Deodorizing eliminates the last of the trash can odor and helps prevent the odor from redeveloping as quickly. Both dish soap and the vinegar have deodorizing properties. If you used either of those, a separate deodorizing step is not an absolute requirement. For extra cautious homeowners, there are commercial deodorizing products, such as Lysol.

Let Everything Dry

After all of those steps, leave the trash can outside to dry. If you put the can back into use immediately, the problem might start all over again. Not because you messed up any of the cleaning steps, but because of the increased chance of mold and/or mildew.

Tips For Eliminating The Odor Without A Deep Clean

  1. Baking Soda

Baking soda is great for a number of household odor eliminations. This stays true for trash can odor. there are two different ways to use baking soda against smelly trash. The first is sprinkling baking soda at the bottom of the can both outside and inside the liner. The second is adding some baking soda straight into the trash itself.

One of the reasons baking soda is so effective at eliminating odors is because it absorbs moisture. This prevents mold and mildew from developing. Additionally, anything that is leaking or creating juice in the trash gets mopped up immediately.

  1. Cat Litter

Homeowners can use cat litter in much the same way they use baking soda. Simply sprinkle some at the bottom of the can. Even the cheapest cat litter will work for this task. Just don’t forget to change the litter or it will start stinking too.

  1. Other Options

Many of the other options suggested for trash can odor act in much the same way.  The material absorbs any excess moisture while also providing a deodorizing service.

  • dryer sheets
  • newspaper
  • flower
  • small satchet full of herbs or any of the above