I love it when family and friends pop by over the holidays! But, nothing ruins a visit quicker than a smelly kitchen garbage can. Any solutions? You asked, and we answered!
How to Keep Kitchen Garbage Cans Clean
We clean the kitchen every day. We wipe the counters, clean the stovetop, scrub the sink, sweep and mop the floors, and when needed, take out the trash. It looks clean, so why does it still smell bad? Chances are it’s your garbage can. It’s an easy chore to overlook. If a foul odour lingers even after you’ve taken out the trash, it’s a clear sign your bin needs a good cleaning. Follow this five-step process to obliterate the funk:
What you’ll need to get the job done
- Dish soap
- Microfibre cloth
- Long-handled scrub brush
- Disinfectant bathroom spray or diluted bleach
Wash the trash can with hot soapy water
Squirt dish soap into the bathtub and fill the tub partway with hot water. Submerge the can and swish it around to get soap and water on every surface. Let the can soak for five minutes. If you have a plastic trash can that sits inside a stainless steel shell, don’t just wash the inner can – clean the exterior shell as well!
Rinse the can in the tub or outside with a garden hose
Drain the water. If possible, take the trash can to an outdoor area and hose it down. (Pat the outside of the can dry with paper towels or rags first so it doesn’t drip as you carry it outside.) If you don’t have a yard, or it’s too cold outside, you can finish cleaning the trash can in your bathtub.
Scrub the interior with a disinfectant spray or a diluted bleach solution
Either spray a product like 409 on the inside of the can or apply a solution of 1/8 cup bleach and one-quart hot water. Scrub the cleaner with a new toilet brush or other long-handled scrub brush. This helps you reach the bottom of the can without straining yourself. Let the disinfectant spray or bleach sit for five minutes after scrubbing.
Rinse with a hose
Remove all residual cleaner by hosing down the inside and outside of the can. The handheld sprayer in your bathtub can do the job as well.
Allow the can to dry
Pat the trash can down with paper towels or rags to remove most of the water. Let it finish drying, preferably outside, before you line it with a new trash bag.
Keep it fresh by sprinkling a little baking soda in the bottom of the bin. It will absorb any bad odors. Lemon peels are another way to mask bad smells. With baking soda or on its own, simply put them between the liner and your bin. Looking for something more fragrant, a cotton ball and your favourite essential oil should do the trick!
Now that you know how to remove trash can odours, you may realize there are other chores around the house that you’ve been neglecting. We can help! For a free house cleaning estimate, please give us a call at 855-223-5851 today.
