It’s surprising how often we forget about important cleaning tasks just because we don’t see them often. If you can’t see areas like inside your fridge drawers, your oven, or your pantry shelves, you’re likely to clean them less frequently. For instance, you should deep clean your trash can at least once a month, or more often if it starts to smell bad or leaks.
You might take out the trash often, but do you check inside the bin? When was the last time you cleaned or disinfected it? Remember, just because you can’t see or smell germs, doesn’t mean they aren’t there.
Luckily, cleaning and disinfecting your trash can doesn’t have to be a dreaded task. Just follow these expert tips, and you’ll easily have a clean, fresh-smelling bin.
Step-by-Step Guide to Cleaning and Disinfecting a Garbage Can
So, you’ve taken out the trash and now you’re left with a smelly bin. Don’t worry; deep cleaning it is easy and quick, using a few tools you likely already have. If possible, take your bin or its insert outside. A hose and letting it air-dry will make the job fast.
Mix your solution
First, make a cleaning solution to scrub the inside of the bin. You can mix 1 cup of water with 1 cup of a liquid cleaner concentrate. Alternatively, you can create your own solution using 4 cups of white vinegar, ½ cup of dish soap, and water.
Remove any trash particles
Before you start cleaning, remove any large pieces of food or debris you see at the bottom.
Apply cleaner to the trash can
Spray your cleaning solution inside and outside the trash can, and don’t forget to spray the lid if there is one.
Scrub
To remove stuck-on dirt, scrub with a clean toilet brush or any nylon brush. Add more cleaning solution or a few drops of dish soap for tough spots. For a deeper clean, make a paste with equal parts water and baking soda and use it to scrub.
Disinfect
This step is optional, but to make sure your trash can is germ-free, spray the inside and outside with a disinfectant cleaner like Lysol or Clorox. Let the disinfectant sit for 5 minutes to work effectively.
Rinse
Rinse your trash can until the water is clear, then leave it to dry in the sun.
How to Remove Bad Odors from a Garbage Can
If your clean trash can still smells bad, or if you want to freshen it up without a full deep clean, mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle and spray the inside of the bin. Let it sit for 5 minutes before rinsing.
Top Tips to Absorb and Prevent Bad Odors in Your Garbage Can
To prevent bad smells without the previous steps, use this simple, eco-friendly method. Sprinkle baking soda at the bottom of the trash can before adding a new bag. For a fresh scent, you can also add lemon peels.