4 Tips to Keep Your Garbage Can from Smelling like Garbage

10/10/2017 (Permalink)

Although it might seem like a lost cause, it is possible to keep your garbage can from smelling like garbage. Of course, if your garbage can doesn't have an odor, then the spaces around it are less likely to smell. We doubt you want your home to smell like garbage, so SERVPRO would like to offer some suggestions to stay odor-free.

Bag it

The easiest way to keep a garbage can smelling fresh is to seal up the garbage and keep it well away from sensitive noses. Since most garbage doesn't smell bad until it starts to decompose, a kitchen garbage can with a lid is a great choice for kitchen waste. A foot-operated lid can provide an added measure of hygiene and safety. You can open the lid while cooking without dirtying your hands (or the lid). When the bag fills, you seal it up and place it in your outside garbage can. It's important to remember to seal the bag and place bags in the can.

Freshen it

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, garbage cans can start to smell. From sprinkle-in powders to adhesive deodorant stick-ons, many products are available to deodorize garbage cans. Some are as simple as fragrances to mask garbage smell with a variety of more pleasant smells. Some products offer more advanced composition and actively neutralize unpleasant odors rather than mask them. If budget is a concern, or you prefer to keep things simple, then it doesn't get much simpler than sprinkling some baking soda in your garbage can to absorb odors.

Keep it clean

When you do wind up with loose garbage in the can, smells can linger. After emptying your can, does it still smell? If it does, then cleaning it might not be a bad idea. Since much of the smell comes from decomposition and the bacteria involved, use a disinfectant or diluted bleach solution when cleaning your trashcan.

Seek professional help

When odor removal simply becomes too much of a task, don't hesitate to call the professionals at SERVPRO to discuss professional deodorization. If your garbage smell has spread to some other part of the kitchen or bathroom that you just can’t seem to be able to find and eliminate, help is available.