Kitchen Smell: Kitchen dustbins can collect small pieces of food, liquids, and moisture every day. Therefore, they should be thoroughly cleaned regularly, rather than just wiped down when necessary.

How to remove the smell from the kitchen trash can?

Easy Ways to Deodorize Kitchen Dustbin: If a strange smell persists in the room even after emptying the kitchen dustbin, it's not always due to new garbage. Sometimes, stuck-on food, spills, moisture, and accumulated residue are the real culprits. On the surface, if the dustbin is lined, it may seem like the inside doesn't need to be cleaned. However, if the garbage bag leaks or a liquid spills, dirt can reach the inside of the dustbin. Over time, this dirt begins to cause a foul odor. Moisture and food residue can create breeding grounds for bacteria and sometimes even attract insects. Therefore, simply throwing out the trash isn't enough. Regular cleaning of the dustbin is just as important.

Deep clean at least once a month

Kitchen trash cans can collect small pieces of food, liquids, and moisture every day. Therefore, they should be thoroughly cleaned regularly, rather than just wiped down when necessary. According to cleaning expert Robin Murphy, indoor kitchen trash cans should be thoroughly cleaned at least once a month. If something spills into the trash, the bag leaks, or it starts to smell, there's no need to wait a month. It's better to clean it right away.

Empty the dustbin completely first.

Before you begin cleaning, empty the trash can and remove any loose debris from the bottom or sides. Sometimes, even after removing the bag, food crumbs or small pieces of waste remain at the bottom. It's important to remove these, as they can cause odors later.

Next, use lukewarm water and a little dish soap to clean the inside and outside of the dustbin. Especially the bottom, corners, edges, lid, handle, hinges, and other areas where dirt can accumulate. If reaching the bottom of the dustbin is difficult, a long-handled brush can be used. This will make it easier to scrub the inside thoroughly without bending too much.

Don't just clean the inside.

Often, people focus only on the inside of a dustbin when cleaning it. However, it's important to also clean areas like the lid, rim, handle, and pedal. These areas are frequently touched, yet they're easily overlooked during cleaning. After cleaning, rinse the dustbin thoroughly with lukewarm water to remove any soap residue. A disinfectant suitable for the material can then be used. Always consult the product label and leave it on the surface for the recommended time.

You can try baking soda to remove the odor.

If the trash can still emits a slight odor even after a thorough cleaning, a small amount of baking soda can be sprinkled under it before placing the liner. This can help reduce any remaining odor. However, it's not necessary to use strong-scented air fresheners or perfumes. The odor from the trash can and the strong odor can often combine to create a more unpleasant odor. Therefore, eliminating the cause is more important than simply covering up the odor.

The most important thing is to dry the trash can completely.

Don't make the mistake of immediately replacing the trash bag with a new one after washing it. If even a little moisture remains inside and you place a new liner on top, moisture can become trapped inside, increasing the likelihood of odors returning. Therefore, let the trash bag dry completely before replacing the liner. This practice can help keep the trash bag cleaner and less smelly for longer.