How to Clean the Trash Can and Remove Bad Odors?

Different parts of the house such as the tables, entryway, and bedroom, often come to mind when cleaning and decluttering the house. However, one essential cleaning tool that helps you get the cleaning job done within your house often gets neglected. The trash bin also needs to be cleaned and maintained from time to time, or else it will be part of the trash itself.

Leaving the trash can to accumulate dirt and grime can result in the spreading of germs and bacteria. Throwing out spoiled food in the trash can and leaving it out can spread foul odors within your home. Leaving out the trash from the outdoors can also result in rodents and other unwanted animals scavenging through the garbage.

In this guide we show you the ways how to clean and maintain the trash can, luckily the trash can is doable and relatively easy to clean and maintain.

Table of Contents

Steps in Cleaning Out The Trash Can

Step 1: Rinse It Out
Step 2: Spray and Soak
Step 3: Scrub It
Step 4: Rinse Again and Dry

Standard trash cans can range from—aluminum, stainless steel, and plastic and are pretty straightforward to clean and maintain. Before cleaning up the trash can, make sure to have it emptied. Remove all the contents and check the lid to see if there is anything that is stuck around it before proceeding with the next step.

Step 1: Rinse Using a Hose

Once you have emptied all the contents of the trash can, proceed in rinsing it out. It is best to go through this step on sunny days to help with the drying of the trash can later on. Use a hose to rinse through the contents of the trash can. Lay it down to go through each angle and have the water flow out of the trash can.

Step 2: Apply Disinfectant or All Purpose Cleaner

After rinsing through the trash can, soak the trash can with a cleaning solution.

Use a disinfectant or an all-purpose cleaner to remove all the smells and grimes that stick within the trash can. Soak and apply it all around the trash can, both inside and out.

If however the trash can still has a strong odor even after applying the cleaning solution, then apply baking soda all over the trash can and let it sit for ten minutes, as the baking soda is an excellent deodorizer to remove the strong odor of the trash can.

Step 3: Scrub both Inside and Outside

Once you have applied the cleaning solution to the trash can, roll up your sleeves and scrub every surface of the trash can. You can use either a sponge or a long-handled bristle brush. Scrub every surface of the interior of the trash can and make sure to remove every dirt and grime within the trash can.

Make good use of the cleaning solution that is soaked all around the trash can to scrub and remove all the dirt. When cleaning the exteriors of the trash can, use a microfiber cloth to clean the trash can to avoid scratching the surfaces of the trash can, especially when your trash can is made of stainless steel.

Step 4: Rinse Again and Air Dry

After applying the cleaning solution and scrubbing it throughout the trash can; proceed to rinse through the trash can to remove all the cleaning solutions in the trash can. Use the hose to rinse out the cleaning solution and baking soda residue from the trash can. Spray both the inside and out of the trash can—and turn it at an angle for the water to flow out from the trash can.

After rinsing out the trash can—allow it to air-dry for some time before using it. Make sure the trash can is dry before using it again so that no trash debris and moisture are trapped within it, as this can cause molds and mildew when neglected.

Frequency of Cleaning the Trash Can

The frequency of cleaning out the trash depends on whether it is outdoor trash or an indoor trash can. Outdoor trash cans that are left on the curb hold the most garbage and can just be cleaned seasonally, at least three to four times a year to avoid the accumulation of insects, bacteria, and foul smell.

As for indoor trash cans especially the ones in the kitchen has the most traffic out of all the trash cans indoors. Just like the outdoor trash cans—it is best to have a full clean-up of the trash can every season. Every time you empty the trash doesn’t forget to at least wipe out the lid for it to maintain the cleanliness or the appearance of the trash can.

The accumulation of trash can be overwhelming to some, especially when you have just decided to do a full cleanup and want all the trash removed from the house. One way to get through it is to ask for help from professionals to remove the trash. A junk removal company can make it easy for you—by calling them, they turn up on your preferred schedule and haul away all the trash. They can even provide post-removal clean-up for good measure

Getting Rid of Trash Can Odors

There can be instances where the odor of the trash can be unbearable, even before you have started to clean it. The best way to get through the odors of the trash can is to maintain the cleanliness of the trash can and not neglect its cleaning schedule.

Set a cleaning schedule for the trash and the trash can that can work for you. Incorporate it as a part of your cleaning routine to maintain its cleanliness. When available, just remember that baking soda is a natural deodorizer for the trash can. Sprinkle some baking soda in the bottom of the trash can to absorb the lingering odors within it and add a bit of dish soap and rinse for a quick cleanup of the trash.