How to keep a trash can from smelling this summer – 5 simple ways to stop bad odors from taking over

Warm weather might mean sunnier days, but it also, unfortunately, means grappling with keeping trash cans from smelling all summer.

Luckily, it's relatively easy to take action to banish odors as soon as you can and prevent smells and pests from taking over.

Here, cleaning experts share their top cleaning tips and tricks.

How to a trash can from smelling

Banish bad kitchen smells with these simple steps for your kitchen trash can or others around your home.

1. Clean your bin regularly

As the experts at Method say, cleaning your trash can is ever more important throughout the sunnier seasons, particularly if you want to avoid simply masking trash can smells.

'Even with bin liners, spills and crumbs can build up over time, creating the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, which is the culprit behind those bad smells,' they explain.

Therefore, they recommend getting in the habit of giving your bin a good clean every couple of weeks.

To do so, Karina Toner, cleaning expert and operations manager at Spekless recommends cleaning with vinegar.

'A good rinse with dish soap, such as the Dawn Ultra Liquid Dish Soap available at Walmart, and disinfectant, or a 1:1 white vinegar and water mix, prevents bacteria, and keeps your bin from becoming a source of ongoing smell,' she explains.

Afterward, follow up with a spritz of your favorite anti-bacterial spray to eliminate any remaining odor-causing bacteria in the lid and trash can itself. We recommend the Method All-Purpose Cleaner available at Walmart for this.

Another method-certified tip? Make sure to leave the cleaner on the surface for a couple of minutes before wiping it away. This dwell time is vital for cleaning sprays to work how they're intended.

'Finally, let it air-dry completely before adding a fresh liner,' such as the number one top-rated Hefty Strong Extra Large Trash Bags, available at Amazon, add the experts. 'Your nose will thank you.'

2. Sprinkle in freshness

Cleaning with baking soda is one of the best ways to neutralize kitchen odors, and a simple sprinkle of this pantry essential can work wonders for your bin, too, say the experts at Method.

'This natural odor-absorber helps neutralize nasty smells before they have a chance to escape,' they explain. 'Just add a light dusting to the bottom of your bin before placing in a new liner.'

Karina agrees, adding, 'Baking soda neutralizes odors rather than making them, making it a natural and non-toxic deodorizer.

'A light sprinkle at the bottom of your bin absorbs both moisture and acidic smells from food waste.'

For an extra boost of freshness, you can try the trash can smell paper towel hack, by adding a few drops of essential oils in your preferred scent, chosen from the Essential Oils Set available at Amazon, onto a paper towel.

This will also help to soak up any smelly leaks.

3. Keep the lid closed

Another good way to keep your bin smelling fresh this summer is by keeping the lid closed as much as possible.

Graham Matthews, waste management expert at BusinessWaste, advises, 'Always keep the lid closed. If your bin lid remains open for long periods of time, it can contribute to bad smells.

'Keeping the lid closed reduces the amount of oxygen reaching your waste, which will slow down the aerobic bacteria responsible for breaking down waste and producing strong smells.

'Alongside this, keeping the lid closed prevents pests like insects and rats from getting inside. These can contribute to bad smells by laying eggs and disturbing your waste,' leading you to spot signs it's time to call pest control.

Keep this is mind when planning to hide a trash can in a kitchen, too, as you'll need to select a design with a lid. We recommend the narrow Glad Slim Trash Can available at Amazon, which also features Clorox odor protection.

4. Take the trash out more frequently

It might sound obvious, but one of the easiest ways to prevent bin odors is to take the rubbish out regularly. If applicable, this is also one of our top tips to keep flies out of a garage, too.

As Karina says, 'In warmer months, bacteria and mold develop faster. Removing the trash more often minimizes the time waste has to break down and create foul odors.'

Ideally, say the experts at Method, you should be emptying your bin every couple of days, especially if you've just thrown away anything particularly pungent, like fish bones and onion peels.

And, if you're dealing with food waste, it's a good idea to get a compost bin, such as the EPICA Countertop Compost Bin available at Amazon, to separate out organic scraps and reduce bin stink.

'If you’re unlucky enough to have to deal with the dreaded, foul-smelling bin juice that seems to appear out of nowhere whilst taking out the bins, the best way to tackle it is to absorb and neutralise fast,' say the experts at Method.

'To prevent bin juice disasters in the future, double-bag any particularly wet waste and drain off excess liquids before tossing anything into the bin.'

5. Keep your trash can dry

Finally, keep your bin dry as 'moisture is a breeding ground for bacteria and odors,' explains Karina. 'Letting the bin dry fully after washing, and lining the bottom with paper towels or newspaper, can help absorb small spills and prevent bad smells from lingering.'

That's why doing so is one of the things people with nice-smelling kitchens always do.

What to shop

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Meet our expert

Karina Toner

With numerous contributions in Homes & Gardens, Real Homes, The Spruce, and many more, Karina has extensive knowledge of both commercial and residential cleaning, including how to clean trash cans to eliminate odors and keep your kitchen space smelling fresh.

While cleaning trash cans is an essential step for a fresh smelling kitchen, there are also a number of things people with nice-smelling kitchens never do, including neglecting the sink and cooking without proper ventilation.