I was tired of my trash can smelling – but this expert-approved paper towel and essential oil hack really works

As a self-confessed cleaning obsessive, I’m always looking for ways to make every inch of my home smell nothing short of amazing. Whether it’s filling every corner with candles, adding diffusers to spare shelves or trying out new cleaning hacks to stop lingering odors in their tracks.

So, when I scrolled across the simple, fuss-free and easy-to-do paper towel hack, which involves placing some essential oil onto a sheet and placing this in your trash can, I had to try it for myself.

Over the years I've learned how to mask trash can smells, as many tried-and-tested expert-approved tricks exist. But, after quizzing an expert on the paper towel hack and trying it out in my own home, it's now a key player in my cleaning arsenal for one simple reason: it really works!

How the paper towel hack can make your bin smell amazing

While I know how to clean a trash can, and do so periodically to stave off odors and bacteria, I’ve long been looking for cleaning tips that can help me keep my trash can smelling cleaner for longer.

But that’s where the paper towel hack rises to the occasion –and Forrest Webber, founder of Alabama-based Bear Brothers Cleaning agrees, giving this cleaning hack a glowing review.

'I’ve tried it out and it’s completely safe if you don't intend to burn your waste,' the expert tells us. 'It's an easy method to reduce the smell of your bin. Your trash will smell like it's gone to a day spa after a few drops of essential oil like lemon or lavender. It's inexpensive, simple, and prevents you from being afraid to open that lid. Win-win!'

What you'll need

• Essential oil: I used a Tisserand Aromatherapy Oil that I already had lying around at home, but this best-selling Majestic Pure Essential Aromatherapy Oil from Amazon, which has racked up an impressive 4.4/5 stars after receiving more than 120,000 reviews, should work just as well. The same goes for this Lavender and Bergamot Essential Oil Blend from Target, which is 100% natural.
• Paper towel: I used a sheet of paper towel, like this Great Value Everyday Strong Paper Towels from Walmart which you can pick up cheaply, but you could always use Organyc's 100% Organic Cotton Balls from Amazon. Using a carrier oil such as fractionated coconut oil from Amazon will help the essential oil potency last longer.

How to do the paper towel hack

Step 1: Grab some paper towel

First up, you'll need a sheet of paper towel. I doubled up my sheets and placed this on my worktop, before grabbing my essential oil.

Step 2: Put some essential oil on it

I chose an essential oil that had the pleasing scent of peppermint, lavender and lemon as I wanted something that wouldn't be too harsh in my kitchen.

How much essential oil you place on your sheet will all depend on the strength of your oil and how much you want to be able to smell your chosen scent.

I roughly used around 10-15 drops.

Step 3: Place it in your bin

You then place the infused paper into the bottom of the bin, before inserting a new trash bag.

My verdict

One thing people with nice-smelling kitchens always do is separate out their trash into types. And this is something I do. I’ve even turned to cleaning with vinegar to help remove odors (which also works). But the only thing is, I detest the smell of the cleaning hero.

In an ideal world, I’d love to hide a trash can in my kitchen – this would help to keep any potential pungent aromas at bay. But lack of space means this isn’t possible.

However, the paper towel hack offers me the next best thing. It helps me banish bad kitchen smells by enveloping my trash can with a pleasing, uplifting and natural smell of peppermint, lavender and lemon.

And this was a scent I could smell from metres away. After around four days, I noticed that this delicious aroma started to dissipate. But that was to be expected.

Either way, every time I clean my kitchen (I do a deep clean weekly without fail), I’ll be using this paper towel hack as it's the final piece of the puzzle when it comes to making my home smell nice.

FAQs

What can I put in my bin to make it smell nice?

Nowadays, there are many cult cleaning products and everyday kitchen goods you can use to help make your bin smell nice — from baking soda and vinegar and to air-purifying trash bags and deodorizing pods.

Cleaning expert Forest Webber, founder of Bear Brothers Cleaning says, 'When working with clients, I have a few trusty tricks up my sleeve to keep their bins smelling less like a garbage truck.'

This includes sprinkling baking soda on the bottom of your bin before placing a fresh trash bag in. 'It absorbs scents before they become an issue, much like deodorant for your garbage can,' Webber adds. You could also try mixing white vinegar and water equally, and giving your bin a good wipe-down, the expert notes, or trying deodorizing pods. 'I recommend Moso Natural Air Purifying Bags for clients who like a little extra flair,' Webber says. 'They're filled with activated charcoal, which just sucks up odors like a vacuum. Plus, they're reusable for up to two years—how's that for commitment?'

If you’re keen on finding more ways to make your kitchen smell amazing you might be interested in methods for neutralizing kitchen odors or trying out other kitchen cleaning hacks, such as using a vanilla vinegar cleaner to deodorize a fridge.

It also helps to read up on the things you should never throw in the trash to avoid nasty odors.