How often do you clean your garbage can? Yearly? Monthly? Never? Garbage cans are yet another neglected household necessity that most of us forget about until they start to smell. But is there a point to cleaning something that has only one purpose: collecting the dirty junk you no longer want? Of course you should clean your garbage can! Do you want to collect bugs and rodents along with your trash?
But what's the best way to clean, disinfect and deodorize your garbage can? You could always burn it in a cleansing fire, but that seems a bit extreme and will require you to buy a new garbage can. Maybe put the matches down and pick up some of these safer cleaning products instead.
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1. Baking soda & tea tree oil
If you want to deodorize your garbage can as well as clean it, try this combination. Mix 1 cup baking soda with 1 teaspoon tea tree oil. Get rid of any lumps and then sprinkle it in the bottom of your can. The main downside to this is that the strong scent of tea tree oil can be overwhelming. If you're not a fan of the smell, you can add a few drops of your favorite essential oil.
If you want to deodorize your garbage can as well as clean it, try this combination. Mix 1 cup baking soda with 1 teaspoon tea tree oil. Get rid of any lumps and then sprinkle it in the bottom of your can. The main downside to this is that the strong scent of tea tree oil can be overwhelming. If you're not a fan of the smell, you can add a few drops of your favorite essential oil.
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2. Vodka
Hear me out on this one. Vodka works as a great disinfectant and can be combined with water to clean pretty much anything, including your garbage cans. Most people who clean with vodka recommend adding a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the mixture as well, just to give it a pleasant smell.
Hear me out on this one. Vodka works as a great disinfectant and can be combined with water to clean pretty much anything, including your garbage cans. Most people who clean with vodka recommend adding a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the mixture as well, just to give it a pleasant smell.
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3. Borax
If you have a smaller garbage can, you can fill it with Borax and water. Let this mixture soak for a while before rinsing it out. After the can is dry, sprinkle a thin layer of Borax in the bottom of the can to prevent new odors.
If you have a smaller garbage can, you can fill it with Borax and water. Let this mixture soak for a while before rinsing it out. After the can is dry, sprinkle a thin layer of Borax in the bottom of the can to prevent new odors.
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4. Fabuloso
If you don't want to make your own cleaner, pick up some Fabuloso from the store and pour it in your garbage can with hot water. Use a sponge or scrub brush to clean the sides and rim of the container and then rinse it out with clean water. This option might cost a little more than making your own mixture, but it's convenient if you're short on time.
If you don't want to make your own cleaner, pick up some Fabuloso from the store and pour it in your garbage can with hot water. Use a sponge or scrub brush to clean the sides and rim of the container and then rinse it out with clean water. This option might cost a little more than making your own mixture, but it's convenient if you're short on time.
5. Deodorizing disks
This tip is for those of you who have a lot of spare time and want the best-smelling garbage cans in the neighborhood. First, gather up 2 cups baking soda, 1/2 cup water, your favorite essential oils and a cupcake baking pan. Then, follow these nine steps. The whole process takes around an hour, but you'll end up with at least a dozen deodorizing disks and each one will keep your garbage cans smelling fresh for a couple weeks.
This tip is for those of you who have a lot of spare time and want the best-smelling garbage cans in the neighborhood. First, gather up 2 cups baking soda, 1/2 cup water, your favorite essential oils and a cupcake baking pan. Then, follow these nine steps. The whole process takes around an hour, but you'll end up with at least a dozen deodorizing disks and each one will keep your garbage cans smelling fresh for a couple weeks.
6. Toilet bowl cleaner
You've probably never thought about using toilet bowl cleaner on anything other than your toilet bowl, right? Well now you can use it in your dirty garbage cans. This particular liquid is designed to stick to surfaces, so it will cling to the inside of your garbage can, allowing you to get a better clean when you start to scrub it. When you're finished, rinse out the can and let it dry.
You've probably never thought about using toilet bowl cleaner on anything other than your toilet bowl, right? Well now you can use it in your dirty garbage cans. This particular liquid is designed to stick to surfaces, so it will cling to the inside of your garbage can, allowing you to get a better clean when you start to scrub it. When you're finished, rinse out the can and let it dry.
7. Bleach & laundry detergent
If your garbage can is frighteningly dirty, bleach is your best option. Mix 3/4 cup bleach and 1 tablespoon powdered laundry detergent into a gallon of warm water. Pour this combination into your garbage can and let it soak for about 15 minutes. Then scrub the inside with a long-handled scrub brush, hose out the can, dump out the water and let it dry in the sun.
If your garbage can is frighteningly dirty, bleach is your best option. Mix 3/4 cup bleach and 1 tablespoon powdered laundry detergent into a gallon of warm water. Pour this combination into your garbage can and let it soak for about 15 minutes. Then scrub the inside with a long-handled scrub brush, hose out the can, dump out the water and let it dry in the sun.
8. Vinegar & dish soap
You didn't think we'd get through a whole cleaning list without vinegar showing up, did you? Start by hosing down the inside of your garbage can. Next, combine 4 cups vinegar and 1/2 cup dish soap in a bucket, filling the rest with water. Dip your scrub brush into the mixture and then scrub the inside of the garbage can. To get a thorough clean, scrub the mixture in and then give it the hose again. When you're finished, dump out all of the water and leave the lid off to allow the inside to dry.
You didn't think we'd get through a whole cleaning list without vinegar showing up, did you? Start by hosing down the inside of your garbage can. Next, combine 4 cups vinegar and 1/2 cup dish soap in a bucket, filling the rest with water. Dip your scrub brush into the mixture and then scrub the inside of the garbage can. To get a thorough clean, scrub the mixture in and then give it the hose again. When you're finished, dump out all of the water and leave the lid off to allow the inside to dry.
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9. Disinfectant spray
The best way to prevent your garbage can from getting really dirty is to give it a quick clean every time you empty the trash. To do this, just rinse the inside with a hose, spray in a little disinfectant spray of your choice, give it a quick scrub and rinse it out again. While this seems inconvenient, it will save you from having to do frequent deep cleaning.
The best way to prevent your garbage can from getting really dirty is to give it a quick clean every time you empty the trash. To do this, just rinse the inside with a hose, spray in a little disinfectant spray of your choice, give it a quick scrub and rinse it out again. While this seems inconvenient, it will save you from having to do frequent deep cleaning.