This One Thing May Be the Source of All Your Bad Kitchen Smells (Clean It Now!)
Apartment Therapy’s Spring Cleaning Cure is a free 10-day program that’ll help you achieve a tidier home. Get all assignments delivered to your inbox by signing up here and download our calendar page to follow along.
Even if you’ve cleaned a room of all visible dirt and grime, it can still smell (and feel) dirty if there’s a hidden odor lingering. That’s usually because the source of the problem hasn’t actually been addressed. That’s why, for the penultimate assignment of the Spring Cleaning Cure, we’re going to be tackling a chore that’s often put off due to its stinky situation.
Today we’re going to take care of a smelly trash can by giving it a deep cleaning.
Day 9: De-stink the trash can.
Whether you have a single garbage can in the kitchen or a couple of them to hold trash and recycling, you’ll want to dedicate this time to cleaning not just the bins, but also the space under and around them.
Follow these steps to get your trash can clean.
- Empty the bins. Before you can clean them, you’ll want to first remove any trash and recycling inside.
- Remove and clean the bins. If you have removable bins, pull them out and clean them with an all-purpose cleaner or soapy water. Use a scrubber to take off any caked-on grime. Leave them out to dry and air out, or use a towel to wipe them down.
- Clean inside the trash can. Before you put the bins back in, clean the inside of the trash can by wiping it down and removing any dust or dirt at the bottom.
- Move and clean under the trash can. Clean the area around and under your trash can before placing it back there.
- Clean the outside of the trash can. Finally, clean the exterior of your trash can.
- Bonus: Keep it germ- and odor-free. To keep your trash can from being a smelly and germy mess, consider disinfecting it regularly and lining the bottom with baking soda. Here are more tricks to get a nice-smelling garbage can.
Is your home smelling better than before? Share with us in the community forum any other tricks you use to make your home smell good.
More ways to participate in the Spring Cleaning Cure:
- Sign up for email updates.
- Visit the Spring Cleaning Cure page and catch up on assignments.
- Download the Spring Cleaning Cure calendar.
- Check off that you’ve completed this task and track your overall progress here.
- Join the conversation by checking out the Cure board in our community forum.
- Listen to our one-hour cleaning playlist on Spotify.
The Cure Program is a tradition here at Apartment Therapy — it happens every January, April, and September. Click here to learn more about the year-round program and when to sign up.