A stinky kitchen bin can permeate a whole house, particularly in warmer weather. But there are ways to avoid unpleasant smells and keep your home smelling fresh, which we’ll look at here.
Empty your bins every few days
The best way to prevent smells in the first place is to take the bins out more regularly. And if you’ve put anything in there that is particularly pungent, such as fish skin or eggs, take this out by the next day. When it comes to food waste, consider a separate compost bin if you don’t already have one.
Use baking soda
An old favourite for a reason, baking soda is great for neutralising nasty smells. You simply sprinkle some in the bottom of the bin before replacing the liner, or mix it with a bit of water when cleaning the bin out. It’s a good idea to clean your bin every week with a bit of detergent and warm water to remove any stains.
Keep away from heat
When temperatures rise, it’s important to keep your bin in the shade, otherwise the heat is absorbed and makes smells worse. If you have spare cupboard space, or you’re having a kitchen refurb, install a bin system that hides it away and keeps it away from direct sunlight. If you’re considering a kitchen refurb, make your garbage disposal a priority.
Avoid liquids
Any moisture in the bin creates a breeding ground for horrid bacteria that can lead to bad odours, so keep your bin dry and don’t pour any liquids into the bag. If there is any condensation inside it, wipe it immediately with a dry cloth or a piece of kitchen towel.
Use fragrance
To not only reduce smells but actually add a more pleasant scent, you could place a couple of drops of your favourite essential oil onto a piece of kitchen towel and put it at the bottom of your bin. There are also plenty of scented bin fresheners and liners available in supermarkets these days.
Liners, rinsing and regular washing
Much of the smell in a general waste bin comes from food left on packaging, which rots and mixes with everything else. If you do not have a separate food waste bin, rinse packaging before throwing it away and you remove most of the problem at the source.
A heavy-duty liner makes the bin easier to empty and stops old waste lingering at the bottom. For a food waste caddy, a lining of old newspaper makes cleaning simpler each time it is emptied.
Even with good habits, the bin itself needs washing. Aim to clean it every week, or more often if needed, using hot soapy water or a weak bleach solution, then finish with an antibacterial spray. Cat litter is another useful trick for a general waste bin, as it absorbs both odours and liquids, though it should not go in recycling or food waste bins. Warm weather also attracts flies and maggots, so a clean, well-sealed bin is the best defence.