I’ve always been a summer girl at heart, but even I can admit there are certain drawbacks to all this hot weather. For one, I absolutely ABHOR taking the trash out to our big outdoor trash cans during the summertime.
Why? Well, when it’s nearly 100°F outside and our big black trash cans are full of garbage, it’s not uncommon to be able to smell all that garbage from several feet away. And the stench is about ten times worse once you open the lid—it’s enough to trigger anyone’s gag reflex!
But luckily for me (and for those of you who also struggle with this problem), there’s a fairly simple solution to the problem of stinky outdoor trash cans. In today’s blog post, I’ll be sharing a simple step-by-step process for how to deodorize your outdoor trash cans quickly and easily!
How To Deodorize A Stinky Outdoor Trash Can
You’ll need:
- Dish soap
- Garden hose with sprayer attachment
- White vinegar (optional)
- Broom, scrubber, or long-handled scrub brush (optional)
Directions:
Step 1 – Empty It
In order to properly clean your trash can, you’ll need to empty it out entirely. The best way to do this (if you can time it right) is to wait to clean your trash can until right after it’s been emptied out by the garbage truck.
(If you don’t want to wait, you can always just pull any trash out of the can and set it aside somewhere.)
Step 2 – Add Soap
Next, pull your trash can to an area you don’t mind getting wet and soapy, like a driveway, the gutter, or even your lawn. Once you’ve relocated your empty trash can, squirt a bit of dish soap into the bottom of the can.
(Don’t have a good spot outside to wash your trash can? Take it to a self-serve car wash and spray it down there!)
Step 3 – Wash It
Grab your garden hose and sprayer attachment, and turn it on to the most powerful sprayer setting. Spray the inside of the can thoroughly to “pressure wash” it, paying special attention to any visibly grimy spots.
Step 4 – Rinse It
Once you feel like your trash can has gotten a thorough washing, dump out the soapy water. Use the hose again to rinse any remaining suds or grime out of the can, allow it to drip-dry for a few minutes, then smell the trash can again.
If the stink is gone (or mostly gone—it’s a trash can, so it’s probably not going to smell great), you’re done! Let the trash can dry completely before replacing or adding trash to it.
If your trash can still smells, simply proceed to Step 5!
Step 5 – Use Vinegar (Optional)
If washing your trash can wasn’t enough to get rid of the stink, you can use white vinegar to help neutralize those stubborn odors. After rinsing all of the soapy water out of your trash can, pour around two cups of white vinegar into the bottom of the can.
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Use an old broom or scrubber to scrub the vinegar around the inside of the can. Allow the vinegar to sit in the bottom of the can for an hour or two, then rinse the can again with your hose.
At this point, the smell should be much less noticeable. Allow your trash can to dry completely before adding trash to it, and you’re done!
3 Bonus Tips For Stinky Trash Cans
- Don’t store your trash can inside your garage. Keeping your trash cans in an enclosed space will only concentrate the smelly aroma of the garbage inside the case!
- When choosing an outdoor location for your trash cans, look for a shady spot. Keeping them out of direct sunlight will help control odor levels.
- Don’t like seeing your trash cans outside? Use an outdoor screen like this one to shield the cans from view!
- You can use dishwasher tablets to clean your garbage cans: drop a tablet or two in an empty can, add hot water, and let it soak until the tablets have dissolved. Give it a scrub with your old broom, dump out the water, and you’re done!
Do you have any tips or tricks for smelly trash cans?
Hmmm, same photos as this post
http://www.idreamofclean.net/the-easiest-way-to-clean-out-a-large-outdoor-garbage-can/
Shouldnt there be a reference to it?
thanks
Please log in or create a free account to comment.It is in the picture. Stop pot stirring
Please log in or create a free account to comment.We live in a neighborhood where we have no grass, just patios and planting beds. So any type of cleaning that needs to be done outside, like our very stinky trash can, is nearly impossible. But I would have never thought to bring the trash can to carwash!! We have guest coming in town tomorrow and I am embarrassed of our trash can that’s parked very close to our front door. It’s going for a ride in my husbands truck tonight :-) Thank you for your post!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.We had the same problem and my wife solved it by getting these big garbage basg that fits the large trash cans. After using them all last summer and fall we have the proble solved with smelling trash can. Every time the garbage is removed so is the large plastic bag used as a liner for the trash can. It was not easy to find those large 100 gallon bags but they are available and you can see them here http://biggarbagebags.net
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hope you all get a non smelling garbage….
How about hauling the can to your curb, then using a garden sprayer shoot straight clorox all around the sides. Let sit 5 to 10 minutes. Scrub sides with a prickly broom, fill with water being sure to douse sides of can. Pour out, rinse again, scrub and repeat. Then let dry in sun. You can also buy 96 gallon trash bags which fit the standard residential wheeled cans. Google it. Although they are $1 apiece, 55 gallon drum liners can be hooked to one side of your bin with a clothespin. Every bag of kitchen trash goes in the liner giving you double protection and lengthening time between cleanings. Teach the kids how to do it and they will be more careful taking out the garbage-Another thing to consider is neighborhood covenants: some do not allow you to place your trashcan outside! Like mine, it must be kept in the garage. Jus’ sayin….
Please log in or create a free account to comment.We are leading manufactory who supply outdoor litter bins and advertising dustbin with good quality and competitive price, the litter bins are used at street, park, travel place, housing estate, etc, and the advertising dustbins are used for both propagating the advertisement and collecting the litters. I think they will be received by you, We hope to be a partner of your company.
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emai: athenaqin110@yahoo.cn
We are leading manufactory who supply outdoor litter bins and advertising dustbin with good quality and competitive price, the litter bins are used at street, park, travel place, housing estate, etc, and the advertising dustbins are used for both propagating the advertisement and collecting the litters. I think they will be received by you, We hope to be a partner of your company.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Email me if you are interested in us, and detailed we will discuss by email, thank you.
We have been in the trash can cleaning business in Orange County, California for over 5 years and started the business because of the enviromental impact of cleaning these cans. There is a misconception that because a product is “biodegradeable” or “environmentally friendly” it can be safely disposed of in our waterways. It takes soil to degrade these products; therefore, all cleaning products, including biodegradable products, should be disposed of at least 200 feet away from any water source, including our storm drains. More information can be found at http://occleanacan.com/biodegradable-does-not-mean-environmentally-friendly/ and http://occleanacan.com/trash-bins-impacting-our-environment/
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My husband has always strapped the can to the top of the car or van (we recently bought a truck YAY!) and drove it down to the car wash and uses the wand. He’s gone for 20 minutes, spends a couple bucks and comes back with a sweet smelling can. The force of the wand is strong no need to crawl in and scrub off any leftovers, damage the grass, or worse yet have to pick ickiness off the lawn.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use OdoBan on ours and it does a great job. I’m not about to freeze my cats droppings though.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use BOSO let waste bags to throw out the cat waste after cleaning their box, no smell escapes the bag! But then from Amazon.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I pour two scoops of kitty litter in my mine each week and it really does the trick! I suppose it’s also along the same lines of the baking soda and powdered carpet cleaner though. It absorbs the smells and gets emptied right along with the trash when they pick it up. It’s a win-win for me because I don’t know if I can bring myself to actually scrub my can. Yikes!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Did you really just suggest putting bleach in your yard? Even diluted bleach is not going to be good for your grass. (Straight bleach will kill grass on contact, you can watch it happen on a sunny day, takes minutes. If I’m not mistaken, you can see it in the picture you posted– most of your yard looks green, the grass in front of the trash can where the water poured out is already browning.) Not so hot for the environment either for it to go floating down the driveway and into a storm drain killing who knows how many organisms. This might get the smell out of your trash can, but the environmental impact is a bigger price than I’m willing to pay. And to think you posted this on Earth Day weekend…. smh Jillie, I’m usually a fan, but this one is off the mark.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I disagree with you. I have been to http://www.clorox.com and have read about their bleach. I use Clorox Bleach for a number of cleaning tasks. It says “Household bleach begins and ends as salt water in a fully sustainable cycle.” “Bleach degrades primarily into salt and water and the remaining 2 percent to 5 percent is effectively treated by municipal waste water treatment plants or septic systems. No bleach gets to the environment.” ” Once diluted, bleach breaks down quickly-mainly into salt and water.” “Bleach does not contaminate ground water because it does not survive sewage treatment – either in municipal sewage treatment plants or in septic systems. Thus, there are no harmful effects of bleach in the environment.” Her recipe dilutes the bleach, I don’t see how it harms anything.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.There are still animals and children to consider in neighboring areas – and there are safer alternatives readily available. Most people use way more than they need to be diluted properly. Common sense says, if you can’t ingest it, touch or smell it without it burning, than maybe it’s not safe to pour into the ground. Do you think Clorox might be biased on the topic? But you’re probably right, if it’s a product that makes life more convenient and easier than by all means just pour that baby right into the ground.
Tip: My husband did this to our garbage can (I think he is a genius). You won’t want to do this if you keep your garbage can in the garage though… Only if you keep it outside. He drilled holes in the bottom :) Now if something leakes it will fertilize the grass…haha! And when I give it a wash it will drain and dry out without me having to tip the big ‘ol thing!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Liked your FB page and would love to win any of your hard lotion bars, especially the Bug Block :)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Your blog is like a “to-do” list for me. Everytime you post a cleaning tip I go and do it and mark it off the list!!! My trash can is clean and the hubby can’t complain about diapers smelling it up any more!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.We really love your website.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Can we run ads on it?
If you are interested, please send an email to jonathon1981june@hotmail.com.
We will discuss the details then.
Please delete this message after you have read it.
Arm & Hammer Carpet Fresh handles this problem quite nicely. Whenever it starts to get stinky in there, I sprinkle in some of this Carpet Fresh and that’s it. Problem solved. I keep a box of this in my garage, so it is on hand when I need it. Plain baking soda may work as well, but this in nicely scented so I prefer to use it.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Is that a special pressure washer on the end of the hose? That would be great for washing down the house in spring. ! Ace? Home Depot?? I love this blog!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Mary
I just got one from Big Lots for $5.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.GREAT idea! I’m going to get one too so I can wash the house off.
I use the “Gilmour Nozzle Water Jet with Built-in Shut-Off
Item #: 204693 | Model #: 06MJGF”. This little nozzle is quite inpressive for its size and price! i use it it, along with a pump garden sprayer loaded with my *”miracle house cleaner” to clean the outside of my house and my *”miracle car wash” to clean my car. It can reach to the top eaves of my second story house. The only draw back to these is that they are so small and get lost in my garage and yard if I take it off of the hose. BUT @ -$2.00 at Lowes (I am sure Home Depot has an equivalent) I usually pick up several at a time. I have let neighbors borrow them only to have them give my nozzle and I a look of “what am I supposed to do with this puny looking thing” and then turn their nose up at it. But then once they use it and experience the awesomeness of it I never get it back!
*MIRACLE HOUSE WASH
A 1 gallon pump type sprayer
2-4 Cups of household Bleach (amount varies depending on how dirty an area I am cleaning)
1-2 Capfulls of liquid laundry detergent
12-14 cups of water
1. Measure bleach into sprayer bottle
2. Slowly add your water to the 1 gallon mark on your sprayer.
3. Pour in laundry detergent.
4. Cap the sprayer bottle tightly and shake well.
5. Pump up the sprayer and spray on the side of house, garage door, roof, windows etc…
6. Let sit for 5 mins and rinse off with hose that is equipped with the high pressure nozzle.
SAFETY INFO – IMPORTANT!!!!
– Remove pets and children from the vicinity.
– Spray down vegetation with copious amounts of water BEFORE AND AFTER cleaning.
– Wear protective clothing and eye protection (I usually wear white clothes, large sunglasses and a hat).
MIRACLE CAR WASH (TOUCH FREE!!!!!!)
This recipe is great because, unless you are washing a motor home or if your car is REALLY dirty, you won’t use the whole gallon. I keep this on hand at all times for quick washes!
INGREDIENTS
A 1 gallon pump type sprayer
1 Cups of household Bleach
2-4 Capfulls of liquid laundry detergent
OR your favorite car wash mixed according to the directions on the bottle (ALWAYS make sure that the car wash does not contain ammonia, if it does OMIT THE BLEACH)
12-14 cups of water
1. Measure bleach into sprayer bottle
2. Slowly add your water to the 1 gallon mark on your sprayer.
3. Pour in laundry detergent.
4. Cap the sprayer bottle tightly and shake well.
5. Hose down entire vehicle with hose equipped with high pressure nozzle to loosen any dirt, mud, pollen or bugs.
6. Spray down entire vehicle with “Miracle Car Wash” let sit for 5 mins (Do not let the solution dry on your vehicle).
7. Rinse thoroughly and repeat if necessary (I have never had to repeat).
8. (Optional) Dry entire vehicle with a soft cloth or chamoise and wax (I RARELY dry my car after I wash it and this method had left very little spots behind after it dries AND my car is BLACK)
NOTE: The laundry detergent may remove wax…. So use Car Was Soap if you are concerned with that possibility. Household pine cleaner (Pine Sol) and *Oil Soaps (Murphy’s Oil Soap) work very well withough removing the wax, but I always have laundry detergent on hand do that’s what I use most of the time.
I used cleaning the garbage can as an opportunity last week to purchase a new toilet bowl brush. I used the old one to scrub out the bottom of the garbage can.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.In my kitchen garbage can, I throw in a couple of fabric dryer sheets after I have cleaned it and before I put in a new bag. That might work for this too.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.You might try sprinking baking soda in the can before you put the new bag in too.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I do that and it helps.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks for sharing these cleaning tips. Will try either of these at home now.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My dad froze his kitchen garbage for years or at least what he didn’t compost, and, of course, his dutiful daughter does the same! Our town now does curbside recycling (YAY!) and the recycle bin gets stinky too, even though I clean out what I put in it. Thanks for this cleaning tip!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Sometimes I will use an old string mop to scrub the bottom and get that nasty, sticky, leaked out garbage mess removed.
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