Your kitchen is supposed to be one of the most comforting places in your home. However, this changes when garbage leaves its awful smells permeating the room’s air, turning cooking and eating unpleasant.
Stop suffering from the trash can’s awful odors in your kitchen! Try these tips to keep the bad smells at bay.
Use these deodorizers in your trash can
Deodorizers are the quickest and most straightforward way to get rid of unwanted odors. All you need to do is place the deodorizer of your choice at the bottom of the trash can when replacing the bag. Easy, right?
If you don’t want to get a strong-smelling chemical-based deodorizer from the store, here are the best options for natural deodorizers:
Option 1. Baking soda
You probably have some baking soda in your pantry. This common household item is used for many purposes, one of them being as a natural deodorizer—baking soda neutralizes the more acidic things that smell bad in your trash.
Option 2. Charcoal
If you’re interested in beauty and wellness products, you’ve probably heard about the wonders of activated charcoal, but did you know that it can also be used as a deodorizer? Activated charcoal is very porous, which allows it to absorb moisture and bad smells.
Option 3. Essential Oils
Many essential oils have properties that kill tiny bacteria (which provoke those ill smells), and they come in various scents, so you can choose the one you prefer. Simply pour a couple of drops of your chosen oil into a cotton ball to make your deodorizer.
Option 4. Vanilla extract
Vanilla extract offers a softer and more natural smell than most essential oils. You only need to pour a few drops of it into a cotton ball and put that at the bottom of the trash can to deodorize it.
Option 5. Dryer sheets
Do you use dryer sheets for your laundry? These sheets have properties that neutralize odors and give off a fresh smell, so you can also use them to deodorize trash cans!
Option 6. Coffee grounds
If you like drinking coffee in the morning, you can reuse your old coffee grounds to deodorize your trash can. Coffee contains nitrogen, which will help capture the icky smells of garbage in the air.
Option 7. Citrus peels
Do you like to eat oranges and lemons? Don’t get rid of the peels once you’re done! Citrus peels absorb smells, so saving them for your trash can will be a great way to recycle them!
Option 8. Cat litter
Kitty litter works for more than covering your cat’s smells. This product is designed to absorb leaks and stop bad smells, which makes it perfect for deodorizing your trash.
A few tips to prevent odors
Besides using deodorizers, you can tackle foul smells even before they become a bigger problem. Here are three tips to prevent odors:
Tip #1: Separate your trash
Separating trash not only works for recycling but also diminishes the smells of your garbage—even when it lingers in your home!
If you separate perishables—like food and other organic waste—you can easily take them out right before or as soon as it starts to smell. Meanwhile, the rest of the trash can remain inside for a little longer without stinking up the kitchen.
Tip #2: Keep the trash can covered!
Sometimes, the solution might be as simple as covering up the trash can. Don’t forget to keep the garbage can lid on (or the bag with the trash closed). This way, you can spare yourself some of the foul odors that would escape an otherwise uncovered trash can.
Bonus tip: Don’t forget to take out the trash often
The best way to avoid smelly garbage in your kitchen is to take out the trash often, and Illinois Valley Clean Team can help! In our regular cleaning packages, we take out the trash for you on top of leaving your home spotless. Book now!