To clean a smelly trash can, empty it, wash away residue with soap or dish liquid and water, scrub stuck-on grime, and let the can dry completely before replacing the liner. For outdoor carts, clean them while empty after collection and leave the lid open until the interior is dry. Odor usually returns when food or liquid leaks collect in a damp bin, so prevention matters as much as washing.
How to clean a smelly indoor trash can
- Empty the can. Remove the bag and any loose debris. Check the bottom, rim, lid, and places where the liner or foot pedal contacts the can for spills or leaks.
- Wash the residue away. Use soap or dish detergent and water, scrubbing any dried or sticky material. CDC explains that cleaning removes dirt and many germs; routine disinfection is generally unnecessary at home unless someone is sick or at higher risk. See CDC guidance on cleaning and disinfecting at home.
- Rinse if needed, then dry. Follow the cleaner’s directions about rinsing. Dry the can and lid fully before fitting a fresh liner; trapped moisture can contribute to returning odors.
How to clean an outdoor garbage can or curbside cart
Clean the cart after collection, when it is empty. York County, Virginia, recommends gathering dish liquid, white vinegar, water, a bucket, rubber gloves, and a long or extendable scrubber. Its method is local guidance, not a universal rule for every cart material.
- Rinse the inside of the empty cart.
- Scrub the interior with a mixture of vinegar, dish liquid, and water.
- Drain the cart on its side and rinse the interior.
- Clean and rinse the outside.
- Leave the lid open overnight so the cart can dry completely before it is used again.
York County advises against using bleach in its containers and uses vinegar as a deodorizer. Check your local cart instructions and the cleaning product label before using a product on your own bin. A long-handled extendable brush can make it easier to reach the bottom of a deep cart; York County includes one in its instructions. Its outdoor container maintenance guidance does not establish a general rule for disposing of wash water. Check local requirements rather than assuming it can go into a storm drain, street, or lawn.
Should you disinfect a trash can?
Odor by itself is not a reason to disinfect. Cleaning with detergent, water, and scrubbing addresses residue and many germs; CDC says cleaning alone is sufficient for most homes. Disinfection is an additional chemical step that may be appropriate when someone in the household is sick or at higher risk. The CDC describes the distinction in its home cleaning guidance and its overview of cleaning and disinfecting.
#1 Best Overall
- Reduces up to 99% of common trash odors to keep your kitchen smelling fresh and clean while delivering a continuous fresh scent for 45 days
- Works on all types of trash cans including plastic and stainless steel with a versatile design that requires no outlets or batteries
- Febreze Trash can be used with scented trash bags and other garbage bags – ideal for kitchen trash cans, bathroom waste bins and diaper pails
- Just insert, peel, and stick the adhesive holder to your trash can to start fighting odors immediately. The secure, adhesive holder is easily refillable.
- Comes in two available scents: Fresh Lemon and Linen & Sky
If disinfection is warranted, clean the can first. Then use a disinfectant whose label allows the surface and intended use, and follow that product’s dilution and contact-time directions. Keep the surface visibly wet for the label’s stated time, ventilate the area, and use any protective equipment the label requires. An EPA-hosted label dated January 6, 2017 gives directions for one particular product, including trash-can uses; its directions should not be applied to other products.
Can you use bleach or vinegar in a trash can?
Vinegar is part of York County’s outdoor-cart cleaning method, while the county also advises avoiding bleach in its containers. That is county-specific practical advice, not proof that one method suits every bin material. Conversely, the EPA-hosted label above lists trash-can use for one specific disinfectant; that does not make its directions universal or mean a smelly bin needs disinfection.
Rank #2
- POWERFUL ODOR ELIMINATOR FIGHTS SMELLS AT THE SOURCE: BEEST’s outdoor trash can deodorizer odor eliminator uses biodegradable cellulose granules to neutralize foul smells and soak up leaks, spills, and waste at the bottom of bins and dumpsters.
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- GARBAGE CAN DEODORIZER FOR ALL OUTDOOR RECEPTACLES, SIZES, & SPACES: Ideal for residential bins, restaurant dumpsters, and public facilities. Usage varies by waste type and cleaning frequency—food waste and uncleaned bins may require a heavier application than dry debris.
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Never mix bleach with vinegar, ammonia, or another cleaner or disinfectant. Mixing products can release dangerous vapors. Follow CDC precautions: read the complete label, confirm the product is allowed on the surface, observe its directions, and provide ventilation. See CDC’s bleach safety guidance and its home cleaning and disinfecting guidance.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Reduces up to 99% of common trash odors to keep your kitchen smelling fresh and clean while delivering a continuous fresh scent for 45 days
- Works on all types of trash cans including plastic and stainless steel with a versatile design that requires no outlets or batteries - HOLDER SOLD SEPARATELY
- Febreze Trash can be used with scented trash bags and other garbage bags – ideal for kitchen trash cans, bathroom waste bins and diaper pails
- Just insert, peel, and stick the adhesive holder to your trash can to start fighting odors immediately. The secure, adhesive holder is easily refillable
- Comes in four available scents including Fresh Lemon, Linen & Sky, Twilight Lavender, and Gain Original
Rank #4
- Reduces up to 99% of common trash odors to keep your kitchen smelling fresh and clean while delivering a continuous fresh scent for 45 days
- Works on all types of trash cans including plastic and stainless steel with a versatile design that requires no outlets or batteries
- Febreze Trash can be used with scented trash bags and other garbage bags – ideal for kitchen trash cans, bathroom waste bins and diaper pails
- Just insert, peel, and stick the adhesive holder to your trash can to start fighting odors immediately. The secure, adhesive holder is easily refillable.
- Comes in four available scents including Fresh Lemon, Linen & Sky, Twilight Lavender, and Gain Original
Rank #3
- ON-THE-GO ODOR CONTROL: ARM & HAMMER Fresh Effects Odor Neutralizing Pouches instantly absorb and eliminate big odors while you're on the move
- CONVENIENT POUCHES: Individually packaged so you can easily toss into your shoes, gym bag, car, suitcase, and more to deodorize without the mess of spray or gel
- SMALL SPACE SUPERSTAR: Works to neutralize odors, not just mask them, in trash cans, laundry hampers, kitchen cabinets, drawers, closets, lockers, pet areas, and beyond
- LONG-LASTING UP TO 30-DAYS: Add one pouch to a small, enclosed area to absorb smelly, musty odors for up to a month; use more pouches for stronger odors, dispose of after using
- UNSCENTED ODOR ABSORBER: No added fragrance or essential oils; made with 100% Pure ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda, America’s most trusted baking soda brand, sustainably made in Green River, Wyoming
How to keep trash-can odors from returning
- Tie bags securely to reduce food and liquid leaks into the can.
- Rinse food containers before putting them in the trash.
- Rinse an outdoor cart periodically after collection, and avoid putting waste into a wet cart.
- Use recycling where appropriate to help keep the trash bin from overflowing.
- For odor control, Oregon Metro suggests using a baking-soda paste for onion or garlic odors and periodically rinsing a garbage bin with vinegar, then drying it in the sun. These are deodorizing suggestions, not validated disinfection methods. See Oregon Metro’s safe cleaning recipes.
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