Best Way to Clean and Disinfect Your Kitchen Trash Can
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The kitchen trash can is one of the dirtiest yet overlooked objects in the house. All the waste and food junk goes right into the bin and is later dumped, making the trash can filthy over time. You may regularly empty your kitchen bin, but cleaning itself is not a routine job for most of us.
Because of their frequent use, kitchen trash cans can get grossly dirty fast. Not just that, along with the unsightly and grimy output, it will eventually start to smell. Since there is more than one important reason to clean this thing, taking care of the trash bins should not be an overlooked job in the house.
In this article, we’re going to share easy guides on how to clean and disinfect your kitchen trash. Following a simple step-by-step process, you can easily get rid of the long-term junk in your bins.
How to Clean Kitchen Trash Can
Cleaning the kitchen trash can involves going through a couple of actions. You will need a few things to start.
- Disposable gloves
- A hose
- Dishwashing soap
- Hot water
Step 01: Before you begin, wear a pair of gloves since you’re about to deal with trash. If you use a waste bag in your trash can (which you should), get rid of that first. Then empty your bin by gentle shaking, holding it upside-down, and manually taking off large debris as much as you can.
Step 02: Fill the trash can with hot water and mix a fair amount of dishwashing soap. Give it a shake to mix them together. You should get the soapy water outside of the bin as well so that you don’t leave any surface of the bin unattended. Once you’ve applied the soap everywhere, leave it for five to ten minutes.
Step 03: After that, take the kitchen trash outdoor for complete cleaning. If you don’t have a suitable outdoor to attend to, use the bathroom or the bathtub instead.
Take your hose or a pressure washer and rinse the trash can thoroughly with water. Hold it firmly and let the power wash rinse through the bin and remove all kinds of particles. The soapy water should’ve loosened all of it by now and it should be easy to clean off.
Step 04: Afterwards, just wipe the bin with paper towels and let it air dry completely before using it.
How to Disinfect Kitchen Trash Can
Kitchen trash cans hold all kinds of food waste, leftovers, and dirt that sticks on the surface of the container. This is why it’s an ideal place for germs, bacteria, and mold growth. So cleaning your trash can is not enough, you should essentially disinfect the thing as well.
For this process, we’re going to use a DIY cleaning agent to disinfect the kitchen trash can. Gather the necessities first.
- White vinegar or diluted bleach
- Spray bottle
- Long-handle stiff brush
- Hot water
Step 01: Vinegar is a natural cleaning agent and an effective antibacterial at the same time. You can use bleach as well; it is a more powerful disinfectant but toxic in nature. If you want to go with vinegar, start by pouring undiluted vinegar directly into a spray bottle. For bleach, however, you have to dilute it by mixing 1-quart hot water with ⅛ cup of bleach. Pour the solution into a spray bottle for use.
Step 02: After you’re done cleaning the kitchen trash can, spray your cleaning solution inside for disinfecting it. Spray it liberally all over the bin inside, sides, outside, top, and bottom as well. Let it sit for a few minutes.
Step 03: Take a nylon bristle brush to scrub the garbage can afterward. Use a long handle stiff brush so that you can reach the bottom and sides effortlessly. Thoroughly scrub the interior, outer area, the bottom of the bin, and basically the whole thing to disinfect and clean.
Step 04: Once you’re done, rinse the trash can thoroughly with water. You can pressure wash the thing using a hose for a better outcome. Wash away the dirt and cleaner residue, then wipe the water with paper towels. Finally, let it dry before putting it in the kitchen again.
How to Deodorize Kitchen Trash Can
Cleaning and disinfecting the kitchen trash can may not always be enough to get rid of possible odors. If you are using vinegar to disinfect the bin, it should take care of the smell. Nevertheless, here’s a simple tip to take care of garbage can smell and de-stink your kitchen trash can.
Once you’re done cleaning, sprinkle a fair amount of baking soda inside the trash can before you replace the garbage bag. Baking soda is a natural deodorizer and it would work instantly to get rid of unwanted odors in the kitchen. No afterward cleaning is needed, just let the baking soda absorb the odor and relax.
It’s essential to replace the garbage bag regularly and keep a cleaning checklist for the kitchen to encounter fewer odor problems now and then.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What can I use to clean my trash can?
Use a mixture of hot water and dish soap. Scrub thoroughly with a stiff brush to clean a trash can.
How do you clean and deodorize a garbage can?
You can use vinegar to clean a garbage can and sprinkle some baking soda inside to deodorize it afterward.
How often should you clean your trash can?
You should clean your trash can in a minimum of two months, and replace your garbage bag daily or in two days max.
How do you clean a stainless steel trash can?
Use hot water and a mild detergent mixture to clean a stainless steel trash can. Do not use bleach or other corrosive products.
Will vinegar kill maggots?
Yes. Vinegar is a disinfectant and it will kill live maggots, germs, and bacteria.
Wrapping Up
It’s important to clean and disinfect your kitchen trash can regularly to avoid unhealthy indoor and unpleasant smells in the kitchen. Always use trash bags in the garbage can, replace them regularly, and keep your kitchen clean.
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