How To Clean and Deodorize Your Garbage Cans With Vinegar

Cleaning a garbage bin may be a simple task, but when you deal with strong odors, soap, and water won’t fix your stinky trash cans. If you want an environment-friendly chemical-free solution, vinegar is what you need. Whether you want to remove coffee spills from your trash container or get rid of that horrible rotten meat smell no one wants to spread in the house, in this article I will explain how to clean a garbage can with vinegar using simple equipment and a quick procedure so your bins will be spotless and fresh smelling in no time!

Benefits of Cleaning with Vinegar

Vinegar is an excellent all-purpose cleaner that can be used all over the house thanks to its many benefits. This natural disinfectant is safe even around kids and pets too.

Neutralizes trash can odors

Indoor trash containers often produce unpleasant smells, but vinegar helps to get rid of garbage smell in your kitchen naturally. Thanks to its odor-absorbing properties, it is especially effective against those foul smells that form when the waste starts to decompose in the garbage can.

Vinegar helps eliminate smells from stinky bins by neutralizing the acids that produce them. If you want to stop trash odors, deodorize your garbage cans with vinegar.

Leaves a fresh smell behind

Cleaning your garbage bins with vinegar -as explained below- is one of the best ways to make your kitchen hygienic and freshly smelling. The beauty of vinegar is that it doesn’t just mask the odors but really blocks them.

Vinegar doesn’t leave a chemical-smelling artificial fragrance behind just a fresh aroma. Those who don’t like the smell of vinegar should add a few drops of a favorite essential oil or a bit of lemon juice to their homemade cleaning solution.

Keeps bacteria at bay

Bacteria can easily build up in garbage cans. Vinegar is acetic acid that has antibacterial properties and can inhibit the growth of certain food-borne bacteria. It is essential to prevent bacteria from building up because it causes not only smells but exposes health risks too. Cleaning your trash cans with vinegar will keep them from smelling as well as disinfect them.

Helps to get rid of stains

Stubborn stains are widespread in garbage cans, but they can be easily removed with vinegar. A natural vinegar-based cleaning solution doesn’t contain harsh chemicals or produce strong odors but will as effectively loosen stubborn stains. If the stain is really difficult to remove, you can rub it with baking soda too!

Equipment and Supplies Required

To fix your stinky trash can in a chemical-free way, only need a few simple items from your cupboard and basic cleaning accessories:

• Vinegar
• Water
• A bucket or container
• Sponge or rag
• Scrub brush
• Baking soda
• Rubber gloves
• Safety goggles and glasses

What vinegar to use for cleaning?

It is a frequently asked question which vinegar is the best for cleaning? You can use your everyday white vinegar, but if you need to tackle dirty or grimy jobs in your home, get this super-concentrated cleaning vinegar that removes grease and dirt more effectively.

The difference is in the acidity level that makes cleaning vinegar a lot stronger than white vinegar.

How to Clean Garbage Can with Vinegar Step-by-Step

Follow this simple process to clean and deodorize your waste containers with vinegar to make them smell fresh and look new again in no time! Before starting, make sure to wear long, protective gloves since vinegar can irritate and dry out the skin on your hands. If you have, put on safety glasses too against accidental eye injuries!

Empty your trash containers and remove the lids

Make sure that your garbage can is empty and remove any items that may be blocking the can from opening. Then, take off the lid and set it aside for later use.

Pour water into your garbage can

Fill your garbage can halfway with lukewarm water so that you have enough space to add vinegar without spilling too much of either liquid inside your bin. When you add vinegar too as explained in the next step, proceed to fill the container the rest of the way with water.

Add vinegar to the bin

Pour a full cup or more vinegar into your trash can. Be sure to add enough depending on how powerful you want the solution. Vinegar is chemical-free so it is safe to use on most surfaces; you shouldn’t be worried about damaging your bins.

Let sit for 30 minutes

After adding vinegar to your garbage can let it sit for at least 30 minutes so that the solution has time to work. The more you wait the easier it gets to remove stubborn stains.

Scrub the bin inside and out

Now it’s time to start scrubbing! Use a sponge or rag to clean off any dirt, stains, or other marks that your garbage can has. You should also use a scrub brush for any tough spots if you feel it’s necessary. After cleaning the entire bin, let the solution sit in there for another 30 minutes to give it more time to work on stains and smells.

Author’s Tip: if you don’t have time for a full deep clean, mix equal parts water with white vinegar in a spray bottle and clean in and outside the can as part of your daily/weekly cleaning routine.

Wipe everything down

Once again, wipe down the entire garbage can with a sponge or rag to remove any excess vinegar and water. Make sure the inside and outside of your bin are completely clean before moving on to the next step.

Rinse and dry

Rinse your garbage can with clean water until all the dirt is gone. Once you’ve finished rinsing, dry it with a clean cloth or towel to get rid of any excess moisture.

Clean the lid and place it back

Finally, clean and disinfect the lid too and put everything back in its place. Failure to disinfect your garbage can lid could lead to the spread of germs, so make sure that it is also spotless before placing it back.

Sprinkle baking soda on the bottom of the container

So now that your garbage disposal smells fresh and is clean again, you want to keep it like that as long as possible. If you don’t use bin liners, sprinkle some baking soda onto the bottom of your trash; it will help absorb any remaining odors and prevent them from forming again.

Alternatively, you can use a few sheets of newspaper too for lining the bin or get odor-proof garbage bags that will prevent the can from becoming coated in waste material. Like this, you can keep it more hygienic and smell-free.

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