Home › Home & Kitchen › Kitchen & Dining › Storage & Organization › Kitchen Trash Cans How to Clean a Trash Can Published: July 9, 2026 · Updated: July 9, 2026
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Empty it, rinse or hose out loose gunk, then scrub inside and out with hot water and dish soap or a vinegar solution, paying attention to the bottom and lid where residue collects. Dry it fully in the sun or air, and drop in a little baking soda before the next bag to keep odors down.
Recommended Empty, scrub with hot soapy water or vinegar, dry completely, then baking soda to keep it fresh — A bin smells because liquid and food residue leak past the bag and grow bacteria in the bottom and around the lid, so cleaning means scrubbing those surfaces and then keeping them dry. Empty the can and shake out loose debris, then rinse it — outdoors with a hose, or in a tub or shower if you have no outside tap. Fill or spray with hot water and dish soap, or a half-water half-white-vinegar mix, and scrub every inside surface, the rim, and the lid with a long brush, since the lid and base hold the worst film; a disinfectant cleaner is worth it if it's truly grimy. For maggots, pour in boiling water or a strong bleach solution to kill them, then wash as above. Rinse and, most importantly, dry it completely — leave it upside down in the sun or open to the air, because a damp bin just starts smelling again. To stay fresh between cleans, sprinkle baking soda or set a deodorizer in the base, always use a liner, and don't let wet rubbish sit; a quick wipe of the lid weekly saves the big scrub.
