Arriving home after a long day to a bad smell wafting throughout the house is not what you want. A smelly kitchen bin can spread through the house, especially when your home is closed up all day. This can cause an unpleasant shock when you return, and not something you want to deal with when all you want to do is relax. So, here are some handy tips to keep your kitchen bin fresh.
Bin Liners
Using a bin liner is probably the first method for reducing bad smells. This can help to reduce any leaks that may soak into the bottom of the bin and create odours. You may also want to use a scented bin liner to mask bad smells.
Newspaper
Even when you regularly change you bin bag, sometimes the bottom of the bin can collect a strange layer of dirt that smells bad. By layering some newspaper at the bottom of your bin, it will soak up any liquids and reduce the smell. Also, by wrapping food scraps in newspaper before discarding them, you can prevent these from creating a bad smell in your bin.
Coffee
Most of us love our morning coffee. But you may not be aware that coffee grounds can eliminate some of the worst smells. Scientists have even studied this, finding that coffee grounds eliminated hydrogen sulphide gas, the chemical that creates that horrible sewage smell; sewer gas!
Coffee’s ability to eliminate odours is due to caffeine which contains nitrogen. Nitrogen increases carbon’s ability to clean sulfur from the air through absorption. Many people swear by using coffee grounds to eliminate smells.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is great for absorbing odours and moisture. Sprinkle some baking soda on the bottom of your bin before placing a new liner in. The baking soda helps to reduce odours by absorbing them. This is also a great budget friendly method.
Cat Litter
Just like baking soda, cat little is great for absorbing odours. You can try placing some cat litter on the base of your kitchen bin to absorb any moisture or odours. Cat litter is made to absorb, so bad smells can be eliminated.
Lemon
Lemon is great for making a natural antibacterial cleaner. Although lemon doesn’t absorb smells, it’s perfect for cleaning your bin and covering up bad odours. A few slices of lemon in the bottom of your bin can create a lovely citrus smell.
Vinegar
Vinegar is another natural remedy for eliminating odours. Vinegar is also a natural way to kill bacteria. Fill a spray bottle about half-way with vinegar and the other half with water, then use this a natural cleaner to clean your bin. You can also spray the vinegar and leave it for a while to kill germs and reduce smells. Vinegar also works well with baking soda.
Avoid Heat
Keeping your bin out of direct sunlight and away from sources of heat such as the oven can reduce odours from growing. Heat promotes the growth of bacteria and increases fermentation, as a result, increases bad smells. You can reduce this by keeping your kitchen bin in a dark and cool area.
Bins with Lids
Bins with lids are a good way to minimise smells and keeps pests away. For convenience and hygiene, use a bin that can be opened by foot. Swing-lid bins need to be touched each time you use them and can get messy and dirty quickly.
Daily Cleaning
A quick daily clean will reduce bacteria and odours collecting on your bin. Each day wipe down the lid and sides of your bin with a good cleaner. This should only take a few minutes, but by doing it every day, you can reduce bad smells collecting on your bin.
Weekly Clean
Once a week you should give your bin a thorough clean. The dirtiest and smelliest area will usually be at the bottom, so by giving your bin a good soak when it’s empty will help. Another alternative is to steam clean the entire bin. This will also kill bacteria, so it’s a great method to eliminate smells and sanitise your bin at the same time.
Essential Oils
A few drops of your favourite essential oil in the bottom of the bin may help to create a pleasant smell that will mask bad odours. This should be done after cleaning the bin. Simply place a few drops of your favourite scent on some cotton balls and place on the bottom of the bin before putting in the bin liner. The scent should last for a few days, depending on how many cotton balls you use. For extra protection, consider using essential oils that contain antibacterial properties such as tea tree oil, lemon and lemongrass.
Pull Out Bins
Finally, consider investing in pull out bins for your kitchen. These are the ultimate system for controlling odours. Pull out bins allow you to use separate compartments with individual lids for organic waste. You can separate rubbish into different areas and have one sealed area specifically for compost. This allows for a smaller size bin so that organic waste isn’t sitting for too long before it’s emptied.
Pull out bins have quite a few advantages beside odour control, in both style and function. No one likes the sight of a bin in the kitchen. Pull out bins give you the “out of sight, out of mind” benefits by tucking the bins away; however, still within easy and convenient access.
Pull out bins also offer a seamless integration. Essentially it is just a deep drawer that blends nicely into the existing cabinetry. Some of the main benefits of pull out bins include:
- Waste sorting
- Easy access
- Hides unsightly bins
- Odour control
- Clean look
There are a number of methods for reducing and eliminating bad odours from your bin. By keeping you bin clean and using a method to either absorb or mask odours, you can keep your kitchen smelling fresh. And when combining these methods with the convenience of a pull out bin, you will enjoy both style and function along with a fresh smelling kitchen bin.
