There’s something about summer that makes even the mildest smell more pungent. The heat has a natural habit of ramping up the stink stakes, and even the cleanest of homes can take on a distinct, unwanted aroma.
However, while some smells are bearable and can be alleviated by opening a window or using an extractor fan, others are more deeply rooted and require long-term solutions.
A smelly kitchen garbage can is among the worst household smells. A buildup of cooked and uncooked food, leftover kitchen scraps and even uneaten pet food contributes to a stink beyond all stinks.
And it’s all heightened in summer with the extra heat that ramps up bacterial growth and speeds up the decomposition of organic waste. What we’re left with is a bad smell emitting from our kitchen garbage.
However, I'm here to help save your senses, along with Nancy Emery, cleaning expert at Tap Warehouse.
Together we share 9 ways to keep your kitchen garbage clean and insect-free in the summer. Because once it starts to smell and overripe fruit and vegetable waste ripens, it’s also a breeding ground for pesky fruit flies.
1. Keep on top of the cleaning
There’s really nothing as valuable as staying on top of this gross household task to ensure it doesn’t get out of hand. Emery says, “Cleaning regularly is the best way to keep on top of your kitchen hygiene and limit the spread of bacteria and bad smells. Try to ensure that every spill or splatter is cleaned straight away and regularly clean the lid of your bins to ensure no unseen bacteria is left behind.”
I always use an antibacterial spray on my garbage can, such as Method’s Antibacterial All Purpose Cleaner Spray, $4 at Amazon, which has a refreshing Citron scent.
2. Don't use flimsy bags
Emery also recommends considering the bin bags you use. Yes, you heard it, don’t even attempt to fill your bin without one. “It may seem obvious, but strong bin bags are also essential. If you’re using flimsy bin bags that tear regularly, you’ll have to clean the bottom of your bin more often to keep on top of smells.”
I always use biodegradable recycling bags for my compost bin, such as these Airnex small compost bags designed for a countertop, currently $11 at Amazon. Superbio also sells a range of compostable trash bags, including these 4-gallon drawstring bags, for $21 at Amazon.
Other than using bin liners, you could place newspaper in the bottom of your bin to absorb spills.
3. Try white vinegar
With summer heat comes unwanted flies, who land on rotting rubbish and lay their eggs. And before you have time to swish them away, the eggs have hatched into maggots. Yuck!
Emery explains, “As the temperature increases, it’s not unusual for maggots to be found among rubbish as flies become drawn to leftover waste, which rots faster in the heat.”
However, she has a solution to clear away the mini-beasts. “Cleaning your bin with a white vinegar and hot water solution is sufficient to extinguish maggots and their eggs, too,” she advises.
4. Reuse your coffee grounds
Coffee has many uses. Apart from perking us up in the morning with a caffeine hit, this adaptable bean can be used to create a green and healthy lawn and perk up our plants. However, it’s a great deodorizer, too, and apart from being reused outside, coffee grounds are a helpful indoor cleaning aid.
Emery says coffee grounds can be used to neutralize bad odors, and she recommends, “Simply sprinkle ground coffee at the base of your bin (underneath the bin bag) to eliminate lingering smells.”
Apart from coffee grounds, baking soda works a treat at neutralizing smells. Sodium bicarbonate is an alkali, and when it comes in contact with an acidic odor, it eliminates the smell.
5. Freeze your waste
It may seem a little extreme, but Emery suggests taking the cold option, “For items that can’t be immediately disposed of, consider freezing them until bin collection day to prevent them decomposing,” she says. What’s more, “the cold temperature will kill any potential fruit flies and eggs,” she adds.
But apart from freezing food items that might decompose and cause a stink, be mindful of how you dispose of certain food items.
I always rinse through meat and fish packaging before discarding the containers, as lurking bacteria can quickly grow and smell. And, if you have a compost heap in your yard, don't delay in moving any compostable food waste outside.
6. Break it down
Apart from freezing any particularly pungent food waste, another option is to break your waste down using an electric compost bin. My colleague, Mike Prospero, U.S. Editor, recommends Luma's Electric Kitchen Composter, and gave it a 4-star rating in his review.
The benefit of using an electric composter is that is grinds up food scraps and turns them into dried-out compost, and is especially handy if you don't have an outside composter.
7. Keep your waste secure
It may seem simple, but switching to a more secure kitchen bin with a secure seal, will help eliminate odors. While, it won't work on its own — you'll still need to clean your bin and empty it regularly — it can help prevent odor overspill.
And apart from trapping odors, a tightly sealed lid will prevent unwanted pests, such as fruit flies, seeking out the scent and invading your kitchen and beyond.
8. Gather a collection of fragrant herbs
Fruit flies love to gather around bins, but Emery says there are a few fragrant herbs that will do the trick to keep them at bay, “They dislike basil, mint and lavender,” she says, “so it’s recommended to store the plants close to your bins.”
Apart from deterring fruit flies, the fragrant herbs will fill your kitchen with scent and can be added to your dishes for an extra culinary flavor.
9. Keep your trash can away from heat
There’s nothing that’s going to make your bin stinkier than if it’s placed in the hottest spot in your kitchen, with Emery adding that heat will speed up decomposition. For this reason, she recommends keeping your bin in a shaded area of your kitchen, away from direct sunlight, as “shading helps keep the bin cooler and reduces odor buildup.”
Additionally, other areas to avoid placing a bin include those near any heat sources, such as an oven or heating vent.
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