The Best Way To Eliminate Garbage Can Odors

Updated: Nov. 18, 2022

This will make a big difference in your kitchen aroma.

While there are many bad smells to snuff out in your house, there’s one particular smell that’s unbearable to deal with at times: the smell from the garbage can. While taking out the trash seems like the obvious solution, it doesn’t fix the stench that is still lurking in the bin after.

Once you give the garbage bin a good clean, the trick is to sprinkle baking soda at the bottom of the bin. Seriously, that’s it! (P.S. If you’re looking for a more permanent solution, motion sensor trash cans are great at keeping stinky garbage can woes at bay with feature enhanced odor control.)

Why Does Baking Soda Work?

The baking soda can help absorb those stinky odors in your trash bin. This is due to baking soda’s lower pH levels as a substance. Most bad smells have a higher acidity, giving them a higher pH level. However, since baking soda is a mild alkaline substance with a pH level of 9, it will help neutralize the smell from the trash bin.

How To Mask Scent With Baking Soda

Before putting a trash bag in the can, simply sprinkle in baking soda to cover the bottom of the bin. You won’t need very much— about 1/4-cup of baking soda should suffice. Even when you take the trash out, the smell will be significantly different than what you were dealing with before.