How to Clean a Garbage Can: Easy Proven Steps for 2026

Why Your Trash Can Smells (And How to Fix It)

Grab your gloves. This gets messy. When you're dealing with a 13-gallon bin that's been sitting in a 90-degree kitchen for three days, you need a heavy-duty approach. In my experience cleaning homes for over 12 years, the garbage can is consistently the most neglected appliance in the house. People wipe down their countertops daily but ignore the literal box holding their rotting food.

The foul odor isn't just old food. It's a breeding ground for bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli thriving in 'trash juice' (technically called leachate). If you have kids who track mud everywhere and throw sticky wrappers in the kitchen trash, that grime builds up fast. I'll be honest, scrubbing the bottom of a trash can is nobody's favorite chore. But doing it properly transforms your kitchen's air quality. Let's break down exactly how to clean a garbage can without gagging.

My Go-To Supplies for Cleaning Garbage Cans

You don't need a closet full of expensive chemicals. I've tested dozens of products on my own Simplehuman 50L bin, and a few cheap staples work best. Here is my exact lineup for tackling indoor and outdoor bins.

• Dawn Platinum Dish Soap: Cuts through greasy trash juice better than anything else.
• OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover: Lifts stubborn stains and neutralizes odors in plastic.
• Clorox Concentrated Bleach: Kills 99.9% of bacteria lingering in the pores of the bin.
• Bar Keepers Friend Cleanser: Polishes stainless steel without scratching the finish.
• Dedicated Toilet Brush: Buy a $5 brush and keep it strictly for trash cans. Don't use your kitchen sponge.

Product	Best For	Price Range
OxiClean Powder	Plastic bins & odor removal	$15-25
Bar Keepers Friend	Stainless steel exteriors	$6-8
Zep Commercial Cleaner	Large outdoor wheeled bins	$12-18
Clorox Bleach	Disinfecting raw meat spills	$4-6

Step-by-Step: How to Clean an Indoor Garbage Can

Indoor bins usually range from 10 to 16 gallons. They fit in your kitchen or bathroom and need a thorough wash every few weeks. Here is my proven 4-step method.

Step 1: Empty and Pre-Rinse

Take the bin outside or put it in your bathtub. If you use the tub, lay down a towel first to prevent scratches. Remove the trash bag and shake out any loose debris. Rinse the interior with hot water. I prefer setting my showerhead to the highest pressure to blast away stuck-on coffee grounds and sticky sauce packets.

Step 2: The Deep Soak

Fill the bottom of the can with 2 gallons of hot water (around 120°F). Add one scoop of OxiClean and a generous squirt of Dawn Platinum. Swirl it around with your dedicated toilet brush to create suds. Let it sit for 15 minutes. This soaking period is non-negotiable. It softens the hardened grime at the bottom so you don't have to scrub until your arm falls off.

Step 3: Scrub the Grime

After 15 minutes, scrub the interior walls and the bottom. Pay special attention to the grooves at the base where liquid pools. If you have a stainless steel can, use a soft microfiber cloth instead of a stiff brush to avoid micro-scratches. Rinse the bin completely with clean water until the suds are gone.

Step 4: Disinfect and Dry

Mix 1/2 cup of Clorox bleach with 1 gallon of cool water. Pour it into a spray bottle and mist the entire interior. Let it sit for 10 minutes to kill any remaining bacteria. Rinse it one last time. Prop the can upside down on a towel in the sun to dry completely. Never put a new trash bag in a damp can, or you'll trap moisture and create mildew.

Step-by-Step: How to Clean a Large Outdoor Bin

Outdoor bins, like the 32-gallon Rubbermaid BRUTE or the 64-gallon municipal carts, take a massive beating. They hold everything from yard waste to rotting meat in the summer heat. You need a larger scale approach.

First, drag the bin to the edge of your driveway. Tip it over and hose out the loose debris. If you own a pressure washer, like the Ryobi 2000 PSI electric model, use the 40-degree white nozzle. This provides enough force to strip away caked-on grime without cracking the plastic. Keep the wand about 12 inches from the surface.

If you don't have a pressure washer, use a long-handled deck brush. Squirt Zep Commercial Trash Can Cleaner directly onto the walls. Scrub vigorously from top to bottom. I'll be honest, this takes elbow grease. Rinse it thoroughly with your garden hose and leave it flipped upside down in the driveway to bake in the sun. The UV rays naturally help kill lingering bacteria.

Material Matters: Stainless Steel vs. Plastic

The material of your bin dictates how you treat the exterior. Plastic is porous and absorbs odors over time. Stainless steel is non-porous but shows every single fingerprint and water spot.

Cleaning Stainless Steel

When your landlord inspects next week, a gleaming stainless steel bin makes a great impression. To clean the outside of a Simplehuman or iTouchless can, spray it with a 50/50 mix of white vinegar and water. Wipe it down with a microfiber cloth, always moving in the direction of the metal's grain. For stubborn water spots, apply a paste of Bar Keepers Friend and water. Rub it gently, rinse, and buff it dry. This isn't the cheapest option, but it keeps the metal looking brand new.

Cleaning Plastic

Plastic bins are workhorses, but they stain easily. If tomato sauce or berry juice leaks onto the plastic, it leaves a permanent pink shadow. To lift these stains, make a thick paste of baking soda and water. Apply it to the stain and let it sit for 30 minutes before scrubbing. For deep yellowing caused by UV exposure, there isn't much you can do besides replacing the bin.

Dealing with Maggots and Fruit Flies

If you leave a melon rind in the bin during July, you'll likely open the lid to a swarm of fruit flies or worse. I've dealt with maggots in my outdoor bin after a long weekend away. The trick is to use boiling water. Pouring a kettle of 212°F water directly onto the larvae kills them instantly.

Afterward, spray the interior with a mixture of equal parts water and white vinegar to deter them from returning. Fruit flies hate the smell of vinegar. If the infestation is severe, place a small bowl of apple cider vinegar mixed with a drop of dish soap near the bin overnight. It's gross, but it works every single time.

5 Proven Tricks to Keep Odors Away Longer

Cleaning is only half the battle. You need to maintain the bin between deep washes. Here are five tricks I use in my own kitchen to keep the smells at bay.

1. Baking Soda Base: Sprinkle 1/4 cup of baking soda at the bottom of the bin before putting in a new bag. It absorbs acidic odors from leaking bags.
2. Coffee Grounds: Don't throw away your used coffee grounds. Tie them in a paper towel and drop them in the bottom of the can. They neutralize smells beautifully.
3. Essential Oil Cotton Balls: Soak three cotton balls in tea tree or eucalyptus essential oil. Tuck them under the rim of the trash bag. Tea tree oil has natural antibacterial properties.
4. Wash the Lid: People forget the lid. Gunk splatters upward when you toss heavy items. Wipe the underside of the lid with a disinfecting wipe every time you change the bag.
5. Freeze the Meat: If you cook with raw chicken or fish, put the scraps in a small plastic bag and freeze them. Toss the frozen bag into the trash only on the morning of garbage pickup day.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I clean my kitchen trash can?

I recommend washing your indoor kitchen bin every two weeks. If you throw away a lot of raw meat scraps or messy diapers, bump that up to once a week. Setting a recurring reminder on your phone keeps you from forgetting until the smell hits you.

Can I put my plastic trash can in the dishwasher?

You can put small bathroom or desk bins in the dishwasher, but only on the bottom rack. Make sure the plastic is heat-safe so it doesn't warp during the 140°F drying cycle. I've melted a cheap dollar-store bin doing this, so check the manufacturer's stamp first.

What kills the smell of rotten meat in a garbage can?

Enzymatic cleaners like Nature's Miracle completely break down the proteins causing that rotten meat stench. Spray the interior generously and let it sit for 15 minutes before wiping it out. Bleach just masks the odor temporarily, while enzymes actually destroy the source.

Is bleach or vinegar better for cleaning trash cans?

Bleach is far superior for killing dangerous bacteria and viruses lingering in trash juice. Vinegar is a great daily deodorizer, but it lacks the EPA-registered disinfecting power of a 10% bleach solution. I use bleach for the deep clean and vinegar for quick weekly wipe-downs.

How do I clean the lid of a touchless trash can?

Wipe the sensor and lid with a microfiber cloth dampened with 70% isopropyl alcohol. Never spray liquid directly onto the electronic housing, as it will short out the motor. I ruined a $150 smart bin by getting water in the battery compartment, so keep the moisture away from the hinges.