The heatwave is finally here! And your kitchen bin might already be feeling the effects… Yes, the sunny weather may be a time for barbecues, socialising and sunbathing, but it’s also prime time for our bins to start rotting and smelling – to the point that you’re having to swat away the flies and open the lid to maggots.
So, what can you do to prevent this impending smell and pest fest? Turns out, there’s one household staple to the rescue; you just need to add to your kitchen bin now to put a stop to it before the heat sets in. Here’s what you need to do:
Why does my bin suddenly smell?
As soon as the food residue in your bin starts to heat up, it breaks down and rots more readily – which is when it releases that distinctive smell. While this is disgusting on its own, it’s made all the worse because it’s so potent that it invites flies, ants, wasps, rodents and even cockroaches to pay a visit. In short, your bin is breeding bacteria at speed, while advertising a smorgasbord to any passing pests.
What should you do to prevent a smelly kitchen bin?
The answer to this is simple; it’s bicarb. There are lots of household problems you can easily solve with bicarb. Mixed with water, it creates an abrasive paste, which is ideal for scrubbing plastic food containers, grout or a BBQ grill and, when mixed with distilled white vinegar, it creates a chemical reaction that’s ideal for preventing blocked drains and lifting grease from the oven door – but back to the kitchen bin.
Bicarb is a natural deodoriser. It does this by neutralising both acidic and alkali odour molecules in the air. So by placing a small cup in your fridge, car, wardrobe or gym bag, it will get to work. In terms of your kitchen bin, that means all you need to do is sprinkle a couple of tablespoons under the bin bag in the base of your bin. You can use a sieve if you want to better distribute and break it up. Then you just leave it to deodorise, and it should last for up to three months. Although, with the risk of occasional bin bag leaks and the excess heat we’re likely to face, it’s worth checking and refreshing as needed.
When you want to get rid of it, a damp paper towel will pick it up or you can just vacuum it away. If you want more of a scent, there are scented bin deodorisers you can purchase, too, that are added directly to the bin bag, like Bin Buddy.
Other tips to stop your kitchen bin smelling
- Move the bin out of the sun
- Make sure it’s sealed
- Empty regularly, as often as daily in the height of summer
- Don’t let it overflow
- Keep the lid and handle clean with disinfectant wipes
- Line with newspaper if you’re often dealing with leaks to make the clean-up easier
- Deep-clean with a pressure washer and antibacterial spray when required
Bin cleaning kit
