There are two major issues you might have encountered; either a kitchen can odour problem or a maggot infestation of your kitchen bin.
Below are some of the tried and tested solutions to your predicament.
How To Stop Your Kitchen Bin From Smelling
Taking Out The Trash In A Timely Manner
It is advisable to always take out the trash without waiting it to heap or start smelling.
Another point worth mentioning is that if you realize that there was a wet waste left after the trash was thrown wipe it off with the newspapers you are probably not using.
The newspapers are good absorbents and hence no odour will result from the wet waste.
Clean The Kitchen Trash Can Regularly
Regular cleaning of the kitchen trash can with a nylon bristled brush, lukewarm water with soap and disinfectant can effectively keep odours away from your kitchen bin.
Using Baking Soda
Sprinkling baking soda on the bottom of your trash can or directly on the trash counters the odour that may result from the kitchen waste since it absorbs it.
In addition, it is used to rid the kitchen can from the odour that may have been caused by kitchen waste.
This is done by adding a cupful of baking soda after washing the kitchen bin and leave it there to absorb both the moisture and the odour leaving it odourless and dry.
Using Charcoal Filter
Deodorizers made of charcoal work wonders especially in absorbing smell resulting from kitchen waste.
They are mostly purchased from your local stores and they are usually fitted on the lids of the kitchen cans.
Using Essential Oils
Essential oils are basically oils extracted from plants for example lavender oil.
You can make a homemade oil spray from your preferred sweet-smelling oil that you can use something like a cotton wool filled with the oil and place it on in your trash can.
Using Cat Litter
This is a very cheap method especially if you have a pet cat.
Cat litter works wonders in absorbing any moisture and odour from the bottom of a kitchen trash can.
When it gets damp from its heavy absorption you can replace it and repeat the cycle.
Separating Organic Waste From Non-Organic Ones
The organic wastes for example banana peels, mango peels are the major contributors to kitchen odours due to their decomposition.
It is advisable to separate them from the other waste and store them in a waste bag to be used as compost for your kitchen garden.
Using Dryer Sheets
Dryer sheets double up in absorbing moisture and odour leaving their wonderful smelling the kitchen.
They can be placed at the bottom of your kitchen bin where they will work wonders.
Using Dry Ground Coffee
Dry coffee granules placed at the bottom absorb the odour from your kitchen bin leaving their sweet smell.
Using Citrus Peels
Lemon or lime peels used at the bottom of your kitchen trash cans neutralizes the odour from your kitchen bin leaving their citrus smell instead of the bad smell.
How To Get Rid Of Maggots In Kitchen Bins
Flies are attracted to the smell of decomposing waste.
Therefore, they lay their eggs (maggots)in the waste where there is consistent supply of food for them.
To get rid of the maggots ensure you empty your kitchen can in order to ensure your methods will be effective.
The methods are as follows:
Using Boiling Water
Pour boiling water in the kitchen bin in spots where the maggots have made their fort kills them immediately.
However, for the method to be very effective ensure you get all the spots the maggots may be.
Using Bleach
Dilute your bleach with a cupful of water and pour it all over the surface of your kitchen bin.
Use water to rinse off and leave it to dry.
Using Vinegar And Water
This method is also an effective method of killing maggots.
Using An Insecticide.
Almost any insecticide will get rid of the maggots due to their fragility.
Using Diatomaceous Earth
This method is organic and non-toxic way of effectively killing the maggots.
How To Prevent The Maggots From Returning
If your kitchen bin remains dirty as before, be sure of the maggots returning. To ensure they stay away there are some guidelines you need to adhere to.
- Ensure your kitchen bin is cleaned regularly
- Empty your bin in no more than a week long.
- Rinsing dairy products for example yoghurt from their containers before throwing them in the kitchen bin.
- Use sealed cans.
- Use a strong kitchen bin liner.
- Avoid meat disposal.
- Use baking soda
How To Clean Your Kitchen Bin
Cleaning your kitchen bin is one major determinant of whether your kitchen bins will have odour or not.
Below are the best practices used in cleaning kitchen bins.
Items Needed
- Rubber gloves.
- Old cleaning towels.
- Multi-surface cleaning spray.
- A long-handled nylon bristle brush
- A disinfectant spray.
- Baking soda.
The Cleaning Instructions
- Start with cleaning the outside of the kitchen bin using the multi-surface cleaning spray and a cleaning cloth to remove any dirt it may have collected.
- If there is any sticky residue of dirt on the surface you can use baking soda and water to form a thick paste that can scrub it out without destroying the bins surface.
- When cleaning the inside wear your rubber gloves to remove any waste that might have remained in the kitchen bin to ensure no waste residues are there.
- Spray the multipurpose spray in the kitchen bin without forgetting the lid then scrub with the nylon bristle brush then wipe out with a clean washing towel or paper cloth.
- Disinfect the interior of the kitchen bin with your disinfectant spray and leave it as stipulated I the instructions written on the spray bottle.
- Rinse the kitchen can with a garden hose if available and leave it to dry in the sun.
How Often Should You Empty A Kitchen Can?
The recommended times to take out the trash is at least twice a week especially if you find your kitchen can filling up faster than usual.
In conclusion equipped with the above kitchen bin management you will have no problems with your kitchen waste management.
Also Read:
