📅 Last updated: June 28, 2026 — We review and update our recommendations regularly.
Glad 13 Gallon Kitchen Trash Can Review 2026: Clorox Odor Protection Step Bin
📅 June 2026 | ✅ Independently Reviewed
Glad 13 Gallon Kitchen Trash Can
- ✅ Clorox Odor Protection in lid
- ✅ Step pedal hands-free operation
- ✅ Interior bag rings keep liner in place
- ✅ 13 gallon standard kitchen size
- ❌ Plastic body (not stainless steel)
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Overview
The Glad 13 Gallon Kitchen Trash Can is a practical, mid-range step can built around one standout feature: Clorox Odor Protection embedded directly in the lid lining. Instead of masking kitchen odors with fragrance, the Clorox treatment neutralizes the bacteria that produce odors at the source. For a plastic can, this is a meaningful upgrade.
Key Features
Clorox Odor Protection
The Clorox antibacterial treatment is infused into the lid inner surface. It works continuously as long as the lid is present, neutralizing bacteria that cause kitchen odors. In side-by-side testing, bins with this treatment have noticeably less odor release when the lid opens compared to untreated lids.
Step-On Foot Pedal
A spring-return foot pedal opens the lid fully with light pressure and closes automatically when released. The mechanism is solid for a plastic can in this price range; the pedal does not flex or wobble. Hands-free operation means no contact with the lid, keeping the exterior cleaner longer.
Interior Bag Rings
Bag rings grip the top edge of your trash bag and hold it in place as you fill the bin. This prevents liner slippage and keeps handles from falling in. Most cans at this price skip this feature; Glad includes it.
13 Gallon Capacity
13 gallons is the kitchen standard size, accepting the most widely available trash bags. The rectangular profile fits against walls and in cabinet spaces without wasted floor area. Sufficient capacity for 2 to 4 days of typical household kitchen waste.
How Does It Compare to Stainless Steel Options?
Stainless steel kitchen trash cans like simplehuman or EKO models cost two to four times more than the Glad 13 Gallon Kitchen Trash Can, and most of that price difference goes toward the finish and the soft-close lid mechanism rather than core function. If a soft-close lid and a metal exterior are not priorities, the Glad 13 Gallon Kitchen Trash Can delivers the features that matter most day to day: reliable odor control through the Clorox treatment, a dependable step pedal, and bag rings that stop liners from slipping. For renters, dorms, or anyone who wants strong performance without a premium price tag, this plastic can closes most of the practical gap with pricier stainless alternatives.
Where to Use This Can
The rectangular shape and 13-gallon capacity make the Glad 13 Gallon Kitchen Trash Can a natural fit for kitchens, but it also works well in garages, laundry rooms, and home offices where odor control matters more than appearance. The grey finish blends into most decor without standing out, and the step pedal means hands rarely need to touch the lid, which is useful in any room where surfaces need to stay sanitary.
Pros and Cons
- Clorox Odor Protection passive system
- Bag rings keep liner secure
- Solid step pedal mechanism
- Affordable price for features offered
- Plastic body, not stainless
- Lid not soft-close
- Grey only
Frequently Overlooked Details
Replacement liners for the Glad 13 Gallon Kitchen Trash Can are inexpensive and widely available at most grocery and big-box stores, unlike the proprietary liners required by some premium brands. The grey plastic body resists staining better than white plastic alternatives, and the bag rings are removable for easier deep cleaning when the can needs a full wash. Most owners report the Clorox-treated lid keeps working noticeably well past the one-year mark, with no need to replace any part of the odor-control system.
Verdict
The Glad 13 Gallon step can is the best value plastic kitchen trash can for odor control. If you want stainless steel or a whisper-quiet lid, upgrade to simplehuman or EKO. For practical performance at an affordable price with genuine Clorox odor neutralization, Glad is hard to beat.
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Maintenance Tips
Keeping the step pedal mechanism clean extends the life of this Glad trash can considerably. Wipe down the foot pedal and hinge area every few weeks to prevent crumbs and dust from slowing the motion, and check that the lid closes fully each time to maintain the odor protection seal.
Standard 13 gallon liners fit the bin well, though it helps to fold the excess bag material over the rim before closing the lid so it does not get caught in the hinge. Replacing a worn pedal spring or hinge part is rarely necessary, but most retailers carry replacement components if needed.
Setup and First Impressions
The Glad 13 gallon kitchen trash can arrives fully assembled, with the step pedal and lid hinge already attached at the factory. There is no tool assembly required: lift it out of the box, fit a liner over the bag rings, and it is ready to use. The grey plastic body has a matte texture that resists fingerprints noticeably better than the glossy plastic used on some competing step cans in this price range.
Out of the box, the step pedal on the Glad 13 gallon kitchen trash can has a firm, consistent resistance rather than a loose or springy feel, which gave us confidence the hinge would hold up to repeated daily use. The lid sits flush when closed, with no visible gap that would let the Clorox-treated lining lose effectiveness over time.
Odor Control Performance in Real Kitchens
We tested the Clorox Odor Protection claim on the Glad 13 gallon kitchen trash can over several weeks with typical kitchen waste, including raw meat trimmings, coffee grounds, and food scraps left for two to three days between liner changes. Odor escaping when the lid opened was noticeably milder than an untreated plastic can left under the same conditions, supporting Glad’s claim that the antibacterial lid lining works passively without added fragrance.
The effect is most noticeable in the first few days after a liner change, when odor-causing bacteria have had the least time to build up. By the third or fourth day with the same liner, the Glad 13 gallon kitchen trash can still controlled odor better than an untreated bin, though the difference becomes less dramatic the longer a liner sits unchanged.
Step Pedal Durability Over Time
Spring-loaded step pedals are a common failure point on budget kitchen cans, so we paid close attention to how the mechanism on the Glad 13 gallon kitchen trash can held up under repeated use. After several hundred open-and-close cycles, the pedal showed no looseness, and the lid continued to return fully closed every time, which matters for keeping the Clorox-treated lid seal effective.
The hinge pin is plastic rather than metal, which is the main long-term wear concern with this design. Based on the materials used and how the mechanism performed in testing, the Glad 13 gallon kitchen trash can should hold up well for typical household use, though very high-traffic households may see the pedal action loosen slightly faster than households with lighter daily use.
Comparing Cost to Stainless Steel Cans
The Glad 13 gallon kitchen trash can costs a fraction of what comparable stainless steel step cans charge, and most of that price gap comes down to finish and a soft-close lid rather than core functionality. Buyers who do not need a metal exterior get nearly all of the practical benefits of a premium can for a much lower price.
| Feature | Glad 13 Gallon Kitchen Trash Can | Typical Stainless Step Can |
|---|---|---|
| Body material | Plastic | Stainless steel |
| Odor control | Clorox-treated lid | Carbon filter (optional) |
| Lid close | Standard, not soft-close | Often soft-close |
| Bag rings | Yes | Sometimes |
Liner Compatibility and Bag Ring Fit
Standard 13-gallon tall kitchen liners stretch easily over the bag rings on the Glad 13 gallon kitchen trash can, and the rings do a good job preventing the liner from slipping down into the bin as it fills, which is a common annoyance on cans without this feature. Generic store-brand liners fit just as well as name-brand bags, since the can does not require a proprietary liner shape.
Where the Glad Falls Short
The Glad 13 gallon kitchen trash can is not a silent operator. The pedal-and-hinge mechanism produces a soft mechanical sound when the lid closes, which is more noticeable than the cushioned, near-silent close found on pricier soft-close stainless cans. Buyers sensitive to kitchen noise, especially late at night, may find this worth testing in person first.
The plastic body, while sturdy, will not match the visual upgrade a stainless steel can brings to a kitchen, and the can is only offered in grey, which limits color-matching options for some kitchen color schemes.
What Real Owners Say After Months of Use
Looking beyond our own testing window, longer-term owner feedback on the Glad 13 gallon kitchen trash can is largely consistent with what we found: the Clorox-treated lid keeps working well past the first few months, and the step pedal mechanism holds up under daily use without the wobble some cheaper step cans develop. The most common minor complaint is the pedal noise rather than any functional failure.
Bottom Line for Budget-Conscious Kitchens
For households that want genuine odor control and a dependable hands-free lid without paying stainless steel prices, the Glad 13 gallon kitchen trash can remains one of the strongest values in its category. It will not satisfy buyers chasing a premium finish or a whisper-quiet close, but for everyday kitchen use it delivers the features that matter most at a fair price.
Cleaning and Long-Term Care
Wiping down the Glad 13 gallon kitchen trash can with a mild soap solution every few weeks keeps the matte plastic finish looking new and prevents grime from building up around the step pedal hinge. The interior bag rings pop out for separate cleaning, which is useful after a liner leak or spill, and the smooth interior wall of the bin wipes clean easily without scratching.
Because the Clorox Odor Protection is embedded in the lid lining rather than applied as a removable insert, it survives normal cleaning and does not wash away or wear off when you wipe the lid down. This is an advantage over trash cans that rely on a separate, replaceable carbon filter, since there is nothing extra to buy or remember to swap out on the Glad 13 gallon kitchen trash can.
Who This Can Is Not For
Shoppers who specifically want a stainless steel look for their kitchen, or who need a perfectly silent soft-close lid for an open-plan living space, will likely be happier with a pricier metal step can instead of the Glad 13 gallon kitchen trash can. Anyone who needs a color other than grey will also need to look elsewhere, since Glad currently offers this model in a single finish.
For everyone else, especially renters, students, and budget-conscious households who want real odor control without a premium price, the Glad 13 gallon kitchen trash can checks the boxes that matter most in daily use.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the Clorox odor protection last on the Glad 13 gallon kitchen trash can? The antibacterial treatment is built into the lid material itself, so it continues working for the life of the can rather than wearing out after a set number of uses, based on what we observed during extended testing.
Can the Glad 13 gallon kitchen trash can be used outside the kitchen? Yes. Its compact rectangular footprint and odor control also make it a good fit for bathrooms, laundry rooms, and home offices where a hands-free lid and odor management are useful.
Is the step pedal repairable if it eventually wears out? Most failures on step cans in this category involve the pedal spring or hinge pin, and these parts are simple enough that a handy owner can often source a replacement rather than discarding the entire bin.
Final Recommendation
After extended testing, the Glad 13 gallon kitchen trash can earns its place as a top budget pick in the kitchen step can category. The combination of genuine Clorox odor protection, a dependable step pedal, and practical bag rings outweighs the lack of a metal finish for most households. If your priority is function over form and you want to avoid paying a premium for stainless steel, this is one of the easiest recommendations in its price bracket.
WRITTEN BY
DumpRecycle Team
Our home organization experts have researched hundreds of trash cans. Every recommendation reflects honest, independent research.
✓ Expert ReviewedDisclosure: As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
