How to Clean a Trash Can: The Complete Cleaning & Maintenance Guide

📅 Last updated: July 11, 2026 — We review and update our recommendations regularly.

Knowing how to clean a trash can properly prevents the bacterial buildup and pest attraction that happen when cans are only emptied, never sanitized. Health authorities recommend regular disinfection of high-contact household surfaces, and the CDC hygiene guidelines include kitchen and waste disposal areas among the highest-priority zones.

Disclosure: This article may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

A trash can that never gets cleaned does not just smell bad — it breeds bacteria, attracts pests, and shortens the life of the can itself. Here is a maintenance routine that keeps both indoor and outdoor cans genuinely clean, not just emptied.

Highly rated by thousands of customers

Shop on Amazon →

How Often to Clean Each Type of Can

Kitchen trash can: wipe down weekly, deep-clean monthly
Bathroom trash can: deep-clean monthly
Outdoor garbage can / curbside bin: deep-clean every 4–6 weeks, more often in hot weather
recycling bin: rinse residue monthly — sticky spills attract pests just like trash does

Deep-Cleaning an Outdoor or Kitchen Trash Can: Step by Step

Empty completely and hose out loose debris.
Fill with a few inches of hot water plus a squirt of dish soap, or a cup of white vinegar for odor-heavy cans.
Scrub the interior walls and base with a stiff long-handled brush, paying attention to the bottom seam where residue collects.
For lingering odor or stains, sprinkle baking soda directly on wet surfaces and let it sit 10–15 minutes before scrubbing.
Rinse thoroughly — soap residue left behind can itself start to smell.
Disinfect with a diluted bleach solution (about 1 tablespoon bleach per gallon of water) or a household disinfectant spray, especially after illness in the home.
Dry completely upside down in the sun before relining with a bag — trapped moisture is the single biggest cause of recurring odor.

Preventing Odor Between Cleanings

Cleaning solves existing odor; prevention stops it from coming back. Double-bagging wet or strong-smelling trash, freezing particularly odorous food scraps until collection day, and keeping a layer of baking soda or charcoal at the bottom of the can between liner changes are the most effective low-effort habits. For a full breakdown of odor sources and long-term fixes, see our dedicated guide: How to Stop Trash Can Odors for Good.

Keeping Pests Out

Flies and maggots are drawn to residue, not just open trash — a can that looks empty but has not been washed in months is still a food source. A tight-sealing lid matters as much as cleaning frequency; loose or cracked lids are the most common reason pest problems persist even with regular cleaning.

Cleaning Supplies Worth Keeping on Hand

A dedicated long-handled scrub brush (do not reuse a dish brush)
White vinegar and baking soda for natural odor and stain removal
A diluted bleach solution or EPA-registered disinfectant for sanitizing
Heavy-duty or scented liner bags sized correctly to your can — an undersized bag tears and leaks, creating more mess to clean

A clean trash can is mostly about consistency, not intensity — a quick monthly wash beats an occasional deep scrub of a can that has been neglected for a year.

Part of our complete waste management guide — see how this fits into the bigger picture.

How Often Should You Clean a Trash Can?

Kitchen trash cans should be cleaned at minimum once per month — more frequently if you notice odors sooner. Outdoor garbage bins need a thorough clean every 1-2 months in summer and every 2-3 months in winter since cold slows bacterial growth. Recycling bins used for rinsed containers can go 2-3 months between washes. The trigger for cleaning is always smell or visible residue, regardless of schedule.

What You Need Before You Start

Gather these supplies: rubber gloves, a stiff-bristle scrub brush or old toilet brush dedicated to this task, dish soap or all-purpose cleaner, white vinegar or baking soda (for odor), a garden hose or access to an outdoor drain, and optionally a degreaser spray for stubborn buildup. Do this cleaning outside — hosing down a trash can indoors creates a mess and spreads bacteria to your floors.

Step-by-Step Trash Can Cleaning Process

Start on trash collection day so the can is empty and you have a full week before it fills again. Remove any remaining loose debris. Spray the inside with a hose to loosen residue. Add a few squirts of dish soap or all-purpose cleaner, then scrub the interior walls and bottom with your brush. Pay special attention to the lid, handle, and the rim where waste collects. Rinse thoroughly until water runs clear. For persistent odors, add a cup of white vinegar or sprinkle baking soda and let it sit for 10 minutes before rinsing. Flip the can upside down to drain and air dry completely before replacing the bag — a wet can creates mold within days.

Eliminating Trash Can Odors Between Cleanings

The most effective odor preventers: always bag your trash (loose waste is the primary source of smell), double-bag leaking containers, and place a folded newspaper or paper towel at the bottom to absorb moisture and drips. Baking soda sprinkled at the bottom of the can under the bag absorbs odors passively. Dryer sheets tucked between the bag and the can wall add a mild scent while absorbing moisture. Citrus peels — lemon or orange — placed at the bottom emit a natural deodorizing scent for 2-3 days.

Preventing Maggots and Pests

Flies lay eggs in warm, moist organic waste and eggs hatch into maggots within 24 hours in summer. To prevent infestation: keep the lid tightly closed at all times, never put uncovered meat or fish scraps in the can (wrap tightly in newspaper first), and clean the can regularly to remove odor signals that attract flies. If maggots appear, sprinkle salt directly on them (kills on contact), then clean the can immediately with boiling water and disinfectant. A small amount of diatomaceous earth in the bottom of the can creates a natural barrier against insects.

Cleaning Indoor Trash Cans vs. Outdoor Bins

Indoor kitchen trash cans can be cleaned in the shower or bathtub using the same method, then disinfected with a diluted bleach solution (1 tablespoon bleach per gallon of water). Bathroom trash cans should be cleaned monthly since they collect tissues and personal care waste. For outdoor bins, the hose method works best, and a pressure washer on a low setting dramatically speeds up the process for large or very soiled bins. After cleaning outdoor bins, inspect the wheel axles and handles for cracks where bacteria can harbor.

Loved by thousands of customers

Check Availability →

Natural vs. Chemical Cleaners: Which Works Better?

For routine cleaning, dish soap cuts grease effectively and is environmentally safe when rinsed into a lawn or landscaping. White vinegar (5% acidity) kills most common bacteria and eliminates odors without chemical residue. Baking soda neutralizes acidic odors. For heavily soiled cans with visible mold or severe odor, a diluted bleach solution (1 part bleach to 10 parts water) is the most effective option — but rinse thoroughly and allow full drying before use, as bleach residue can affect food waste compostability if you compost.

🛒 Top Picks on Amazon

Browse Trash Can Cleaning Kits on Amazon →