This Budget-Friendly Hack Easily Keeps Stinky Garbage Odors At Bay

If you are struggling with garbage odors, you aren't alone. These smells are notoriously difficult to combat. This is because they often result from a complex combination of sulfur-rich compounds like decomposing organic matter and bacteria. This causes the odors to quickly become overwhelming, especially in warm or humid environments that accelerate decay. Traditional methods of odor control, such as air freshening sprays, sometimes only serve to mask odors temporarily instead of neutralizing them. 

While keeping your garbage can clean is one way to help combat odors, it's impractical to give your garbage can a deep clean after every bag change, and there's little that can be done about the rotting matter in your can between changes. There are plenty of garbage-freshening TikTok hacks, but you might be seeking a solution that avoids harsh chemicals and is affordable, as well. If that's the case, you don't need to look any further than a household staple you probably already have in your pantry — white vinegar. Simply mist some vinegar on the inside of your garbage can's lid and wait for the odors to disappear.

This hack may seem too good to be true, but there is some solid science behind why it works. It's important to note, though, that although this tip will help fight trash can odors, it won't do anything to address the root cause. There are some easy things you can do in conjunction with the vinegar misting trick that will rid your indoor bin of odors for good.

The odor-neutralizing component of white vinegar is something called acetic acid. This acid absorbs and neutralizes odors by reacting with odor-causing molecules. Thus, this hack works because the acidic properties of white vinegar break down the alkaline-based odors from items in your garbage. Simply mist some vinegar onto the underside of your trash can's lid, and the smell from your garbage should improve within 20 minutes. While the vinegar itself has a strong odor at first, as it dries, it will dissipate. So, there's no need to be concerned that your home will have a strong vinegar smell, either. If your garbage has no lid or is in a hard-to-reach area, you can set a bowl of white vinegar out close to its location to neutralize the odors. This is a much more affordable method of combating odors than most of the other hacks available.

Short of cleaning your garbage can, there are still some easy and inexpensive ways to cut down on the odors that you can use along with the vinegar misting hack. One trick is to take out the trash immediately after you've put particularly odorous items in it. Taking out the trash more often in general can be helpful, too. If you find it challenging to remember to empty your trash before it smells, getting a smaller can may help. Finally, after you take the trash out, wipe the inside of the can down with white vinegar and a paper towel. This will help disinfect, as well as neutralize the odors. Also consider letting your garbage can sit in the sun for some time after washing it, as this also helps to disinfect the can and get rid of odors.