TikTok's Genius Tip Makes Cleaning The Bottom Of Your Garbage Can A Breeze

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Trash cans are gross. Full of food scraps, forgotten leftovers, kitty litter, and crumpled cans, it only takes one leaky bag to turn your trash into a smelly, sticky nightmare. When you've got a busted bag, taking out the trash without soiling everything nearby is only half the battle. Cleaning, sanitizing, and deodorizing the bottom of your can without feeling like you have to climb inside it is where the real hassle begins. Fortunately, one TikToker who hates bad odors has a quick and simple idea to clean those extra dirty spots that are hard to reach. Using a kettle of water, a Clorox toilet bowl wand, disinfecting mist, and a small air freshener, @operation_niki's genius tip makes cleaning the bottom of your garbage can a breeze.

There are a lot of ways to clean and deodorize your trash can to combat funky smells. This affordable method actually gets and keeps things fresher thanks to both a deep clean with effective products and the addition of low-key fragrance that lasts. You'll need either a stovetop or an electric kettle like the Amazon Basics BPA-Free Glass Carafe, a Clorox Original ToiletWand System, a disinfecting spray, and one Febreze Odor-Fighting Small-Space Air Freshener in your scent of choice. Before getting started, make sure you've got a good pair of rubber gloves and a roll of paper towels nearby. By pairing this method with a sturdy trashcan liner, you can expect the air freshener to last for at least a month.

Pour enough hot water from your kettle to cover all of the gunky buildup in the bottom. Only use boiling water if the interior is made from heat-resistant materials like stainless steel. Plastic cans may start to warp if exposed to high temperatures. Next, start scrubbing with your Clorox ToiletWand. It won't take long to figure out why everyone is switching to this popular toilet cleaning system. The water will activate the Clorox cleaner inside the hexagonal brush head, which is the perfect shape for scrubbing the gently rounded corners of most trash cans. The long handle also makes reaching the very bottom of the can much easier on your back than trying to reach it with your hand and a basic sponge. After scrubbing, wait for 5 to 10 minutes to give the sudsy water time to sanitize the interior. Then, either pour the water down the drain (assuming your garbage can is light enough to lift) or use paper towels to soak it up. Use the wand's handle to help you lift the paper out.

While the inside of your garbage can air dries, it's time to get to work on the outside. Anything from basic Clorox Disinfecting Wipes to heavy-duty sprays like Method All-Purpose Cleaner will do the trick. Liberally coat the can all around with the disinfectant of your choice before wiping each side down thoroughly. Once your garbage can is sparkling again, drop a small-space air freshener inside to keep it smelling fresh for weeks. Once the smell has dissipated, you know it's time to clean your garbage can again.