Tired of dealing with a smelly trash can? Check out how to make DIY trash can deodorizer tabs. Use baking soda and essential oils to easily make them and leave your kitchen smelling great!
During the summer, when it is really hot, our trash can tends to get so super smelly.
I don't know whether it is all the fresh fruits and veggies we are eating or if it is because the trash can is under the sink and it heats up. But, what I do know is our trash can smells really bad.
I used to spray some homemade lysol around the trash can and in it to get rid of the smell. However, I noticed that it can make everything kind of sticky. Plus, if you use regular lysol it can smell so fake.
Recently, I decided to start using some trash can deodorizers instead of the lysol. I didn't want a fake chemical smell from the store-bought kind of deodorizers so I made up a batch of homemade deodorizers.
They didn't take long at all to make and they really do a great job of keeping the smells away.
Even when the house is hot in summer my trash can still smells fine. If you are dealing with a smelly trash can try these DIY trash can deodorizer tabs to make your kitchen and trash smell fresh again.
Trash Can Deodorizer Tabs
To make these trash can deodorizer tabs you will need baking soda, water, and essential oils. Plus, you will need a mold to make the tabs in. A silicone ice cube tray works perfectly to make these. I bought this one from Ikea.
You can use any scent of essential oil that you like, but personally, I recommend lemon essential oil. Lemon essential oil not only smells great but it also kills off bacteria. It will give your trash can the fresh scent you are looking for without being too overpowering.
Free Weekly Cleaning Printable
Clean your home in under 30 minutes a day with this free Weekly Cleaning printable!
You can find lemon essential oils just about anywhere anymore. A lot of grocery stores carry them or you can buy them online. I usually just buy a big bottle on Amazon.
Baking soda is perfect to use as a trash can deodorizer because it doesn't just mask smells it actually absorbs the smells. So all those smelly fruits and vegetables that are rotting in the trash can won't smell up your house. It also helps with smells like fish or cheese.
To start, put a cup of baking soda in a large bowl. Then add about 20-30 drops of essential oils to the bowl. Use your hands to work the essential oils into the baking soda. Depending on how strong you want your trash can deodorizers you may want to add more essential oils.
Next, you will want to add the water to the baking soda and essential oil mixture. You will want to add it a little at a time.
If you add too much water it will take forever for you trash can deodorizer tabs to dry. If you don't add enough water then they will end up dry and crumbly.
Total, you will want to add around 1/4 of a cup of water. I would recommend starting by adding around 1/8 of a cup of water.
Use your hands or a spoon to work the water into the baking soda and essential oil mixture.
Slowly add more water. I like to add around a teaspoon at a time and then mix it up. Continue to add more water until you have a consistency close to a dough.
If you accidentally add too much water you can always add some more baking soda to your mixture.
Once you have a good consistency then you can start to fill up the silicone tray.
Put about a spoonful of the mixture in each of the spots.
Then use your fingers to push down firmly on the mixture. You can then add some more of the mix if you need it to fill the mold. I like to have each of the molds filled about 90% of the way.
Once you have your molds full then you can set them aside and let the trash can deodorizers dry.
This takes quite a while. I have found usually 24-48 hours depending on the humidity.
If they aren't 100 percent dry they may crack or break so give them plenty of time to dry.
You can take them out of their molds by gently turning the mold upside on a plate and pressing on the top of each mold. Be careful when you are doing this so you don't break them.
Store them in an airtight container so they keep their shape and retain their smell until they are used. I usually store them in a canning jar to keep the moisture out.
To use them put 1-2 of them in the bottom of your trash can. I like to put them under the trash bag at the bottom of the can. I have found that they usually last a few weeks before they lose their smell.
When they stop absorbing odors and no longer smell you can throw them out and put a few more in your trash can.
If you are dealing with some really smelly trash you can put one in the trash bag too.
You don't have to deal with a smelly trash can anymore. With this easy to make DIY trash can deodorizer tabs, you can get rid of the smells and have your kitchen smelling good again.
Don't mask the bad smells, use the baking soda to absorb those smells and let the essential oils leave your kitchen smelling fresh and clean.
Want some other easy cleaning tips? Check out these easy tips on how to clean a trash can. Kill off the germs and have your trash can looking like new.
Leave a Reply