How to Clean and Deodorize Garbage Cans — Toronto Home Guide

Garbage cans accumulate organic matter — spilled liquids, food residue, and juice from bags — that causes odour and attracts insects. Indoor bins need monthly cleaning; outdoor bins need cleaning after each collection or at minimum every 2–3 months in summer.

Indoor Garbage Bin

1. Remove the bin liner and empty the bin completely
2. Rinse the inside with hot water
3. Add a splash of dish soap and use a long-handled brush to scrub all interior surfaces, including the bottom
4. Rinse thoroughly with hot water
5. Disinfect: spray or wipe with a diluted bleach solution (1 tablespoon bleach per 4 cups water) or undiluted white vinegar — allow to sit for 5 minutes before rinsing
6. Rinse again, then allow to fully dry upside down before inserting a new liner — moisture trapped under a liner creates mould

Outdoor Bin

1. Rinse out the bin with a garden hose
2. Scrub the interior walls and bottom with a stiff-bristle brush and dish soap, or a diluted bleach solution
3. For maggots: pour boiling water into the bin; this kills maggots immediately; then scrub and disinfect as above
4. Rinse thoroughly and allow to dry completely — tipping the bin upside down in the sun for 30 minutes is effective

Odour Prevention

• Place a few tablespoons of baking soda in the bottom of the bin before inserting the liner — absorbs odour
• Cat litter in the base also absorbs moisture and odour
• Wrap meat and fish scraps in newspaper before putting them in the bin liner
• Keep the bin lid closed tightly — prevents flies from laying eggs
• In summer, rinse the bin after each collection rather than waiting for a noticeable smell