How to Clean a Kitchen Bin?

The cleaning of kitchen bins is always left out in most household chores. This is probably because many think that it is a place to just empty dirt and there is no need of having it cleaned. Every time trash goes into the kitchen bin, dirt and bacteria find a home to dwell in and multiply. With time, you begin to experience the worst smell in your home. The bacteria in the bin when left for more than a week can reproduce up to 600%. This is when it gets unhealthy to keep that bin anywhere near the place you prepare food. On the second week, the weird little maggots start to creep in and that’s a very bad picture. On the other hand, you could also buy a new kitchen bin. We review all the best kitchen bin models here.

If you are one of those who neglect cleaning your kitchen bin, then you are also comfortable with the smell it produces with time.I bet that is not a cool thing to be comfortable with and that is why this article explains the steps to follow to get your bin clean. A clean kitchen gives you the confidence to work in and this will only be achieved when everything in it is clean.

Read Next: How to clean a cafetiere?

Requirements

• Gloves
• Brush
• Dishwashing liquid/ multi-purpose cleaner
• Hot water
• Newspaper
• Tea tree oil/ essential oils
• Rubbish bags
• Towel

Bin Cleaning Process

1. Put on Rubber Gloves

We are talking of a container that can house a number of bacteria and germs, so the gloves come to protect you from having direct contact with them and transferring them elsewhere. Also, food scraps and questionable spills may disgust you in the process interfering with everything because they get disgusting to touch. Always wear the gloves.

Read Next: How to pick the right size kitchen bin.

2. Empty the Kitchen Bin

You are not going to clean the bin when all the trash is still there. Therefore, you are required to empty it and remove the lingering food particles that get stuck at the bottom. For the noticeable dirt, you can always remove them to keep them from interfering with the cleaning process.

3. Wash the Bin

When you are done emptying the bin outside, you can hose it down to remove stubborn residue that are left behind. If you don’t have the ‘washing outside’ option you can always use your bathtub to do this. Wash the bin thoroughly with hot water and detergent. This is where the scrubbing brush comes in. Use it to scrub the seals, inside the lid and at the bottom of the bin. Some people may prefer to use a rag mop to clean the sides. Using the hot water, rinse the bin with it.

Read Next: How to clean a hot water dispenser.

4. The Smell

Fill the bin with hot water and add a few drops of essential oil or tea tree oil and close the lid as you wait for potential smell of the bin to be neutralized. This will take you about 5 to 10 minutes depending on the time you have. After, rinse and let the bin dry or you can use a paper towel or any towel to dry it manually (Drying the bin in the sun gets rid of mould buildup so that is highly recommended.) Then add a few drops of tea tree oil at the base of the bin to curb any lingering odours.

5. Lining the Bin

If you don’t like the liquid that leaks from the bin bags and into the bin base then it is recommended that you place 1 or 2 sheets of newspaper at the bottom before lining it with the bin bag. Newspapers absorb the liquid that leaks from the bag and hold the grime.

Read Next: Kitchen bin storage ideas.

Conclusion

At least every week, you are required to clean the kitchen bin in your home. This provides a good environment to comfortably work in. With regular bin cleaning, you will hardly experience the smell that is brought about by trash in the kitchen. And on a daily basis, just disinfect the bin by wiping the lid and the outside with a disinfectant. Smaller bins require daily emptying. Before you put things in the trash, just make sure to remove all the liquid that might cause leakage to the bottom of the bin. With these simple steps, you get a fresh smelling kitchen that brings all the comfort to work in.

Read Next: This is why your kitchen sponge smells .