Home 3 Hacks to Keep Your Garbage Can From Smelling Ever Again These easy deodorizing tricks will stop that reek in its tracks without a trip to the store. By Lauren Phillips Lauren Phillips Lauren is a former editor at Real Simple and currently serves as a senior digital editor for Better Homes & Gardens. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on July 22, 2022 It happens to the best of us: You return home after a long day, walk into your kitchen, and realize that your trash can has started to smell like…well, trash. It's not just kitchen garbage cans, either—after all, taking out the trash regularly can help prevent these smells from getting overwhelming. But not much is worse than sitting outside in the fresh air on a hot summer day and smelling your garbage cans in the distance. It's not like you can remove the bags (and thus the odor). Is there anything that can mask that offensive smell until garbage day? Fortunately, the solution is simple. Find out how to keep outdoor garbage cans from smelling by using items you may already have in your pantry. In the event that taking out your indoor trash doesn't fully eliminate offending odors, these deodorizing hacks will also work to remove the stench inside your house. How to Deodorize a Trash Can 01 of 03 Newspaper First, thoroughly clean the offending trash can. Then place several layers of newspaper at the bottom of the trash can. These papers will absorb smelly leaks, so if something in your trash bag starts to drip and the bag leaks, there won't be a lingering stench and cleaning up the spill will be a breeze. 02 of 03 Dryer Sheets Dryer sheets can do wonders for your clothes, but they can also help with your trash can problems. Simply drop a sheet (or five) into the bottom of a clean garbage can—soon it will smell just as fresh as your laundry does. 03 of 03 DIY Sachet Using pantry staples, you can make a sachet (yes, like the ones you use in your dresser) to help stop unpleasant garbage can smells. Fill a coffee filter with baking soda, then tie the top closed with floss. Set the sachet at the bottom of your kitchen trash can and get ready to breathe freely. Note that you may need several sachets to make an impact on an outdoor garbage can. If your can still smells, try making a larger sachet using kitty litter and an old piece of fabric. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit