Do you have a smelly trash can? Try these trash can deodorizer tabs. They are easy to make and work really well. You can even change up the scents.
I used to clean my trash cans weekly. Yes, I was that person. If you are still that person this post likely won’t help you much. You likely don’t have smelly trash cans, at least most of the time.
Sometimes I miss being that kind of homemaker. The one with the perfectly cleaned home. Those were the days before I had a blog and before I had most of the responsibilities I have now. And let’s be honest, it was before social media. And while I’m working on not letting social media be such a time suck we all know that can be hard.
So now I try to wash out my trash cans monthly, keyword being try. And so sometimes they don’t smell the best, the kitchen trash can really. Like those nights you make fish, oh the smell of fish trash, ick! Even if you clean your trash cans weekly you may have some smell going on.
Sure you can take the trash out right away and clean the trash can all the time. However, do most of us do that? Not likely, thank goodness for trash cans with lids.
I have often sprinkled baking soda in the trash can before adding a bag and sure it helps but when you do clean the trash can it can be even more work to get clean.
So how do you use all the goodness of baking soda without the mess? You make it in to easy to use tabs. Even better add some essential oils for even more odor control.
After my first set of silicone molds, which I used for lavender bath bombs, I have been addicted. I’m always looking for more ways to use them. This project is perfect. You can make these trash can deodorizer tabs by just scooping the mixture onto some wax paper but this works even better. And let’s be honest, it also makes you seem like Martha Stewart.
While your friends may be impressed these are super easy to make. You don’t have to tell them how easy they are if you don’t want to.
Useful Supplies
How to Make Trash Can Deodorizer Tabs
Ingredients
- 2 cups baking soda
- 6-8 tablespoons of water
- essential oils (optional)
Directions
Mix the baking soda and essential oils. How much and what kind of essential oils is up to you. I used about a teaspoon of orange essential oils. Just add the amount of scent is to your preference.
Slowly add the water one tablespoon at a time, mixing after you add. Once the mixture feels a bit like wet sand and when you pack it, it keeps its shape, stop adding water.
Spoon the mixture into a silicone mold and pack it in firmly.
Let dry for at least 24 hours. Carefully pop the tabs out of the molds, if they break to let them dry a bit longer and try again.
Store the trash can deodorizer tabs in an airtight container. Add one or two to the bottom of your trash can as needed.
It’s fun to experiment with the scents for these. I plan to make some with orange, cinnamon, and clove around the holidays. These can also be used in your fridge in place of a box of baking soda. They also would be great for diaper pails!
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LaRea Barnett
Do you place them in the bag? or between the bag and the trash can????
Lisa Sharp
I’ve done both. Normally I put them between the can and bag because they last longer than a bag does. However, if a trash bag is extra smelly and not quite full I’ll throw one in the bag.
Kat Murray
I am ordering the silicone trays and will try. I was thinking outside garbages too. They get pretty stinky!
Thanks for sharing!
Lisa Sharp
Hope it works well for you!
Kia D. Murray
Hi Lisa,
My parents do something we all thought was a tad bit strange but NOW…all of us have adopted their cray cray. LOL. They keep all of their plastic bags from the grocery store & whenever they have what we call “wet trash”….ANYTHING that would start to smell if not taken out the house goes in a plastic bag. I now do this at my house. Before I start cooking, i place a bag on the counter, open it up, then begin adding all the “wet trash” to the bag. After dinner we scrape the plates in the bag then toss.
The trashcan bag can now last for DAYS because the only thing in there is “dry trash”. Now to THIS…I’m adding the trashcan tabs so the kitchen will have a nice clean fragrsnce that I can change whenever I want.
My family used to tease my parents saying they have the cleanest trash EVER….& NOW…so do we! Thanks for sharing! ???
Jan C
I know it’s been a while since this post and you probably will never read this, but when I read your comment I had to laugh. I do the same thing as your parents, anything messy, I put in a small plastic bag then put in the trash can, it cuts down on smell and leaky trash bags too. One other thing I do is save the paper perfume samples that come in magazines and store flyers, and open them up and put in the bottom of my trash cans, smells great!!
sandra
I need to apply this ASAP, thanks for the tip!
Wendy
I only use store bags. I take cardbord of any kind and put it on the bottom to line it so it doesn’t leak. I don’t want coffee ground liquid leaking out. I do the same with my wet trash. I take it outside and I use dryer sheets in my trashcan. I think too I read that peppermint is something bugs don’t like. So I put that on the dryer sheets in the summer months so I don’t get nasty maggots in my trash can.
Linda
We do the same except we keep it in the freezer until trash day.
Emily
I do the same with my meat containers, bones & trimmings. We also compost & recycle. Our garbage doesn’t stink. But I love the idea of fresh smelling cans.
Lez
Aaaarrrgghh!!! Why don’t you compost vegetable waste and use your council food bin collection to keep your’wet’ waste out of landfill??!! Then the only smelly things are the wrappers from meat or fish. Reduce, reuse, recycle it’s the 21st century after all.
Lisa Sharp
Many places don’t have food bins. I’m in the US in Oklahoma and we have no composting or food bins. We just got curbside recycling a few years ago. I do have a compost bin but a lot of people don’t know much about them here and you can’t compost animal products in most home compost bins. We all have to just do our best and we need to show each other kindness.
Cathy Thomas
Putting mine in bag that’s where i have the most trouble.
Kat Murray
Sitting for 24 hours! <3 the orange smell!
Kawaiiimo
Will it work on smelly shoes?
Lisa Sharp
It may, I’ve never tried it.
Cassandra
Smelly shoes are my pet peeve!!! Purification essential oil from young living is the cure. I promise!! A few drops on a cotton ball and throw it in the shoes over night. Voila! The key is to get a high quality oil. You can also make a baking soda mixture with purification but I have 2 toddlers. I don’t have time for that biz! Cotton balls in the shoes. Smell is gone! You can message me if you have any questions. I’m kind of an expert in this because I hate stinky shoes!! ??
Lisa Sharp
Great tip!
liza
did you use regular old ice trays or are there some made with silicone only? sorry for the silly question but I am constantly fighting the smell
Lisa Sharp
Silicone, the molds I used are linked in the post. You could also line a baking sheet with wax paper and just make little balls.
Temi
Thank you. I do not have silicone trays and I have been postponing trying this wonderful idea because of that.
Tara
I’ve used regular ice trays. It still works, you’ll just need a butter knife to pop them out.
Patricia
I am going to try these in my garbage disposal. I will pop 1 or 2 in and turn water on let run a few seconds.
Lisa Sharp
I’d love to hear how this goes!
Laura
Throw a half lemon in the garbage disposal. The oils from the skin help clean it and it smells great.
Christina Kamp
Do you put them under the trash bag or in it?
Lisa Sharp
You can do it either way. I put one or two under the bag but will throw one in the bag if it’s not ready to go out but starting to smell.
Cyn Halverson
I made these and let them sit for 48 hours. They crumble when I remove them. (That is why I let them sit 48 hours) I thought they would harden. What went wrong? I followed the directions perfectly.
Lisa Sharp
Were they dry and crumbly or still wet? I’d guess if they were dry but didn’t stick together you need to use more water. If they were still wet you need to use less or let them sit even longer and use less next time. Hope this helps.
Lisa Sharp
And you can sprinkle these piece in trash cans still. They will work but won’t be as easy to store. If you don’t want to do with the mess just sprinkle in the trash bag instead of the trash can.
Robin
Such a good idea – so much less messy than just pouring baking soda straight in!
LuAnn
I’m sure this is probably a really dumb question so forgive me. You said you were going to use cinnamon and clove fragrance in the fall. Do you still use essential oils or do you just add the actual dry spices?
Lisa Sharp
I use essential oils. You could use the dried spices but they can stain things.
Carla
Great idea—will definitely give it a try!!
Lisa Sharp
If you do let me know what you think.
Debbie
I have made a bunch to put in small bags for shoe deodorizer. Works well so far. Silicone molds are best (I used pumpkins).
Lisa Sharp
That’s a great idea! I have some pumpkins as well, going to have a post using them soon! 🙂
Cliff
Add citric acid like a bath bomb. If you stick them to the side of the can instead of at the bottom, they don’t get wet if there’s a bag leak. Then once the scent fades you can drop it to the bottom & add a bit of water. The fizzing will help clean it & what’s left of the scent will keep you from gagging as you rinse the can out. But the bomb action makes cleaning a breeze.
Lisa Sharp
That’s a fun idea!
Veronica
Thanks for taking the time to share this great tip. I can’t wait to try it out!
Cathy Mantello
I think I’m a bit behind (it’s) March 2019. I have always had “wet” garbage and “dry” garbage. I have a plastic paint bucket under the sink & my plastic grocery bags fit just fine. I always use 2 bags in case one has a hole in it. The “dry” garbage is in a plastic trash can with a swing lid. I don’t think my kids ever complained about it.
Maxine M.
I made these, I even have the same silicone mold. They sat for 3 days and then fell apart as I tried to remove them. Very disappointed.
Lisa Sharp
I’m so sorry to hear that. When they fell apart what texture was it? The amount of water needed is so picky and it can take a bit of time to figure out the texture they need to be.
A
Will the silicone absorb the smell of the essential oil?
Lisa Sharp
I’ve never had any issues with this.
Corléne
Great post! I found that when making these it works easier to wet the baking soda with a spray bottle filled with water. Feels like I have more control of where the water goes and the amount I use.
Lisa Sharp
If you have one on hand that works great.
Kathy
Ooohhh, this would be great with Thieves
Essential Oil mix (I make my own). I do scrub both my regular trash and recycle bin outside and let
It dry in the sun regularly. ?. Adding this will make them a force for good in the room!
Lisa Sharp
That’s a good way to look at it!
Nancy
Raccoons hate peppermint, so making these with peppermint oil keeps them out of the outdoor trash
Lisa Sharp
That’s interesting and a good idea!
Lorie Chrzanowski
I think this would also be a wonderful idea for the garbage disposal! I’m going to make some a give it a try!
DavetteB
Couldn’t you make the tabs plain and add a few drops of essential oil as you use them? 1) you could make different scents as you like, and 2) the fragrance wouldn’t evaporate before you use the last one. Just a thought.
Lisa Sharp
You can, just make sure they are dry before you try and move them or they may fall apart. If you put them in an airtight container I find the scent lasts.