Bins won’t smell during hot weather if household item is placed inside

While lots of us like the idea of enjoying some time in the sunshine, something nobody wants to contend with is smelly bins. But, as the weather is expected to heat up a lot this week, it may just become more of a problem.

With the heatwave set to send UK temperatures rocketing this week, all sorts of smells may linger, but there’s a simple cleaning hack you can use to prevent your bins from smelling, and it’s a lot easier than you probably think to pull off. All you need is one household item to get the job done efficiently.

It’s not the only advice of its kind to be shared recently either. Previously, people were advised how they can stop having to deal with smelly bins.

A clip was previously shared on TikTok by Lily, known as Clean with Lily, who claimed one household item can make a huge difference. While she also adds some other products to ensure nice smells, there’s a key to stopping odours becoming worse.

Lily said: “I thought I’d do a quick video on how I manage to get my bins to never smell. Once a week I like to give it a deep clean. How I do that is by pouring water in it, and adding a splash of Zoflora.”

She added: “Then I scrub my life away. I make sure to dry it thoroughly afterwards and then I throw in some kitchen roll and a splash of Zoflora again. Then I use bicarbonate of soda in the black bag.”

Since the video was shared, it’s been viewed hundreds of times, with many admitting the trick “works so well”. It’s worth knowing, especially during periods of super hot weather, as it can be used in indoor and outdoor bins.

Why does it work?

Little you may know, sprinkling some bicarbonate of soda into your bin is a great way to stop smells. This is because many foul smells are acidic, and the alkaline baking soda reacts with them to chemically neutralise the scent rather than just masking it with fragrance.

Moisture is a breeding ground for bacteria. Therefore, always ensure your bin is dry after washing and use absorbent paper at the bottom.

What you need to do

To make use of the hack, there are a few steps you need to complete. Add a generous layer or a few tablespoons of baking soda directly to the bottom of your empty bin before putting in a fresh liner.

Then place a few sheets of newspaper or kitchen roll under the bag first to soak up any leaky spills. From here, you can sprinkle the bicarb on top of the paper.

For a pleasant, fresh aroma, mix a few drops of an essential oil (like lemon, tea tree or eucalyptus) into the baking soda before sprinkling it. This is an easy way to get the job done.

However, there is also something else you can do. You can blend bicarb with a few drops of essential oil or dried citrus peels and tie it in an old sock, muslin cloth or fabric pouch.

Simply toss this into the bottom of the bin. This will also aid in preventing unpleasant smells developing.