How to Get Rid of Garbage Smell in a Small Apartment
12.07.2026
To get rid of garbage smell, empty the can, wash it with hot water and dish soap, dry it fully, and drop a layer of baking soda in the bottom before adding a fresh liner. In a small NYC apartment, keep the lid closed, take trash out daily in summer, and never let bags sit near a warm radiator.
What you'll need
- Dish soap and hot water
- A sponge or scrub brush (one you keep for this job only)
- Baking soda
- White vinegar for wiping down surfaces
- Clean garbage bags that fit your can
- A microfiber cloth or paper towels for drying
- Optional: activated charcoal packet for the cabinet or bin
Step by step
- Pull out the current bag and take it to the chute or curb before you do anything else. The smell won't leave while the source is still in the room.
- Bring the empty can to the bathtub or a large sink. In a small apartment this is usually the only spot big enough to rinse it.
- Fill it a few inches with hot water and a squirt of dish soap. Let it sit five minutes to loosen dried spills, then scrub the bottom and inside walls where liquid pools.
- Rinse, then wipe the outside, the lid, and especially the rim and any foot-pedal hinge, where drips collect and dry.
- Dry the can completely with a cloth. Trapped moisture is what turns into odor, so don't skip this.
- Sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda across the bottom before the new liner goes in. It absorbs moisture and odor between washes.
- Add a fresh bag and press it into the corners so juice can't run down the sides.
- Wipe down the cabinet or floor spot where the can lives with a vinegar-and-water mix, since smells soak into wood and grout.
What NOT to do
Don't set a wet garbage can next to a steam radiator to "dry faster" — the heat bakes odor into the plastic and can warp a thin bin. Don't pour bleach straight into the can; it reacts badly with food residue and ammonia-based products and does nothing a soap wash won't. Skip scented plug-ins as a fix; they mask the smell for an hour and leave the source rotting underneath. Don't spray air freshener into a can with a non-opening window nearby and no ventilation — you're just adding fragrance to trapped air. And never let bags pile up by the door in July; NYC apartment heat turns one forgotten bag into a weekend project.
When to call a pro
If the smell lingers after you've washed the can, taken out the trash, and wiped the surrounding area, the odor has likely settled into porous spots you can't reach — under-sink cabinet seams, grout behind the bin, or a slow drain that's the real culprit. That's especially common in older NYC units with tight kitchens and little airflow. A deep clean that hits the cabinet interiors, baseboards, and floor edges usually resolves what surface wiping can't. If you'd rather hand it off, book apartment cleaning with CleanWhale.
FAQ
Why does my garbage can smell even after I take the trash out?
Because liquid from old bags leaks to the bottom and dries into the plastic, and moisture left after a rinse breeds odor. Washing with hot soapy water and drying fully is what actually clears it, not a new bag alone.
Does baking soda really help with trash odor?
Yes, as an absorber. A thin layer in the bottom of the can, or an open box in the cabinet, pulls in moisture and odor between washes. Replace it every couple of weeks since it stops working once saturated.
How do I stop garbage smell in a small apartment with no window in the kitchen?
Take the trash out daily in warm months, keep a tight-fitting lid on the can, and store the bin away from any radiator or sunny spot. A charcoal packet in the cabinet helps where airflow is limited.
Can I put vinegar in the garbage can to keep it fresh?
You can wipe the inside and surrounding surfaces with a vinegar-and-water mix to cut residue and odor. Let it air out and dry before adding a new liner so you're not sealing in moisture.
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