I tried 3 hacks to stop my bins from smelling – a £1.50 trick made a total mess but a 55p buy was a total game changer

The Sun

11-06-2025

IF your bins are kicking up a nasty smell, fear not, you've come to the right place.
With summer right around the corner, the warm weather can cause your bins to emit ghastly, unwanted odours.
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But to stop your dirty recycling from marinating in the heat and causing your neighbours to squirm, experts have revealed a variety of simple tips and tricks to keep your bins fresh all summer long.
According to Michael Bogoyavlenskiy, CEO of Cleaning Express, keeping your bins out of direct sunlight can help prevent foul smells.
And while it's important to empty your bin every couple of days and make sure to dispose of anything "particularly pungent", there's also a variety of cleaning hacks that can banish grim smells.
On a mission to ensure my recycling bin smells fresh this season, I, Abby Wilson, tested three simple hacks.
You probably already have at least two of these buys in your cupboards already, but don't worry if your purse is feeling tighter than ever before, as all three are super affordable.
While the cheapest hack will cost you just 49p, your bin will be so clean you'll be able to see your reflection thanks to a 55p trick.
Wash this
According to those at Busy Bins, a simple mixture of washing-up liquid and warm water will do the trick to banish seriously bad stenches from your bin.
So, I got my Marigolds on and dived headfirst into the bin - and yes, it was as grim as you could imagine.
In between holding back gags and wiping my watering eyes, I scrubbed the interior of the recycling bin with the purse-friendly two-ingredient solution.
I then gave the bin a quick rinse with a hose and I have to say, it looked pretty good.
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Whilst it wasn't great at getting rid of the tough stains and did require quite a bit of elbow grease (far more than I'd have hoped), it definitely cut through the strong smells.
It looked pretty good too and thanks to this cheap trick, your bins are sure to shine in no time.
While I used proper Fairy Liquid, if you're on a budget and are looking to pocket pennies where possible, you'll be thrilled to know that you can nab cheaper dish soap from just 49p from Savers.
Rating: 3/5
Powerful paste
After a couple of weeks, it appeared that my bin had gone back to its old ways and was still looking a bit grim.
So I searched for something a bit stronger and bought myself a tub of The Pink Stuff, which you'll find for only £1.50 from Poundland, Sainsbury's and Dunelm.
While this isn't something I've heard many experts talk about when it comes to bin cleaning, I figured the multi-purpose paste which has been hailed as a 'miracle' product that is said to be 'tough on stains', could do the trick.
But after literally five seconds of scrubbing, I was already starting to regret my decision.
Yes, this thick paste is super versatile, but it made a total mess on my bin.
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IF you want to ensure your home is squeaky clean, you'll need to listen up. Below are the household items you're forgetting to clean, and how to get them sparkling...
Remote Controls: Wipe with a disinfectant cloth. Use a cotton bud for crevices.
Light Switches: Wipe with a disinfectant wipe. Use a mild soap solution for tough stains.
Door Handles: Clean with an antibacterial spray. Wipe down regularly.
Underneath and Behind Appliances: Vacuum or sweep regularly. Mop with a suitable cleaner.
Shower Curtains and Liners: Wash in the washing machine. Use a bleach solution for stubborn mildew.
Kitchen Sponges and Dishcloths: Microwave damp sponges for one minute. Wash dishcloths in the washing machine.
Computer Keyboards and Mice: Use compressed air to remove debris. Wipe with a disinfectant wipe.
It was much more hassle than it was worth and there was far too much faff involved with getting rid of the white residue from my bin.
While I love using this product throughout my home, on my grubby oven and kitchen sink, I'm definitely not sold on using it to clean my bin.
Also, the scent is very faint, so it didn't work as well as I'd hoped to keep my bin smelling fresh.
Rating: 2/5
Seriously strong
Disappointed with the mess The Pink Stuff made, not only on my bin but all over me too, I reached for a household hero I knew wouldn't let me down.
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Not only do I use bleach on my loos, but I imagined it would work well on my bin too.
According to the Wheelie Bin Cleaning Service, using bleach, which you can buy for just 55p from Tesco, is a great way to effectively disinfect a bin.
The pros explained that bleach is a 'strong cleaner' that 'kills many bacteria, viruses, and fungi', whilst working to 'keep bins clean and fresh.'
Not only this, but the experts also recognised that it will 'break down tough stains, grease and grime in bins', whilst also 'making bins look new and clean again.'
Eager to let the powerful product do its work, I diluted some bleach with water and threw the solution over the inside and outside of my recycling bin.
I then grabbed a long brush to spread the solution and left it to work for a few minutes.
Moments later, I thoroughly rinsed the bin to get rid of any residue, which is highly important when using bleach as it can be harmful to the environment and wildlife.
As someone who would buy a bleach scented candle if it was available, I was overjoyed with the squeaky clean scent it left behind.
Not only was it a cheap cleaning solution, but it definitely smelt the best out of the bunch too.
But that wasn't all - my bin was left so clean (definitely the cleanest it has EVER looked), I could even see my reflection in it - yes, you heard that correctly.
I highly doubt I'll be popping outside and peering at my bin to check that my make-up and hair look decent, but if you really want your bins to shine, bleach may just be the thing for you.
Although it left me very impressed, the experts recommend that bleach should not be used for routine cleaning of bins due to environmental concerns and the damage it can do to plastic over time.
I'll definitely do this trick again, but for those eager to give it a try, make sure you switch up your cleaning methods, dilute it properly before us and always wear gloves.
Rating: 4/5
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