Categories: Kitchens

Where To Place A Garbage Can In The Kitchen?

Published by
James marcus

A garbage can is an essential piece in a kitchen. But this trash receptacle can become unsightly if placed in the wrong location. So what is the best place to put a garbage can in your kitchen? We researched and consulted with different people to give you the following answer to that question.

Homes can take advantage of different locations in and around their kitchen areas to place their garbage cans. Some examples include:

  • Pull-out drawer
  • Under the sink
  • Beside the sink
  • Under the countertop
  • In a closet
  • Outside the kitchen

Property owners should pay attention to their specific kitchen constraints in choosing the best location for their trash cans. Keep reading as we talk about each kitchen trash bin placement in greater detail. Continue reading until the end of this post, and you’ll find other relevant and useful information, such as how to make a pull-out drawer for your kitchen garbage bin.

What Is The Best Location For Garbage Can In Kitchen?

Homeowners should base their garbage can locations on their kitchens’ limitations and current features. Still, some placements can be better than others. Here are some ideal places for kitchen garbage cans to think about:

Pull-Out Drawer

A pull-out drawer can help keep your kitchen’s trash bin out of sight and out of mind. This piece of furniture can keep the garbage can hidden until needed. Aside from hiding your trash, a pull-out garbage receptacle can also give your kitchen extra storage and walking space.

Under the Sink

Placing a garbage can under the sink can be an excellent option for fairly small kitchens. It’s also a good way to store the trash can without the need to remodel certain parts of the kitchen. It also means that property owners don’t have to spend extra money on expensive kitchen renovations.

Plus, placing the garbage can under the sink is a reasonably convenient location to throw food scraps after each meal. But be wary as leaks from the sink can go to the trash bin, which may allow harmful and smelly bacteria to thrive.

Beside the Sink

Another option is to place the garbage can beside the sink as opposed to underneath the plumbing fixture. This location can be a good option for kitchens with fairly limiting dimensions, such as those in campers and travel trailers.

However, keep in mind that placing the trash can beside the sink means that household members and guests will have a clear view of the garbage pileup. So it might be a good idea to throw the trash in the bin to the outdoor garbage bin to maintain the kitchen’s spotless look.

Under the Countertop

An open space underneath a kitchen countertop can also be a great place for the garbage can. Homes with kitchen islands can also take advantage of this location.

Homeowners generally use island counter space to prepare their dishes. With the trash cans underneath the islands, throwing scraps like banana peels and apple skins becomes more accessible than walking across the room to dispose of waste.

Also, our post on the differences between a kitchen island and a breakfast bar will help you choose furniture that fits your home.

In a Closet

An unused closet in the kitchen can also be a good choice to store a garbage can. For example, putting a trash can in a small closet near the refrigerator can be great for throwing single-use food packs.

Some homeowners may also choose to install a small dolly or a set of small wheels for their trash bins inside kitchen closets. These accessories can help add mobility to the container, improving accessibility and convenience to household members and guests when throwing their trash.

Check out this garbage can dolly on Amazon.

Outside the Kitchen

Putting a garbage can outside the kitchen instead of inside the room might be a good choice, particularly for those that deal with piles of trash daily. For example, commercial kitchens and households dealing with a significant amount of waste can place a large waste disposal container outside.

Be wary as placing a garbage bin outside the premises can attract pests to feast on the trash in the container. Prevent this potential problem by covering the trash can. A storage shed made for garbage cans is an excellent choice for keeping animals and insects away.

Check out this storage shed for garbage cans on Amazon.

You can also read our post on the typical garbage can size if you’re curious about the general dimensions of these waste bins.

How Do You Make A Pull-Out Garbage Drawer?

Take note that the following process assumes that you already have an existing kitchen closet that you want to transform into a pull-out drawer for your garbage bin. You should also take many measurements. Doing so will help you prepare in case you need to create wooden accessories to help the garbage drawer slide in and out smoothly.

Also, make sure to practice proper safety measures when handling power tools to prevent injuries. Once you’re finished with the preparations, follow these steps to continue with this project:

What You’ll Need

  • Side-mount drawer slides
  • Hand or circular saw
  • Screws
  • Power driver
  • Wooden fasteners
  • Wood glue
  • Plywood boards
  • Water-based polyurethane solution
  • Cloth or rag
  • Drawer handle
  • Garbage cans

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Create and mount wooden cleats into the cabinet for the drawer slides.
  2. Cut wood based on the measurements you took and create the wooden parts needed for the garbage bin’s cage.
  3. Assemble the wooden pieces using screws, wooden fasteners, and wood glue.
  4. Apply the water-based polyurethane with the help of a cloth or rag to finish the wooden structure.
  5. Mount the garbage cans into the drawer.
  6. Mount and secure the garbage can pull-out system to the kitchen cabinet door.
  7. Secure the side-mount drawer slides to the left and right walls of the inside of the cabinet.
  8. Put the wooden structure between the drawer slides and secure the assembly with screws.
  9. Install the drawer handle and test the assembly by sliding it in and out a few times.

If you don’t have enough time or resources to create a garbage bin drawer, you can find and purchase that product from a houseware or hardware store. Take note that you still have to install the kit yourself. So make sure that you buy a trash bin pull-out system with compatible dimensions for your kitchen closet.

Check out this pull-out waste container system on Amazon.

The video below will show you additional details that will help you with this DIY job:

How Do I Prevent My Kitchen From Smelling Like Garbage From The Trash Can?

Neglect can still make the smell of trash spread around the kitchen despite placing a garbage bin in an ideal location. Homeowners can take advantage of certain methods to ensure their kitchens don’t smell like trash. Some of these solutions are:

Bleach

Bleach is an excellent disinfectant but can also be quite harsh to the skin. So make sure you’re wearing gloves and long-sleeved clothing when using this chemical product to remove stink and harmful bacteria from your garbage bins.

The following guide can help you prevent and eliminate unwanted smells from your kitchen’s trash can with bleach:

What You’ll Need

  • 1 tbsp. bleach
  • 24 oz. spray bottle
  • Water
  • Cloth or paper towel

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Fill the spray bottle with water and add the bleach to it.
  2. Spray the inside and outside of the kitchen garbage can.
  3. Let the bleach dry for about 10 minutes before wiping it off with a clean cloth or paper towel.

Coffee Grounds

Natural coffee grounds typically contain nitrogen that helps in neutralizing odors. Homeowners need only to place coffee around their garbage bins to help remove stinks and prevent the stench from spreading throughout the kitchen.

Baking Soda

Sprinkling some baking soda allows the compound to absorb odors. In particular, this product neutralizes acidic smells like the stench of sour milk. Baking soda can also help in absorbing excess moisture, which means reduced risks of mold and mildew growth.

Is It Recommended To Take Out The Kitchen Trash Every Day?

It’s advisable to throw the trash from the kitchen waste bin every day. Still, this daily task might not be necessary for some households, especially those that prioritize environment-friendly practices. However, throw out the trash every day if you toss frequently toss things like:

  • Contaminated objects
  • Paper towels
  • Diapers and other sanitary products
  • Meat and other food products that aren’t fit to become fertilizer

Final Words

Homeowners have a variety of placement locations in their kitchens for their garbage cans. Some excellent examples would be under the sink, underneath a countertop, or in a closet. DIY enthusiasts may also create pull-out drawers for their trash bins to enhance accessibility during waste disposal tasks.

This post was last modified on 15/10/2023 03:28

James marcus

Garden Courte is a blog written by [James Marcus], a passionate gardener and writer. She has been gardening for over 20 years and has a deep understanding of plants and how to care for them. In her blog, she shares her knowledge and experience with others, providing tips and advice on gardening, plant care, and more.

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Published by
James marcus

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