Things You'll Need

Step 1:

Freshen your recyclables before they're picked up for collection day. Sprinkle baking soda on top of your recyclables on a regular basis.

Step 2:

Clean the recyclables container. On collection day, clean the container by sprinkling baking soda on a wet sponge. Add hot water to the container, swirling in a squirt or two of dish soap. Scrub the inside and outside of the container with the sponge. Rinse the container.

Step 3:

Reduce garbage can odors in trash bags. Sprinkle baking soda between garbage layers as they accumulate.

Step 4:

Reduce garbage can odors inside the can itself. Sprinkle baking soda inside the empty can in order to absorb lingering scents.

Step 5:

Wash and deodorize the trash can. On a regular basis, clean the can using 1 cup baking soda per 1 gallon of water, along with a few squirts of dish soap. Warm or hot water helps loosen stuck-on debris. Rinse outdoor trash cans with a garden hose outside.