Get Rid of the Garbage Smell in Your Garage
Most people store their garbage bins inside of their garage to deter hungry animals and critters. People store cars and other important things in their garage, so it’s important to reduce noxious odors to protect these items from smelling. These smells are especially bad when the summer heat hits and temperatures begin to rise. The human nose operates optimally in warm weather when the air is warmed and closer to our body temperature, while cold weather reduces our ability to detect smells. Humidity in the air traps odor causing molecules that travel farther and linger longer. Be prepared and take care in managing these odors before the summer months.
Why does garbage smell bad in the first place?
Moldy, rotten, and spoiled foods are likely the culprit for your smelly garbage cans. Strong smelling foods like fish, garlic, and onion are especially hard to mask, in addition to rotten meat, spoiled milk, and old eggs. Organic material produces methane when decomposing which is a big cause of the horrible smells in the trash. These smells can linger for days, and even weeks, when thrown in a can. It might seem obvious, but regular cleanings of your garbage cans is one of the best ways to attack odors. Try using warm soapy water, a long-handled scrub brush, and disinfectant while focusing on the gunk that forms at the bottom of the cans and underneath the lids on a more regular basis. Vinegar and bleach work well to neutralize odors. Allow your garbage cans to dry in the sun, which kills the bacteria naturally.
Is rotting garbage a health hazard?
Yes. Health hazards from rotting garbage are real due to the bacteria that can be found in garbage. Bacteria is one of the main reasons that garbage begins to smell. Moldy food like bread and cheese can release harmful spores in your air and home.


How do I stop the smells?
Reducing food waste is probably the best way. Composting can help if you throw away a lot of food. If you don’t want to make a compost pile or don’t have the space, use heavy duty plastic bags or keep your food waste in the freezer until garbage pickup day. Throw away any paper or cardboard that has absorbed moisture. Clean up spills on the garage floor and even consider sealing the floor with epoxy coating or garage tiles. Concrete garage floors are very porous and soak up odors and liquids. If you don’t want to go through the process of sealing, just apply kitty litter to spills and sweep it up after about an hour to soak up the moisture. Put cat litter, baking soda, citrus peels, dryer sheets, or a few chunks of charcoal at the bottom of your cans to absorb the bad garbage smell. You could just opt for scented garbage bags, or better yet, sturdier bags that resist tears, rips, and punctures (leading to smells). You can simply air out your garage with portable or ceiling fans for a few hours to ventilate the space on a monthly basis.
Professional garbage removal services are key to staying healthy and eliminating unpleasant odors. At Pinard Waste we pride ourselves on our reliability, reputation, and 50+ years of experience. Please visit our website or call us directly at (603) 623-7933 or use our online form to request an analysis.