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Need a Garbage Odor Eliminator?

Experiencing garbage odors? Make a batch of DIY garbage can deodorizer pods. Remove odors with essential oils in the convenience of a pod!

If you cook as many meals at home as we do, you probably have experienced some unpleasant garbage odors. It’s just one of those things that come with cooking farm-to-table meals. Instead of tossing boxes and takeout containers into the garbage, we have the ends of celery sticks, the remains of gnawed-on corn cobs, and tops to the carrots.

Some things just aren’t meant to go down the garbage disposal, either:

  • Corn cobs – definitely not
  • Apple cores – no way
  • Banana peels – I wouldn’t try it

So, where do these things go? I know we really should do more composting, but it’s just not convenient to run outside all the time to compost food in the garden.

And I just can’t warm up to the idea of having a little composting bin on the kitchen counter. Can you?

So, garbage odors are bound to happen! What can we do?

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Need a Garbage Odor Eliminator? I’ve found these ingredients works best to remove garbage odors. But, instead of using them as a one time use, I created a long lasting alternative.

What haven’t I tried to remove garbage odors?

I must have a sensitive or strong nose because no kitchen odor gets by me unnoticed. Yeah, it’s a superpower I’d like to be stripped of.

What haven’t I tried to remove garbage odors? I felt like I tried EVERYTHING to eliminate garbage odors, such as:

Coffee

I filled a small container with fresh coffee grounds and placed it under the sink. While coffee has a strong aroma that I love, this wasn’t the best idea as I accidentally spilled the coffee grounds when reaching for the dishwasher tablets.

Yep, that required the vacuum to clean up!

Orange

A traditional handmade ornament, orange pomanders made during the Christmas season smell amazing! They basically consist of poking handfuls of whole cloves into an orange, then hanging to freshen the air.

Although fun to make, this is a rather expensive choice as a garbage refresher. Have you seen the price tag on whole cloves?

Peppermint

This stuff is quite the odor eliminator! I even used it to keep the mice away before we got a cat. I have literally dropped straight peppermint essential oil into the garbage bag to banish odors.

This works great until my husband takes out the garbage, and the bright peppermint scent goes with it.

Lemon

This fruit is a well-known deodorizer, too. I use lemon to deodorize my fridge, as a carpet refresher, and linen spray! So, using lemon as a garbage odor eliminator is a no-brainer.

After drinking lemon water, cooking, or crafting with lemons, I toss the peels into the trash. The fresh citrus scent really helps mask the garbage odor. That is until, once again, the garbage gets taken out, and a new bag is started. Or run out of lemons, whichever happens first.

Related: Citrus Summer Stove Top Potpourri

What works best as a garbage can deodorizer? I’ve found a combination of these essential oils works best to remove garbage odors.

So… What works best as a garbage can deodorizer?

I’ve found a combination of orange, peppermint, and lemon works best to remove garbage odors. But, instead of using them as a one-time use, I created a long-lasting alternative.

Easy DIY garbage can deodorizer pods combine the odor-removing power of all three in the convenience of a pod!

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How To Remove Garbage Can Odors:

First, start with a clean garbage can! I know this is pain, but the results last so much longer.

  1. Rinse the garbage can with soap and water (castile soap works great).
  2. Then leave it outside in the sun to dry.
  3. Next, simply drop one citrus mint garbage can deodorizer pod into the bottom of the bin (not in the trash bag) or tape a pod inside the lid.

When the scent eventually wears off, you can put it one more use!!

  • Clean your garbage disposal with it – Turn on the water in your kitchen sink, flip the garbage disposal on, and add the pod.
  • Reuse a pod by dropping it in the back of the toilet to clean and deodorize.

Related: 6 Cleaners to Stop Buying and Start Making

Garbage odors are bound to happen! Create a DIY Garbage Can Deodorizer Pods

How Do You Make Can Deodorizer Pods?

If you’re experiencing garbage odors, make a batch of these easy DIY garbage can deodorizer pods. Harness the power of orange, peppermint, and lemon to combat odors in the convenience of a pod!

Garbage Can Deodorizer Pod Ingredients:

How to Make Garbage Can Deodorizer Pods:

Combine one cup of baking soda, ¼ teaspoon of sweet orange and lemon essential oils, along with half a teaspoon of peppermint essential oil in a medium glass mixing bowl.

Mix the ingredients thoroughly to distribute the essential oils evenly.

Then, slowly add 4 tablespoons of distilled water, constantly stirring until the mixture is just moist and clumps begin to form.

Scoop one to two teaspoons of the mixture into a silicone mold (this is the one I use and recommend). Press to compact each pod with the back of a small spatula.

Allow to dry for 24 hours before gently popping out each garbage can deodorizer pod. Then, store the pods in an airtight container.

Create a DIY Garbage Can Deodorizer Pods

DIY Garbage Can Deodorizer Pods

Yield: dozen

If you’re experiencing garbage odors, make a batch of these easy DIY garbage can deodorizer pods. 

Materials

  • 1 cup baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon sweet orange essential oil
  • 4 tablespoons distilled water
  • ¼ teaspoon lemon essential oil
  • ½ teaspoon peppermint essential oil

Tools

  • 1 silicone pod mold

Instructions

  1. Combine one cup of baking soda, ¼ teaspoon of sweet orange and lemon essential oils, along with half a teaspoon of peppermint essential oil in a medium glass mixing bowl.
  2. Mix the ingredients thoroughly to distribute the essential oils evenly.
  3. Then, slowly add 4 tablespoons of distilled water, constantly stirring until the mixture is just moist and clumps begin to form.
  4. Scoop one to two teaspoons of the mixture into a silicone mold (this is the one I use and recommend). Press to compact each pod with the back of a spoon.
  5. Allow to dry for 24 hours before gently popping out each garbage can deodorizer pod. Then, store the pods in an airtight container.

Notes

When the scent eventually wears off, you can put it one more use!! Learn how.

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Now, you know just how easy these garbage can deodorizer pods are to make and use! Try them today to banish kitchen odors.

If you’re experiencing garbage odors, make a batch of these easy DIY garbage can deodorizer pods.

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14 Comments

  1. I love this idea. I can wait to make some of these pods. Stop by Thursday Favorite Things since you are one of my feature picks.
    Hugs,
    Bev

    1. lifenreflection says:

      Thanks, Beverly they are quite useful!

  2. This is great! We are featuring this tonight at Totally Terrific Tuesday. Thank you so much for linking up with us. We can’t wait to see what you do next.

    1. lifenreflection says:

      Thanks so much, Sherry I’m hoping over now to check it out!

    1. lifenreflection says:

      Thanks Kate!

  3. Hi Kristy, I made these garbage odor pods a few days ago and they are still just in powder form,
    I followed your instructions ….so what happened ?? can I save these by redoing them again?
    Hugs Deb.

    1. lifenreflection says:

      They may crumble a little, but should be set after 24 hours. I wonder if it’s your lack of humidity in the house… since it is winter right now. I would put them back in a bowl add more water and scoop into a mold again. They should feel like wet sand before you put them in the mold.

  4. Hi again Kristy, yes I made them and so wanted them to work because I think you are really on to
    something here…they smell great… I’LL redo the recipe again and see what happens if that doesn’t work
    I’ll start from scratch again !!!
    Thanks for getting back to me so quickly appreciate that !!
    Hugs Deb.

    1. lifenreflection says:

      You’re right they do smell great! OK, I hope that helps.

  5. Okkkk…it worked ,they smell great.. thanks Kristy!!!

    1. lifenreflection says:

      YAY!!! I’m so glad you tried it again 🙂

  6. I want to make these, but it seems to me that they will make a bit of a mess in the bottom of the can. is that not the case?

    1. lifenreflection says:

      No, they stay solid

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