I live in a fairly small home, but the most compact space of all is the kitchen. It's so small that there isn't enough room for a traditional trash can without it constantly getting in the way.
The solution? A pull-out trash can from Amazon that we tucked away into a cabinet. We didn't think much of it beyond necessity, but it has quickly become one of my favorite functional features of our home, and even designers approve.
I had no idea how convenient it would become. Now, I would never organize a kitchen without one – and for three key reasons.
How a pull-out trash can fixed the waste snags in my small kitchen
Trash cans are a kitchen essential, but they are far from the most exciting or aesthetic element. This is especially relevant when you are trying to figure out where to put one in a small kitchen that will always be in your line of sight.
Hiding a trash can in a kitchen, however, is the perfect solution.
These split trash cans help you pre-sort household waste and recycling in your kitchen to make disposal easier. The built in lid also helps to contain odors for a nicer-smelling kitchen, and a reduced risk of pests.
1. It saves space
There is no denying that organizing a small kitchen is demanding at the best of times. But when you need to fit such a large essential in, it becomes a logistical nightmare.
Slotting a pull-out trash can into the cabinet beneath my sink did take away some kitchen cabinet space, but in an area that I would not have used for anything other than cleaning products at most. As a pay-off, it freed up floor space, helping me to maintain clear walkways around the small U-shaped kitchen. Given that the only other option would be to put a standing bin blocking the back door, the smaller cleaning cabinet space was more than agreeable.
Besides, as I am making a conscious effort to cut back on harsh cleaning chemicals in favor of green cleaning, I have less to store, making it a win-win.
Finally, there is no denying that hiding your trash can will make a kitchen look expensive, instantly improving the aesthetics of the space.
I will often clean my pull-out trash can with vinegar, as it kills bacteria and mold while neutralizing odors. Plus, it is free from toxic chemicals and is highly versatile, saving space in my small kitchen storage by eliminating the need for multiple products.
For general cleaning and around the trash bin mount, I use a microfiber cloth that I can throw in the washing machine on a high heat to refresh, sanitize, and reuse around my home.
For particularly gross messes on my trash can, I will use a paper towel rather than a microfiber cloth so I can quickly bin it without risking contaminating my washing machine or laundry.
2. It reduces odors
I have quickly discovered that a pull-out trash can is one of the best ways to banish bad kitchen smells.
While a trash bin with a lid does help with this, a trash bin with a lid that is also inside of a closed cabinet offers a second layer of protection against escaping odors. Paired with cleaning a kitchen weekly, and my kitchen never suffers from bad smells (unless we have salmon for dinner, that is).
Trapping odors and containing trash is also a great way to prevent indoor pests. As Ed Dolshun, VP of business development and technical director at Catchaster explains, 'Generally pests are attracted to areas where food and harborage are plentiful. Minimizing food waste, crumbs and spills in kitchen and pantry areas is important as is properly storing open food packages in well-sealed containers.
'Paying careful attention to storage and removal of household trash is also an essential factor when trying to keep your home pest free.'
Using scented trash bags is also a great way to mask trash can smells, reducing odors when opening trash cans to throw items out.
3. It is more convenient
Keeping a trash can under your counter makes cleaning a kitchen after dinner quicker and easier.
It might not seem like a big difference between a pull-out bin and a free-standing can, but as Diane Meyer, interior designer at Interior Designs Atelier shares about a recent project by her colleague Linda Gerace-Skinner, 'When designing an island with a sink, incorporating a trash can pull-out to the left or right of the sink allows for quick and easy disposal of food scraps during meal preparation and cleanup.
'As this (pictured above) is a smaller kitchen in an open floor plan, placing the trash can inside the island cabinet frees up the valuable floor space and keeps the trash can out of the way in high traffic walkways,' she adds.
These pre-divided pull-out trash cans have a fixed lid to prevent odors from escaping into your cabinet and kitchen. The lid also acts as a handy shelf for storing trash bags.
These two extra large cans are perfect for busy households. One thing to note is they do not come with lids, meaning odors may escape into the cabinet, although they will still be concealed from your kitchen.
This mounting kit helps to turn any trash can that fits into a pull-out system. It can also be used for general kitchen storage, making heavier appliances easier to remove from cabinets.
Meet the experts
FAQs
How often should you take out the trash?
It is a good idea to take out the trash every few days to prevent rotting food from making your kitchen smell or attracting pests. A good rule of thumb is to take the trash out as soon as the bag is full or you start to notice an odor.
How do you clean a pull out trash can?
The easiest way to clean a pull out trash can is to remove the canisters and clean them using an anti-bacterial spray and paper towels. While the canister is out, extend the pull-out tray out fully and wipe it down to disinfect.
If you are still concerned about trash odors in your kitchen, consider trying our trash can paper towel hack to create a scented buffer for your space.
