Today we seem to be in the middle of a wave of “recipes for successful viral posts”! 😉 But I get it: With the heat, the kitchen trash can quickly becomes a ticking time bomb if you’re not careful.

Since I can’t see your comments, I suspect my mom’s trick involves one of these three miracle cures:

The “absorbent” trick at the bottom (baking soda)

This is a classic. Baking soda is excellent at neutralizing odors (it doesn’t mask them, but absorbs them). Mom’s method: Simply put some baking soda directly into the bottom of a clean trash can (under the trash bag) or directly into a new trash bag. It absorbs the moisture and that typical summer smell.

Scented Cotton Balls (Essential Oils)

If Mom wants the trash can to smell fresh right away, she can use this trick:

Mom’s method: Put a few drops of lemon, peppermint, or eucalyptus oil on a cotton ball and place it under a plastic bag in the trash can. The smells won’t spread throughout the kitchen, and insects (like fruit flies) hate the scent.

Old Newspapers (to Prevent Overflows)
Sometimes the problem isn’t the trash itself, but the liquid that leaks from a faulty trash bag and settles at the bottom of the bin.

Mom’s method: Place a few sheets of old newspaper in the trash can or directly in the trash bag. They absorb the liquid and prevent unpleasant odors from developing.

One more tip: If you have leftover meat or fish in the trash and it’s 30°C (86°F) outside, put it in a freezer bag and freeze it until garbage collection day. It sounds strange, but you won’t notice any smells in the kitchen!

Did I get it? Or is Mom’s secret something else entirely, like coffee grounds, for example?