Every fortnight, Laura de Barra brings her home maintenance expertise to the Glenveagh Home Magazine on TheJournal.ie – and this week she’s sharing her tips for stopping the kitchen bin becoming a monster.
If you’ve just moved house or are in need of a new one, consider not going for cheap plastic. Aside from the obvious reasons, stainless steel for example will last far longer.
Pedal bins are ideal as you’re less likely to drop anything on the lid or flap, they also mean you can use two hands if scraping plates, so the likelihood of drips and spills is reduced.
Anything that can be integrated keeps your kitchen safer from pests – but if yours is not hidden away, make sure it has a secure lid that is always kept closed. Never store your bin in direct sunlight, this will heat up its contents, making it rot quicker and create a really nasty smell.
When it comes to food waste bin size, you want to make sure you have the smallest bin you need. A bin too large will mean waste sits for longer as it takes more time to fill.
In terms of bin bags… there are some great ‘eco’ bags out there now which is fabulous. If you do use bin bags, make sure you are buying packs that have certified recyclable signs.
Here you will need an antibacterial cleaner, cloth, washing up liquid and pop on some rubber gloves. A note here: when I say antibacterial, this doesn’t mean I am recommending you use a nasty chemical spray, it is 2019 after all.
As with my previous articles, I suggest using a natural cleaner as these are better for our bodies, our world and our pockets – but have just as good a result. You can buy an eco spray or make your own! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, vinegar is an amazing cleaner! It is naturally antibacterial but also eliminates odours so is perfect for this job.
To a spray bottle, basin or bowl, add:
If you don’t have any outside space, the easiest way to clean your bin is to use your shower or bath. If you have a plastic insert for your bin, you can wash that part separately.
Pour warm water from a recently boiled kettle and some washing up liquid into the end of the bin first, this will loosen and harden spillages and is great for any oily spills… and odour. Swirl this water around until you are happy that it has covered all of the base and done its job. Now flush this away – in your toilet, not your drain.
Drench your bin with the homemade natural antibac. Pay particular attention to the pedal, rim and interior of the bin. Wipe clean all areas and shower down to rinse. Turn it upside down to drip dry for a few minutes then buff with a dry cloth. Metal bins especially need to be dried completely as soon as to prevent watermarks or rusting of fittings.
The best way to keep bin odours to a minimum is to use something that is a natural deodoriser. Coffee, lemon or vinegar work well but I prefer bicarbonate of soda as you can sprinkle some in the bottom of your bin and leave it to work its magic as the bin fills.
It will neutralise any smells but also absorbs any small spills. This is also great for wheelie bins!
Another way to keep your bin fresh is to wipe down the lid inside and out daily with the home made spray, or add a splash of vinegar to a damp cloth.
Follow @lauradebarra on Instagram for more pro cleaning tips (and plenty of other fabulousness too).
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