This Simple Swap Could Be the Key to a Cleaner, Less Smelly Kitchen

Your kitchen trash can is a vessel for some of the stinkiest stuff—fish scraps, meat packaging, banana peels, spent cleaning wipes, and whatever else the day (and meal) throws your way. While it seems logical to have the biggest bin possible, some cleaning experts argue that a smaller bin is perhaps the way to go.

Here, pros share why downsizing could actually make it easier to keep your kitchen tidy and odor-free.

What is a Standard Size Kitchen Trash Can?

A standard kitchen trash can is 13-gallons, which isn’t exactly industrial size but is still pretty hefty. Depending on your household, it typically holds anywhere from two to seven days worth of trash; less if you have a large family and more if you’re a small crew or have taken meaningful steps to reduce waste.  

Should You Have a Smaller Trash Can in the Kitchen?

This is a personal question, but there’s a strong case for having a smaller trash can in the kitchen. Some experts argue that scaling back comes with all sorts of benefits, ranging from a less smelly home to easier disposal on trash day. 

Cleaning professional Robin Murphy is team small trash can, and she personally uses a four-gallon bin in her kitchen. For her, it comes down to a behavior improvement. 

“The improvement comes from behavior, not the trash can itself. When the bin gets full quickly, you deal with it quickly, and the kitchen stays neater without much effort,” she explains. “It’s a small change that supports better habits.” 

Trish Duarte, cleaning expert, agrees. She says it’s a simple and practical swap anyone can try out for at least a few weeks. She compares it to having a smaller closet and therefore a reduced desire to buy more clothes, or a smaller bowl that controls portions more effectively. 

How Much Smaller Should You Go?

If your current bin is the standard 13 gallons, try stepping down to something in the five to eight gallon range. That size usually holds about one to two days of kitchen waste for one or two people but still encourages regular emptying. 

“The daily waste generated per person on average is about 2.7 gallons. So, for a single person who cooks lightly, five gallons is likely plenty,” Duarte says. “For a couple or someone who cooks often, seven or eight gallons is the sweet spot. That is still roomy enough for a day or two of typical household trash but small enough to encourage a quick turnover.” 

If you find yourself constantly annoyed, you can always size back up slightly, or split the difference by keeping a small can for food waste and a larger one for dry trash.

Benefits of a Smaller Kitchen Trash Can

Let’s explore some of the benefits of swapping your large bin for a smaller one.

It’s Less Smelly

When trash sits too long, bacteria multiply quickly. “In a warm, moist environment like a trash can, that can happen every 20 minutes,” Duarte notes. “By emptying it more frequently, you stop odor at the source instead of just covering it up with sprays or deodorizers.” 

Fewer Leaks, Tears, and Sticky Messes

Murphy adds that a smaller bin also means you’re less likely to deal with a compromised trash bag. “Because the trash doesn’t sit for long, liquids don’t have time to pool,” she says. Dealing with a garbage bag leak is a nightmare that can result in a train of stinky goo across the entire house, and also a not-so-fun bin cleanup.

The Can Itself Is Easier to Clean

Cleaning out a trash can—which you should do at least monthly, or anytime there’s a spill—is an overwhelming task. And because it’s so annoying, most people just don’t do it. A smaller trash can simplifies the task.

“You can lift them right into the sink for a quick rinse or disinfect them more often without it feeling like a chore,” Duarte says. “And because you are constantly resetting it, it never turns into a surprise science experiment.” 

You’re More Aware of Waste 

If reducing your carbon footprint matters to you, swapping in a smaller trash can offers a two-fold benefit. First, “a small bin fills quickly, which makes your waste output impossible to ignore,” Murphy says. Second, it can curb how much waste you produce moving forward. Murphy adds, “I would expect many people naturally become less wasteful because they see the volume day by day.” 

The bottom line is that a smaller trash bin promises less odor, fewer spills, and a subtle reminder to reduce waste and keep things fresh. It is a small, no-gadget experiment that can make a surprising difference, so it’s worth giving a try.