There’s a foul odor in your kitchen or bathroom and, after a bit of sniffing around, you realize it’s coming from your garbage can. While changing the bag out can take care of that problem quick, sometimes it’s coming from a brand-new bag and you don’t want to waste the plastic and put that bag outside. Other times, the odor can come from the actual can, whether it has a bag in there or not.

You’ll find several garbage can odor culprits, including rotted veggies, leftover meat, poultry, or fish, and that putrid liquid at the bottom of the can that Fresh Wave Works calls “trash juice.” All of these things can lead to unpleasant smells wafting through the air, while also attracting bugs and spreading into other rooms in your home. You can deep clean a garbage can using bleach diluted with water or you can avoid the odors altogether by making your own DIY deodorizing discs.

Simple household items create the perfect garbage can deodorizer

It doesn’t take long to use things around the home or easy-to-find items when shopping to get a little creative and make your own garbage can deodorizer. According to One Good Thing, all you need is baking soda, distilled water, and some pleasant-scented essential oils, as well as a muffin pan or any type of silicone mold.

Add just a few small drops or lavender or lemon essential oil into your distilled water and mix. Then, pour the mixture into your baking soda and mix some more until you’ve made a thick paste. Like you would do with dough if you were baking, spoon this thick paste into your muffin pan or silicone mold and let it sit for about 24-48 hours to harden. Depending on the humidity where you are, it might take the discs more or less time to set, according to One Good Thing.

These discs can be placed right at the bottom of your trash can or anywhere that odor builds up, including diaper pails, litter boxes, and in your bathroom in a small bowl on your toilet tank (via One Good Thing). Your home will smell fresh and clean, preventing unhealthy bacteria buildup, keeping the bugs away, and making you smile when you inhale.

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