Out Before It's Full

A trash can is one of the smallest jobs in the house. It's also one of the easiest to put off.

The good news is that it's a short list, and it's the same every time.

Check it first

See whether the trash can is full or starting to smell.

You don't have to empty it every time. Looking first tells you whether today is the day.

Tie the bag and take it out

Tie the bag closed and take it out.

Tie it before you lift it. A closed bag can't leak or spill on the way to the outside can.

Take the recycling too

Take any recycling to the recycling collection bin.

Do it on the same trip. It's one walk, not two.

Wipe the lid and the rim

Wipe the lid and the rim with a damp cloth and a little all-purpose cleaner.

The lid and the rim are the parts you touch. They pick up marks and smells long before the inside does.

Wash it out now and then, then put a fresh liner in

Every so often, wash the can out and let it dry completely. Then put a fresh liner in.

A damp can starts to smell again. Dry it fully, then the liner goes in.

The larger lesson

Trash cans don't smell because you forgot. They smell because the same few steps stack up. Doing the small version often keeps the big version away.

A fresh liner is a fresh start.