Simple Swap: Scented Garbage Bags
An easy way to get stink-free trash without the scented bags
We’re talking trash. Not the gossip-y kind about your co-worker who definitely came in wearing the same outfit as yesterday, but literal trash. Like the stuff in your garbage can. No matter what’s in it, trash is gross. So, when you think you’ve finally stumbled upon something that can make it a little less stinky, we’re sure you’re going to jump right on it. But, if that solution is scented trash bags we might have a better tip for you.
Instead of getting those odor-block, lavender-vanilla overly scented bags, try a box of baking soda. You can buy a ‘fridge and freezer’ box of spill-proof baking soda and place it at the bottom of your garbage can. Baking soda is great at absorbing smells of all kinds, fragrance-free on its own, and completely non-toxic. If you have a particularly smelly bag of trash you can even sprinkle in a little extra baking soda for added smell reducing power.
Why is that better than getting the scented bags you ask? Well, while we don’t exactly know how those odor block trash bags do their thing (some say it’s built into the plastic, other say they are dusted in smell blockers (2)), we do know that, in general, they have added fragrances to cover up the trash smell. And, we know that products with “fragrance” have been shown to be detrimental to health because companies can hide lots of chemicals, many of which are harmful to your health, under that term on the ingredient list (1).
So, even though we can’t be 100% sure what is added to those scented trash bags to make your garbage smell not as disgusting, we do know there’s a good chance there are at least a couple extra ingredients that probably aren’t good for you. So, instead of taking the health risk on those bags to keep your trash from smelling, next time you need trash bags, pick up a (cheaper) box of regular garbage bags plus an extra box of baking soda.
References
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ffj.1106
- https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304432304576369991322977166
- https://www.ewg.org/enviroblog/2010/02/3163-ingredients-hide-behind-word-fragrance#.W3sv39hKjY0