Where garbage smell hides
Bags leak. A little liquid from takeout containers or food scraps pools in the bottom of the kitchen bin and goes sour. Recycling bins collect drips from beer bottles and food cans. The garbage disposal holds bits of food under the splash guard. Bathroom bins collect their own smells. Outdoors, Denver's city carts sit in the sun in summer, and if pickup is days away, the smell drifts toward doors and decks.
Short-term guests often leave more trash than residents, especially after group stays and takeout-heavy weekends, and they do not know your pickup days. Without a routine, the next guest arrives to a full outdoor cart and a kitchen that smells faintly of last weekend.
Turnover routine
- Empty every bin.Kitchen, recycling, bathrooms, bedrooms and any bin on the deck or in the garage.
- Wash the insides.Spray and wipe the inside and lid of each bin, dry it, and put in a fresh liner. Wash the kitchen bin fully if liquid has pooled.
- Clean the disposal.Lift the splash guard and scrub underneath, then run cold water with the disposal on.
- Check the fridge.Remove any leftover food, wipe spills and check the drip area at the bottom.
- Check outdoor carts.Make sure lids close, bags are inside, and carts are where they should be for the next pickup.
For the house guide
- Where trash, recycling and compost go, with photos of the carts.
- Which day pickup happens and whether guests should take carts to the curb.
- What to do with extra trash after a big group stay.
- A request to rinse bottles and cans before recycling.
- Where spare liners are kept.
Common questions
Do bin deodorizer pucks help?
They cover odor between cleanings, but washing the bin removes the cause. A clean, dry bin barely smells.
What about compost?
If your unit has a compost bin, empty and wash it every turnover and keep it lidded. Food scraps go sour quickly, especially in summer.
Should guests take the trash out before leaving?
Many hosts ask guests to bag kitchen trash and leave it in the outdoor cart. Keep the request simple; the cleaner still checks every bin.
What if the outdoor cart itself smells?
Rinse it out with a hose and mild detergent after pickup, let it dry with the lid open, and keep it out of direct sun near doors if possible.
General information for LoHi, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.