Garbage cupboards, garbage cabinets, pull-out garbage cans – call them what you want, but they’re lovely. (You know, as lovely as garbage can be.) They hide the mess, block the stank, and keep your kitchen looking and feeling orderly.
But just because the garbage is hidden inside of the cupboard doesn’t mean it doesn’t make a mess. Yes, even this part of your kitchen needs to be cleaned regularly. We’ve got a simple, six-part method that allows you to clean your garbage cupboard in minutes.
Garbage Cupboard Cleaning Method
Garbage cupboards are fantastic for keeping trash out of sight and out of mind. They also make it easy to keep multiple garbage bins for separating trash and recycling. The only annoying thing is guests always have to ask where your trash can is. (But, hey, it’s a small price to pay.)
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Here’s our favorite method for cleaning the garbage cupboard:
Step 1: Take Out the Trash
Anytime we clean something here at GoCleanCo, we start with taking everything out. If you’re cleaning your refrigerator, you start by taking every jar and jug out and placing them on the counter. If you’re cleaning out a drawer, you remove everything. And if you’re cleaning a garbage cupboard, you take out the trash. (Or you scream upstairs and tell your spouse to do it.)
Taking out the trash eliminates most of the nastiness and smell, which means cleaning doesn’t have to be as gross. Congrats, you’re done with step one!
Step 2: Remove the Trash Can
With the actual trash bag removed, sealed, and delivered to the outdoor trash bin, it’s time to remove everything else.
If you notice any loose pieces of large trash (like an envelope that slipped between the cracks or a stray banana peel that’s been slowly turning to mush in the back of the cupboard), now’s the time to remove them. You don’t have to worry about getting every crumb right now. We’ll do that in the next step. Right now, you just want to get rid of anything that’s so large, you can’t wipe it up with a cloth.
Step 3: Vacuum Out the Cupboard
Grab your vacuum cleaner (Canada) (USA) and horsehair brush attachment (Canada) (USA) and vacuum every nook and cranny of the cupboard. You want to remove any crumbs that might be lurking around the edges or any of the crevices of the cabinet.
For the cleanest results, start on the perimeter and drag the vacuum attachment along the edge. Apply slight pressure to make sure you’re getting deep into the “seams.” The great thing about using the horsehair brush attachment is that it actually lifts up any dust and grime that’s embedded into these crevices. A standard attachment won’t always dislodge these crumbs.

Step 4: Clean the Interior of the Garbage Cupboard
Okay, now you truly have a clean slate to work with here.
Start with the interior of the garbage cupboard. We recommend using Mr. Clean® here. The multi-surface cleaner is awesome and we use it straight in a spray bottle. It cuts through grease and dirt so works really well inside cupboards. It’s a staple in our caddies.
Because you’ve already removed the garbage bin and used your vacuum attachment to clean up the dust and crumbs, this process is actually pretty straightforward. For the most part, you’re just disinfecting and lifting stains, smudges, and smears.
Spray the cleaner and use a cloth to wipe up any dirt or grime that remained after vacuuming. Mr. Clean® should cut right through any sticky messes or stains that you find. (If you have any shelving or sliders that can be removed, do so. It’s pretty simple and worth it to get in the cracks.)
If the cupboard is really smelly, you can use Clorox® Clean-Up or a mix of hot water, tide and bleach to disinfect and help combat smells. Make sure it is safe for the surfaces inside your cabinets.
Step 5: Clean the Garbage Can
Next up, clean the garbage can itself. This includes both the interior and exterior of the can. For this, use our GoCleanCo bleach solution. This will help disinfect and remove any grime.
Mix up a small batch using 4 cups of hot water, 4 teaspoons of bleach, and a ½ teaspoon of powdered Tide®. Use this mixture to wipe down the entire garbage can, then let it air dry.

Before putting your garbage can back make sure the bins and cupboard are fully dry. (If you’re in a hurry and it’s a nice day, placing the bin outside in the sun for a few minutes can speed things up.) We also recommend lining the bottom with a paper towel and always using a strong bag to keep the bin cleaner in the future.
Step 6: Clean the Exterior of the Cupboards
The final step is to clean the exterior of the garbage cupboard. If your garbage cupboard is built into your kitchen cupboards, this is a good time to give all of them a quick clean. For this, we recommend using our Tide recipe above while omitting the bleach.
If your cabinets are greasy, usually near the stove, use Mr.Clean® to cut through the grease. Just make sure you rinse well with warm water and a cloth so that it doesn’t streak. If you have a standalone garbage, make sure you clean all sides of it with our Tide® and bleach recipe (not just the sides that are showing).

Join the #CleaningArmy
Do you have any additional steps or tricks that you use to clean your garbage cupboard? We’d love to hear about it. Join the #CleaningArmy by following us on Instagram. And for even more cleaning recipes and simple step-by-step processes, check out our brand new Basic Training interactive course that walks you through all of our methods for each room in your home!
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gocleanco
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Mar 23
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Mar 19
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Mar 18
How am I related to these people… #springcleaning
gocleanco
Mar 17
Spring Cleaning all my @ruggable rugs today! I like to wash my @ruggable rugs in the spring and fall and also anytime someone spills something on them. You can also spot treat your Ruggable, they have a stain guard on them for fast emergency clean up! The Ruggable spring sale is running right now and you can use code SPRING23 for 15% off sitewide and up to 20% off the spring collection but it’s only for a limited time so don’t miss out! #sponsored #ruggablepartner
gocleanco
Mar 13
Are you ready for bathroom week? My tub is so gross I have been pleasure delaying cleaning it just for you. #springcleaning
gocleanco
Mar 10
Does your washing machine smell like a swamp? Well, we have a solution for that…..Plus, @target currently has a Circle offer for $2.00 Tide Washing Machine Cleaner in the Target App! Tide Washing Machine Cleaner should be used once a month to help maintain your machine from build up and odours, it works on both front and top loaders to help maintain your machine so you don’t have to pay someone else to. *Coupon expires April 3, 2023 #sponsored @tidewashingmachinecleaner Certain trademarks used under license from the Proctor & Gamble Company or its affiliates.
gocleanco
Mar 6
Spring Cleaning Challenge 2023 is live on the website! Download the challenge and that is your entry into the contest to win a free house clean from @gocleanco in Fall 2023! Plus we will have other amazing weekly prizes of all my favourite things. Stay Classy San Diego, we had so much fun✌🏻 Now let’s do this Cleaning Army, we only have 4 weeks so we have to stay focused and on task. Follow along with me and your house will sparkle ✨ Full rules listed on our website. #springcleaning
gocleanco
Mar 4
Good Morning San Diego! Well it’s nearly the afternoon and I have only cleaned half a fridge and sprayed an oven but all good things take time and patience. This place is gonna shine up like💎 #springcleaning
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Mar 3
@drpimplepopper but for your fridge #springcleaningisherebabyanditsmytimetoshine
gocleanco
Mar 1
#ad Cleaning some stubborn carpet stains with the @bissellclean Little Green® ProHeat® Portable Carpet Cleaner and the amazing @febreze Spot & Stain Formula . It has Heatwave Technology® to help maintain water temperature as you clean, the tools are all included, My fav thing about is (besides it obvious cleaning power and compact design) is that it even has a handy dandy HydroRinse ™ Self Cleaning tool which rinse out the hose when you are done with your dirty work..…finally someone is thinking about cleaning the cleaning tools…my work here may officially be done. *Certain trademarks used under license from The Procter & Gamble Company @bissellcan @bissellclean @febreze #BISSELL
gocleanco
Feb 24
Spring Cleaning Pain Points: What can’t you get clean and you feel like you have tried *eVeRyTHinG* under the sun? Drop it in the comments and I will take ✍🏻 and try to help ya! #springcleaning
gocleanco
Feb 23
I am excited to be partnering on an IG live next week with P&G laundry scientist, Jennifer Ahoni, to discuss their newest laundry innovation, Downy Rinse & Refresh. It’s a fantastic solution to solve your stinkiest laundry issues and we’re going to deep dive into why this is the perfect complement to our favorite laundry detergent. #ad #downypartner #odorisnttheend @downy
gocleanco
Feb 17
What’s your least favourite chore? Mines the never ending cycle of laundry. Like even when it’s done…you still have the clothes you are wearing on while you do the laundry so it’s never actually over…I have been know to rip socks off people if I’m putting in a load of whites to *feel like* I am beating the system 😵💫 I actually don’t mind sorting it, washing it, putting it in the dryer but the party stops there. I hate folding and putting it away. I feel like there should be a robot for this by now—it’s 2023! Now this the AI I can get behind.
gocleanco
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Dishwasher Filter 101 🤮 Whose ready for spring cleaning?! I’m gonna start psyching y’all up so you are READY FOR COMBAT. #springcleaning
gocleanco
Jan 19
How often to you mop your floors? Be honest cause I’ll come over and check if you are lying. #cleaningmotivation
gocleanco
Jan 18
Fancy New product Alert: Downy Rinse & Refresh is @downy ‘s biggest innovation in the last 30 years. Now, listen up because this isn’t like regular Downy, it is actually not a fabric softener, even though it goes in the fabric softener drawer! Rinse & Refresh helps with mega stubborn STINKY laundry by removing residue that traps in odour. It’s the perfect compliment to everyday smelly laundry like gym clothes, hockey clothes or that load of towels you left sitting in the washer overnight and actually removes odour three times better than laundry detergent alone. Come watch my stories today — I rounded up my teenage nephews hockey gear 😷and we will put it through the ringer. (Pun intended). What is your stinkiest laundry problem? Let me know in the comments and we can get researching 👩🏼🔬 #DownyPartner
gocleanco
Jan 12
Bleach, Pray, Love (and a little elbow grease) 💕 #cleaningmotivation
gocleanco
Dec 31
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gocleanco
Dec 29
Are you team Boxing Day Christmas decor tear down or Team January tear down? I took mine down before we left and I’m currently feeling like it was hands down, my most genius idea of 2022. Now to tackle the worlds largest pile of laundry and prep my life for 2023 🎉 #christmascleanup