A proper kitchen bin is a must-have for every kitchen. You can’t just buy anything that you see in the market because it’s cheap. There are several factors you need to weigh in before picking your kitchen bin. Will the lid spill over? Will it be smelly? Do you have to pull up the dirty cover, or is it automatic? These are some of the things you need to ask yourself before deciding which kitchen bin to get.
Choosing a kitchen bin used to be so easy, but that’s no longer the case today. It’s not always easy to find a kitchen bin that will satisfy your recycling requirements and preferred style. You might be looking for a bin that is big enough to take care of all your waste or a bin that’s not that big but is stylish. The style might be important for you but you have to remember that aesthetics are just part of the bigger picture. No one likes to have very small bins that the bin liner is constantly overflowing, or those touch bins that sooner or later you need to whack open, or swing bins that always have sticky lids.
So, which kitchen bin is best for you? Read on and find out.
Choose the right bin size for your kitchen
The size of your kitchen bin is very important. You need to consider the size of your household and the size of your kitchen as well. Let’s say for example you are a family of four or more, it is advisable to get the bin with the largest storing capacity that can fit your kitchen. For a smaller kitchen or if there are fewer people in your household, a 20-30 litre bin should be enough. The main idea here is to limit the time you have to empty your kitchen bins but not letting the rubbish sit there for a long time to smell.
You should also assess your floor space. Most of today’s kitchen bins take up a huge amount of floor space. If you have a lot of space, this shouldn’t be a problem. However, if your floor space is somewhat limited, then you can consider getting taller and slimmer bins which you can squeeze into tighter crannies, nooks, and corners of your kitchen.
Consider what you need for recycling
If you are to recycle or segregate your rubbish, then a single bin is not enough. Multi-compartment bins can offer an all-in-one solution if you need to separate your non-recyclables, biodegradables, paper, cans, plastics and glass. You can also consider using slimline bins side by side if you need more storage space, especially when your multi-compartment bin is not enough.
Choose the most hygienic bin
Look for a bin with removable plastic inner compartments. They make it easier for you to pull the full bin liner. These compartments will also prevent the bin liner from splitting when you pull them out of the bin. You can also put a charcoal filter to your bin if you can’t stand the nasty odour coming from it. You should also consider getting kitchen bins that can be easily cleaned like stainless steel and plastic. These bins are easy to wipe. But make sure to keep an eye out for hard-to-reach spots where filth can collect.
Types of bins
There are four types of kitchen bins. They are mainly the pedal bins, dustbin style, touch bins and swing bins. Pedal bins come in many different styles as well so you have more choices. They also are hands-free because you only need your foot to open the lids. However, their lifting mechanism can go wrong in time so you have to use your hands when that happens. Food wastes can also get stuck in the hinges so it might be a little messy and stinky. Dustbin style bins are easy-to-clean kitchen bins. They are also very affordable and they look good in any kitchen style. However, their bin liners show and you need to have a free hand to lift the lid. Like pedal bins, touch bins also come in different styles and are easy to open and close. They also have the potential to have their lifting mechanism get damaged and food wastes can also get stuck in their hinges. For swing bins, they’re easy to use because they keep your hands free. They are also very affordable. However, their lids do not always close properly and they easily get sticky and dirty.
All these kitchen bins have pros and cons so it’s all up to you what advantages and disadvantages you want to deal with in choosing your kitchen bin.
Where to put your kitchen bins
We spend most of our active time at home in our kitchens. Most families spend a lot of time together in the kitchen that is why it is important for us to have a clean and pleasant one. One thing that is keeping our kitchen from being pleasant is messy bins. There is no need to worry though, solving this problem is easy peasy. A few kitchen adjustments via an organised bin system can get rid of this nuisance. Here are some tips to follow in deciding where to put your kitchen bins:
- Kitchen layout. Before organising your kitchen bin system, you need to consider your kitchen layout first. You need to have separate zones for preparing, cooking and cleaning. Kitchen bins should be placed in the cleaning zone. They should be far from fresh food and should also be near the exit so that taking the rubbish out, as well as recycling, can be done quicker and easier.
- Proper waste system. The waste system in your kitchen does not end indoors. It should extend to the outside bin where the rubbish is collected. Waste movement should be smooth and efficient. This means that the transition from the kitchen, going to the outside bin on the way to local collection should be very well organised.
- Take out the trash regularly. See to it that your trash is taken out regularly. Forming a healthy cleaning habit can help your bins become pleasant and not disgusting or unhygienic. Also try to make sure that upon taking out the trash, you clean your bins.
