08 May 2026
Food waste bin cheat sheet:
- Always use compostable liners (look for the Seedling logo)
- Don’t overfill your caddy and tie bags properly
- Keep lids shut tightly at all times
- Rinse regularly with hot water (salt helps too)
- Empty your bin weekly (even if it’s not full)
- Keep bins out of direct sunlight in warm weather
Ok, so… you’ve got a food waste bin.
Maybe it arrived with your new recycling setup. Maybe you’ve had it for years.
Either way, how do you keep it from getting… grim?
Thankfully, it’s easier than you think.
7 top tips for a clean food waste bin.
1. Use the right liner.
Arm yourself with compostable liners (the ones with the Seedling logo) and your future-self will thank you weekly. They’re designed to break down in industrial composting and they’ll help:
- Keep your food bin clean
- Contain moisture and food residue
- Make emptying easier and less messy
If you don’t have liners, you can use newspaper or kitchen roll as a backup.
2. Don’t overfill.
Yes, it’s tempting to squeeze “just one more thing” in. But liners stuffed full of food will split more easily and leak, and it will make the job of emptying the caddy much messier.
Make sure you leave enough space to tie the top of the liner securely and all should be well.
3. Keep the lid closed.
It sounds obvious, but it’s going to make a big difference. A closed lid helps:
- Trap smells inside
- Keep flies out
- Reduce moisture build-up
4. Rinse little and often.
You don’t need to do a daily deep clean BUT a quick weekly rinse with hot water will stop any residue from building up and also keep on top of bad smells.
Top Tip: add 1 tablespoon of salt to the food bin before filling it with hot water so it can soak for a few hours. This really helps sanitize and remove odours.
If you then want to give a more thorough clean every now and then - warm water and some smol Washing Up Liquid will get you back on track in no time. Use an old smol Dishbrush head to scrub into the corners.
5. Empty regularly.
Put your food waste bin out weekly to be collected (whether it’s full or not).
Food waste that’s left sitting for too long is going to start smelling and breaking down the caddy liner. Which all adds up to a messy caddy.
6. Keep cool.
Heat speeds everything up and that includes the rotting down of your food waste.
Store your food caddy in the shade and out of direct sunlight if possible.
7. Check what goes in.
Food bins are supposed to be used for waste like:
- Fruit and veg peelings
- Food leftovers
- Tea bags and coffee grounds
- Eggshells
What you should NOT be putting into your food waste bin is:
And… a quick note on compostable bags. Look for the Seedling logo. It means the liner is certified for industrial composting and will break down properly because it is made from materials like cornstarch or potato starch.
Cleaning food waste bins FAQs.
Catherine Green, Cleaning Expert
Catherine has been on a mission to revolutionise the way we tackle chores since the dawn of smol and is an advocate for making more sustainable living accessible to all, with a strong focus in cleaning that’s heavy on dirt, lighter on the planet. Catherine has tested hundreds of hacks to make tackling chores easier, safer, and better for the planet and our homes.
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