Kitchen bins and recycling: keep odours and pests away in Spain
Smelly bins, fruit flies and sticky recycling? A practical routine for kitchen bins and recycling at home on the Costa del Sol, whatever the weather.
· 2 min read
Why bins smell worse here
Warmth speeds up everything that makes a bin unpleasant. On the Costa del Sol the kitchen can stay mild well into November, so food waste ferments quickly and attracts fruit flies and, in ground-floor homes, ants.
Most of the smell does not come from the rubbish itself but from the bin: a thin film of liquid and residue at the bottom and under the lid. Fixing that is more effective than any air freshener.
A simple weekly bin routine
Empty the bin before it is full rather than after it overflows, and never leave food scraps overnight in an open bin. Tie bags properly, and use a bag that is a little larger than the bin so it cannot slip down the sides.
Once a week, wash the empty bin with hot water and a little washing-up liquid, scrub the rim and the inside of the lid, rinse and let it dry fully in the air before putting in a new bag. A splash of white vinegar in the rinse water helps with lingering smells; do not combine it with bleach or other products.
Keep wet waste small and cold
Peelings, coffee grounds and leftovers cause most of the trouble. Keep a small lidded container for them and empty it into the communal container every day, or freeze strong-smelling scraps such as fish and shellfish shells until collection day.
Drain liquids before they go in the bin, and wrap meat and fish trimmings in paper first. A thin layer of newspaper or a paper towel at the bottom of the bag absorbs moisture.
Recycling that stays clean
Rinse packaging quickly rather than washing it thoroughly: a swirl of water is enough for yoghurt pots, tins and bottles. Unrinsed packaging is what draws flies and leaves a sticky film in the recycling bin.
Collection systems differ between municipalities, so check which containers your area uses for packaging, paper, glass and, where available, organic waste, and keep the recycling in a ventilated spot such as a utility room or balcony rather than inside a warm cupboard.
Holiday homes and absences
If you are leaving a villa or apartment for more than a couple of days, take all rubbish out first, wash and dry the bins, and leave the lids open or the bins empty. A forgotten bag is one of the most common causes of a bad welcome on return.
If you would like the kitchen and bins reset before guests or your own arrival, Lavanda can include this in a pre-arrival clean, so the house is fresh when you walk in.
