Keeping your compost bin for weeks without emptying its contents will begin to stink up the entire house. Your kitchen compost bin shouldn’t stink. Make it a habit to do about decomposable wastes, like leftover food, to keep your kitchen from smelling.
Unfortunately, regardless of how much care and enthusiasm you put into emptying the trash, there is always the chance that you will, at some point, have to contend with some foul smell.
So what is the best solution here? How can you ensure your compost bin doesn’t smell?
Here are a couple of key tips you can begin practicing that will ensure you keep your bin clean, and your kitchen stench-free.
Check your ratios
The first and most important tip of all is to ensure your green waste never surpasses the percentage of brown waste. The recommended balance is to religiously ensure that the amount of brown waste is set at 3 times the amount of green waste. This is because 90% of the time, the stench of your kitchen compost is a direct result of the decomposition of green wastes, and that putrid smell of ammonia is the direct result of this breakdown.
Filter Replacement
The problem with many people is that they procrastinate. Waiting until your compost begins to stink up the entire neighborhood is the very reason you will have a hard time getting rid of that stench. The best pro-active approach is to ensure you replace your filters every quarter, or preferably not a minute past the 6-month point. Replacing your filters prevents the build-up of putridity, which ensures you don’t have to worry about stinky compost at any point.
Empty Kitchen Bin Frequently
An indoor kitchen compost bin is twice more likely to stir up a stench compared placed outside. So, ensure your bin doesn’t sit in the house any longer than 3 days at a time. Food waste typically begins end-stage decomposition by the time it gets to the third day, so just to be safe, you can establish a two-day routine to ensure this doesn’t happen. Also note that some food items tend to leave a lasting stench when the rot, this is why you need to be keen enough to ensure this doesn’t happen.
Wash the Bin Liner after use
The lining on your compost bin is a notorious area for stench retention, even after emptying your bin, there is always the chance that some of your green waste may be lodged into the lining. This is why it needs to be properly cleaned. Now while most people simply throw it in the dishwasher, you need to evaluate the kind of rot you are dealing with before you do this.
The best solution here is to wash it with some bleach to both sterilize it and get rid of any lingering stench that may be left behind.
Invest in Charcoal filters
Various types of removable countertops come equipped with charcoal filters. What perhaps isn’t common knowledge, is the fact that charcoal filters are very effective stench filters if at some point your compost bin does get smelly. The removable countertops, on the other hand, are great for when you clean the smell off your bin, this means that you can take them out, clean them, and then slide them back in a hustle free.
Don’t let it Soak
While it is advisable to ensure your compost doesn’t dry out, letting it completely soak up water can be counterproductive. The bacteria in your compost pile requires a small amount of water to keep the composting going on. If you put too much, then chances are you will stir up a stench. This is why you should ensure that the waste you throw into your outdoor compost pile from your kitchen compost isn’t too watery.
Bottom Line
Maintaining a healthy, stench free compost is one of the easiest processes ever. What it does require is a schedule and some level of diligence in ensuring you know how much green waste you are putting in and how to mitigate its effects.
This bit of discipline will ensure you never have to worry about a stinky compost bin ever again.
