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the tip that wasn’t

October 10, 2013

This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

I’m going with the theory here that even though something doesn’t work, you still need to know about it, hence the tip that wasn’t.

Have you heard that if you drill holes near the bottom of your plastic garbage can it will prevent that awful suction effect as you’re trying to get your bag of garbage out?

I tried it.

It didn’t work.

That’s my “SERIOUSLY?!?!?!” look.

And I tried it with just the inner plastic bin on the ground to make sure it wasn’t something about our outer can preventing the air from going into the holes I drilled.

No luck.

Now, if you don’t fill your bag full it might work. But if you try to fit as much as humanly possible into each garbage bag like we do up in here, skip this tip.

I’d love to hear any little tip fails you’ve experienced. What a let down when you think it’s gonna be something cool and it ends up being a dud, right?!?! I even made a video of the problem and then drilling the holes in the can with plans for a grand finale finish because I thought this idea was so simple and could make such a different. #wasteoftime

BUT, tomorrow, you guys, genius is happening. I just discovered something that has me so excited I’m not sure how I feel about myself. So, of course, you NEED to know about it!

31 things you need to know

« Day #9 – the ove glove
how reclaimed wood wall art made it to the top of the zero priority project list »

Comments

  1. txvoodoo (@txvoodoo) says

    October 10, 2013 at

    Boiling hardware that has tons of old paint on it, then plunging it in ice water to make it come off easily. FAIL! Old hardware stayed icky and painted!

    • Shelley says

      October 11, 2013 at

      tx, the tip I heard about removing paint from hardware is to use a crockpot (preferably one from a thrift store). Cover hardware with water, add a squirt of dishsoap and leave on low overnight. In morning should be able to easily remove the paint. Follow by spraying with Rustoleum paint.

      • Karah says

        October 12, 2013 at

        thanks for the tip, that could come in handy!

    • Karah says

      October 12, 2013 at

      ohhhhh, so good to know NOT to do that!

  2. Traci says

    October 12, 2013 at

    I was very disappointed when denture cleaner did nothing to clean out my old bottles. I might think about gluing the plastic inner bin to the outer bin with some hot glue. That might keep it in place but you could always easily pry it loose.

  3. Kathi says

    October 31, 2013 at

    Here’s the most surefire way I’ve found to overcome the trash can suction problem, assuming you’re using plastic trash can liners that tie at the top.
    1. Loosely tie the bag closed.
    2. Tip the trash can onto its side.
    3. Slide the bag out. 99% of the time it slides out with no suction problem.
    4. Untie your bag, throw a few more items into it, retie and dispose.
    I hope this helps.

    • Karah says

      November 1, 2013 at

      Thanks for the tip!

  4. Jessica says

    December 18, 2013 at

    Thank you so much for trying this for me. I’ve been dying to, but don’t want to deal with any leaks on the floor if the plastic bag fails, so I haven’t been brave enough to try. (with 3 kids, you never know what’s going to end up in your trash can)

  5. Connie says

    January 4, 2014 at

    The easiest way to remove a trash bag liner from a bin, is to double line it. Line the trash bin with TWO trash bag liners and remove and replace the inner bag as needed. The plastic on plastic makes the inner liner slip right out without any of the suction problem and you have the extra protection against leaks. Promise it works!

    • Karah says

      January 5, 2014 at

      I am going to have to try this, thank you!!

  6. Micheline Landry says

    February 6, 2014 at

    I tried a few “great tips/ideas”. I dyed my hair with coffee. No luck. Stubborn grey maybe? I made air fresheners with baking soda and essential oils. They only smelled for five minutes. I soaked my feet in a mouthwash concoction and found that a simple hot bath works much better to exfoliate my feet. Still trying things tho!

    • Karah says

      February 7, 2014 at

      Hahaha, I’m picturing the coffee hair dye trick. Too funny!

      • Micheline Landry says

        February 7, 2014 at

        It was days ago and I still smell java when i shower!

        • Karah says

          February 9, 2014 at

          LOL!!

  7. Bambi Berkowicz says

    March 11, 2014 at

    By looking at the pic, I’d say that you and I have the same trash can. Mine works beautifully. I would like to suggest that you remove the black bin from the metal casing, place it on the floor, and THEN your bag will come out easily. Mine does. It’s the black bin that has the hole in it and if you don’t remove it from the metal one, the suction will still fight you. I hope this works better for you. I love my trash can because of this and I never thought I’d find myself touting the qualities of anything that had to do with garbage. (shaking my head, rolling my eyes, and sighing…)

    • Karah says

      March 11, 2014 at

      hahaha, I can picture the whole head-shake, eye-roll and sigh now 🙂

  8. Patti says

    May 25, 2014 at

    I keep the trash can lined with paper towel (only replace if the bag leaks and soils them) and my trash can doesn’t suck…. I also use ground ginger sprinkled in the bottom of the can to help control odor.

    • Karah says

      May 25, 2014 at

      I love these ideas, Patti. Would have never thought of the ginger!

  9. Mava Leighty says

    July 14, 2014 at

    Don’t bother to try cleaning your toilets with Coca Cola; or with denture cleaner; or shining and removing tarnish from a brass sink with ketchup. Thanks for your non-tips and good other tips!

    • Karah says

      July 14, 2014 at

      Ha! I love that you shared these non tips, kind of crazy what is out there!!

Trackbacks

  1. Day #31 - the last lecture the space between says:
    October 31, 2013 at

    […] we’ve picked up along the way. And a few things that didn’t really work out, like that garbage can trick, and I’m still not sure about the bottle cutting […]

  2. 31 things you need to know {and won't believe you didn't already} the space between says:
    November 6, 2013 at

    […] one of the most annoying things that happen during DIY Day #9 – the ove glove Day #10 – the tip that wasn’t Day #11 – remove sticky residue with something in your pantry (and many comments explaining […]

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