Best Kitchen Trash Cans of 2021 | Wirecutter's Review

2021-12-06 08:39:24 By : Ms. Xixi Liu

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The Simplehuman stainless steel touch bar tank (a good alternative for those who cannot use the step tank) has been discontinued, so we removed it from the guide. We are looking to test other accessible options.

The Simplehuman stainless steel touch bar tank (a good alternative for those who cannot use the step tank) has been discontinued, so we removed it from the guide. We are looking to test other accessible options.

The Simplehuman rectangular ladder tank with plastic lid (our preferred variant) has also been discontinued.

Let's talk about garbage. Taking it out is never a fun thing, but a good container can make the task less laborious. Since 2014, we have tested more than 20 kitchen trash cans, and we believe that Simplehuman rectangular ladder trash cans are the best choice for most home kitchens. It makes it easy to throw out trash, changing the bag is painless, and cleaning is a trivial matter.

The universal garbage bag is very suitable for this beautiful-looking stepped can. It has a tight lid to minimize odor.

May be out of stock

May be out of stock

Compared to most other tanks we have tested, the 10-gallon Simplehuman rectangular step tank makes it easier to install, conceal and remove standard garbage bags. (Don't be intimidated by the custom bags that Simplehuman sells for its trash can. Most models are suitable for ordinary trash bags.) The lid opens smoothly without hitting the wall behind, and it can be locked open so you can cook Throw the crumbs in at the time. If the garbage bag breaks and leaks, the plastic insert on this jar will catch the garbage and make it easier to clean. Rectangular step tanks are expensive, but provide a 10-year warranty, which is rare in trash cans. We have been using an older version of this tank in the Wirecutter test kitchen since 2014, and despite a lot of abuse, it is still very powerful.

This undercounter trash can is sturdy and durable, and can slide easily on a pull-out rail. It is pre-assembled and installing it is a breeze.

*At the time of publication, the price was $80.

If you don’t have space for a larger free-standing trash can, or if you want to hide the trash can aside, we recommend that you use a 30-liter Simplehuman pull-out trash can. This 30-liter can is housed in a sturdy metal frame, will not shake, and can slide smoothly on the track. The track is pre-assembled and only eight screws are needed to install it to the bottom of the cabinet. In addition, the entire device comes with a generous five-year warranty. The main disadvantage is that since this trash can has no lid, you need to take out the trash more frequently to prevent it from emitting a peculiar smell or attracting fruit flies.

This small trash can can be safely placed on the cabinet door to make room for a comfortable kitchen.

The compact 10-liter Simplehuman tank is smaller than the pull-out tank and is suitable for those who do not generate a lot of waste and need to hide. It hangs tightly on the cabinet door and fits 2.6 gallon garbage bags or ordinary plastic food bags. Unlike the Simplehuman counter pull-out tank, the tank inside the cabinet has a lid to contain the smell. Because it is very small, it is most suitable for small apartment or people who often take out garbage. Like the pull-out bin we recommend, it comes with a five-year warranty.

This plastic trash can is bagged more safely than most other cheaper trash cans we have tested, and it seals the smell of trash surprisingly well.

The 13-gallon Rubbermaid Step-On trash can is the best trash can we have tested, and it costs less than $30. The two plastic arms on the edge of the jar can hold the bag firmly in place and invisible, and the lid is sealed in the smelly trash better than any other type of lid we tested. Although Rubbermaid is not as stylish as some of our other options, the black plastic case at least hides stains well. This may lack some of the features we like in other options-such as removable lining, weighted base and lid that won't hit the wall when opened-but for a basic, concise can, it gets mission completed.

The universal garbage bag is very suitable for this beautiful-looking stepped can. It has a tight lid to minimize odor.

May be out of stock

May be out of stock

This undercounter trash can is sturdy and durable, and can slide easily on a pull-out rail. It is pre-assembled and installing it is a breeze.

*At the time of publication, the price was $80.

This small trash can can be safely placed on the cabinet door to make room for a comfortable kitchen.

This plastic trash can is bagged more safely than most other cheaper trash cans we have tested, and it seals the smell of trash surprisingly well.

In order to find out what is a good trash can, I sought guidance from many experts. In order to understand the best practices and materials for preventing small animals from entering the trash can, I spoke with Dr. Matt Frye, an extension educator for Cornell University and New York State Integrated Pest Management. For information about trash cans for people with disabilities, I consulted Richard Hunt, an expert in accessibility design law and the author of the blog accessibility defense.

In addition, I personally check the trash cans in stores such as Bed Bath & Beyond, The Container Store, and Home Depot.

As a senior staff writer at Wirecutter, I reviewed various kitchen gadgets and equipment. I researched hundreds of trash cans (from super fashionable to horrible, and all trash cans in between) and tested a dozen models for our 2020 update. My research builds on the work of former Wirecutter senior staff writer Kevin Purdy, who wrote the first version of this guide in 2014.

One of the most important things to consider when choosing a kitchen trash can is how to use it. Except for some in-cabinet models, most jars have lids. But you will find various lid styles with various opening mechanisms, the worst of which will drive you crazy when you scramble to cook. If you have trouble deciding which one to buy, here is an overview of the five basic styles and who they are best suited for:

After conducting research on more than 200 trash cans since 2014, talking with many experts, and our own years of testing, we found that there are many factors that make some trash cans easier to use and clean than others. The following are the most important features we look for when choosing the trash can to test:

Durable materials: According to our experts, stainless steel bins with tight lids are best for keeping curious pets and nasty insects or rodents out. As Matt Frye told us, "[Rodents] can chew any type of plastic. If it is aluminum, they can chew it. It must be something sturdy." He also told us to look for "no [sharp] Trash cans with edges, because even if it is stainless steel, if there are edges, [Rodent]’s mouth is strong enough to bend it.” All the trash cans we tested have rounded edges. When deciding what to test, we prioritized stainless steel bins, but we included some plastic bins in the budget category. If you don't deal with rodent problems, using plastic trash cans may be fine.

Fits standard bags: We mainly tested full-size trash cans and limited our search to those that fit the size of standard U.S. trash bags-10 gallons (38 liters) and/or 13 gallons (49 liters). The only exception is the small Simplehuman In-Cabinet Can we recommend, which is suitable for ordinary plastic food bags, and may be more suitable for people in small kitchens. Some manufacturers are notorious for selling custom bags with trash cans (Simplehuman, are your ears burning?). Although we think this is stupid, all the Simplehuman models we looked at are also suitable for universal packages, so we don't rule out any possibility.

Easy to clean: Even firmly fixed bags may break, tear or leak in the trash can, so we look for trash cans that are not too troublesome to clean inside. Some trash cans have labyrinthine passages and dents at the bottom. Cleaning up is simply a nightmare. We quickly eliminated these problems. We prefer cans with removable internal trash cans because they are easier to clean if your trash leaks.

We also prioritize dustbins with stainless steel or dark plastic shells because they are easier to clean and can hide stains better. One thing that steel cannot hide is fingerprints. Some manufacturers advertise "anti-fingerprint" finishes, but in our tests, these didn't make much difference. We think this is just a small problem, but if you are bothered by fingerprints, please refer to the Care and Maintenance section to learn how to prevent them.

Rectangular: We limit the search to rectangular trash cans because their shape fits a wider space and it is easier to scrape food into large mouths. The circular trash can does not use space efficiently, and the opening is narrower, which makes it more difficult to scrape debris from the chopping board, and some debris will not fall on the floor.

Strong airtightness: We look for trash cans with tightly sealed lids and minimal gaps to prevent odors from entering and fruit flies from entering. In other words, it is difficult for us to find trash cans without holes. Some trash cans have cutouts for the handles, while other trash cans have openings at the bottom. In most cases, these holes will be blocked when placed against a wall, but we tried our best to find the trash can with the smallest gap or hole on the outer tank. We also included several uncovered cabinet models in the 2020 test because we wanted to provide an option for those who store trash under the sink due to space constraints.

Sturdy but easy to move: Especially for step tanks, we want to find models that are heavy enough to stay in place when you open them, but still light enough for you to move around in the kitchen.

Not an eyesore: The trash can does not have to look like a luxury to win our respect, but if it is to be fully displayed in your kitchen, it should not be unattractive. We avoid using too stylized or simple and ugly cans.

For the 2020 update, we tested nine new trash cans against the two existing options. We first studied their ease of use: For models with pedals, we tried to depress the pedals from different angles with different forces. If the trash can has a lid, we will observe whether it has a controlled opening and closing mechanism, or whether it hits the wall behind. We also made sure that each lid could remain open during the long preparation tasks. We scraped the carrot skins from a large wooden cutting board into each jar to see if the mouth was wide enough.

We use 10 or 13 gallon garbage bags (depending on the size of the can) to install each full-size can we tested to see how the bag is installed safely. Then we poured another bag containing 40 pounds of cat litter and 5 quarts of water into each trash can to see if the weight caused the liner bag to slip inside. Then we take everything out of the can to see if the inner bag is pinched or difficult to take out. We wipe the inside and out of the trash can with spray cleaner and paper towels to see how easy they are to clean. To test that the lid remains closed, we tipped the trash can (almost all lids were opened).

Finally, after eliminating a few trash cans that failed our first test, we tried to mix onions, garlic, hard-boiled eggs, canned tuna, Danish blue cheese, Camembert in every step of our Cheese and kimchi to create the smelliest trash scene-can and touch-top finalists. We put lids on the cans and let everyone spend a weekend in a separate closed room to see if they can control the smell of garbage. Surprisingly, when Monday came, I did not make enemies in the office.

Note: We tested the small cabinet which can be recommended separately to our small kitchen guide, our test procedure is a bit different. We installed it in a cabinet in a small apartment and used it every day for a month to understand how easy it is to change the bag and clean, and how well the lid is sealed in terms of odor.

The universal garbage bag is very suitable for this beautiful-looking stepped can. It has a tight lid to minimize odor.

May be out of stock

May be out of stock

We started recommending the Simplehuman rectangular ladder tank in 2014. Although it has developed slightly over the years, it continues to outperform its competitors due to several ingenious features. The detachable inner box hides the garbage bag in the canister, which is convenient for cleaning up the leaked garbage. The lid opens and closes smoothly and silently, tightly sealed in the smell. We also like the ridge inside the can, which allows you to support the internal trash can when changing the bag, and the small switch that allows you to lock the lid open for longer cleaning work. Most importantly: it can also provide an impressive 10-year warranty.

If the garbage bag breaks or leaks, the internal bucket will come in handy. This is a simple plastic liner nested in the main metal container to catch any coarse junk juice that might leak into the groove at the bottom of the tank. And because the inner barrel is very light, if necessary, it can be taken to the backyard or bathtub for washing more easily. When your trash is so heavy that it is too risky to carry the bag alone, the internal bucket is also convenient. You can pull the entire bucket out and take it to the trash can without the risk of the bag breaking or leaking.

The clever design feature also makes bagging easy: you can support the bucket on the ridge inside the tank to easily fix the bag on its edge. Any excess bag can also be stuffed into the hole on the back of the bucket, and then put back in place. Even after we weigh with 40 pounds of cat litter and 5 quarts of water, the bag we put in it can be tightly and securely installed. Although Simplehuman sells expensive custom bags for this trash can, most drawstring bags of 10 or 13 gallons are perfect. The bucket is also suitable for four-corner or kinked bags, but the fit will not be that tight.

Unlike the AmazonBasics Soft-Close Trash Can we tested, the opening and closing mechanism of the rectangular stepped trash can is stable and controllable. Even if the trash can is placed directly on it, the lid will not hit the wall. The internal air pressure damper is quiet and prevents the lid from slamming. There is also no gap between the lid and the inner bucket, which helps control odors and deter fruit flies.

The weight of the rectangular pedal is good, and it won't slide around when you step on the pedal. Only the tallest and most tenacious dog can knock it down (but please note that the lid cannot be locked). However, when you do need to move the trash can around the kitchen, the handle cutout on the back of the can makes it easier to pick up.

The wide mouth on the rectangular step tank allows you to easily pour a large bowl or cutting board filled with crumbs into the bucket. If you need to keep the lid open for larger cleanup work, a small convenient red switch on the right rear corner allows you to lock the lid firmly in its upright position. Other jars sometimes allow you to lift the lid beyond the point of its opening to temporarily stay still, only to return immediately upon a slight impact.

The rectangular step tank has a 10-year warranty, and Simplehuman also sells replacement parts. We recommend the 10-gallon version of this trash can, but it is also available in a smaller 8-gallon size or a larger 13-gallon size.

The handle cut at the rear of the top of the rectangular step tank makes the model easier to move, but it may emit a garbage smell. However, we found that when the jar was placed against the wall, the smell was well controlled in our stinky trash test. The inner barrel also covers the handle opening, so unless you hold your nose close to it, you are unlikely to detect any smell.

Since 2014, we have been using older versions of rectangular step tanks in Wirecutter test kitchens in our New York City and Los Angeles offices. Although the use of these two cans far exceeds that of a typical household trash can, their pedal action is as smooth as the day we got them, without any big dents.

This undercounter trash can is sturdy and durable, and can slide easily on a pull-out rail. It is pre-assembled and installing it is a breeze.

*At the time of publication, the price was $80.

If you are looking for a trash can to put under the sink, we recommend that you purchase a 30-liter Simplehuman pull-out trash can. If your floor space is tight, or if you prefer to put the trash can in an invisible place, this is a good choice. Due to its durable metal frame and sturdy, smooth slide rails, it is the best we have tested Pull-out model. Unlike some other pull-out tanks, the frame and rails of this tank are pre-assembled and very easy to install. Remember, this jar does not have a lid, so you need to take out the trash more frequently to avoid odors or fruit flies.

Unlike the Rev-A-Shelf trash can that we tested, the counter pull-out trash can does not require assembly, and only eight screws are needed to install the rail to the bottom of the cabinet. Be sure to measure the size of the cabinet first to ensure that the approximately 18 x 10 inch rail fits, and note that if your cabinet has a frame, you must first install the rail to a piece of wood with the same height as the frame so that the trash can can be Swipe on it.

Over-the-counter cans are more expensive than the Rev-A-Shelf cans we tested, but you get what you pay for. The track of the under-counter puller is very stable and can bear the weight of a full trash can. A well-structured frame will not sway like the thin metal frame on the Rev-A-Shelf. We also like the wider handle of the counter pull-out can, which is easier to grasp. The 8-gallon plastic bucket is easy to remove from the frame for cleaning and is perfect for ordinary 10 or 13-gallon drawstring bags, so there is no reason to spend more on Simplehuman’s higher-priced bags.

Over-the-counter cans provide a five-year warranty. Simplehuman also sells a two-compartment under-counter tank with an additional recycling bin.

This small trash can can be safely placed on the cabinet door to make room for a comfortable kitchen.

If your kitchen is too small for a full-size trash can, or you do not generate too much trash, we recommend that you buy a small 10-liter Simplehuman trash can in the cabinet. Its hook is tightly fixed on the cabinet door, and the trash can can hold 2.6 gallon garbage bags or ordinary plastic food bags. The size means you have to take out the trash more frequently, but it is less likely to smell (the lid also helps to contain the smell).

The tank in the cabinet has a sturdy metal frame that can be connected to the cabinet door with a foam lining hook, so no installation or assembly is required. If you want, you can also install it on the door with a screw to keep it stable when opening and closing the cabinet, but this is not required. The width of the hook is ⅞ inches, so you should measure the thickness of the cabinet door first to make sure it fits. Remember, if your cabinet is very narrow, you may need to slide the frame closer to the door hinge to open the opening.

We also like this. Unlike many other in-cabinet trash cans, it has a flip cover that can hold the smell of trash and deter fruit flies. You have to open the lid manually because it does not have a foot pedal or a button opening mechanism, but it can be opened with support for longer cleaning and preparation tasks. The opening of the jar is 11 inches wide, which is narrower than our other picks, so scraping debris from the wide cutting board into the mouth of the bin can be more challenging.

This bin fits 2.6 gallon garbage bags (or Simplehuman's custom Code R bags) and ordinary plastic food bags. Like our recommended pull-out trash can, the inner tank comes with a five-year warranty.

This plastic trash can is bagged more safely than most other cheaper trash cans we have tested, and it seals the smell of trash surprisingly well.

If you want to buy a trash can for less than $30, we recommend the Rubbermaid Step-On Trash Can, which stands out in the endless field of fragile trash cans commonly found in this price range. What's impressive is that it smells better than any other trash can we tested. The plastic arm around the inner edge prevents the bag from slipping into the trash can and also hides any excess bags. We also like that the lid can be kept open for long preparation tasks. The black plastic body will not stain as easily as the white plastic tank, and will not move too much when you operate the pedals.

The hinged arms on both sides of the Rubbermaid rim help to hide the bag and effectively prevent the bag from slipping in our weighted bag test. To put the bags on the cans, you can raise your arms, tuck the bags around them, and then place them on the rim of the cans. When we tried to pack the bag, the lid sometimes fell off, which made the process a bit tricky, but after a few attempts, we got the hang of it. We also noticed that when the bag is empty, the collar does not lie completely flat on the rim of the jar, but once it starts to fill up, the weight of the trash will lower the arms and hold them in place. The arm is most suitable for a drawstring bag, but other bag styles are also possible, although it is a bit cumbersome.

Rubbermaid's mouth is 17 inches wide, so you can easily scrape chips off the cutting board. The lid can be left open for long preparation or cleaning tasks, but it is not locked open like the lid on our main choice Simplehuman Step Can. If you lightly hit the trash can, the lid is likely to close. The lid will not open as gracefully as on Simplehuman, and if it is placed too close, it will hit the wall behind. But we like the Rubbermaid's lid to completely cover the trash can, which is different from other cheaper trash cans we tested. In fact, Rubbermaid's lid sealed in stinky trash smelled better than any lid we tested.

When you step on the foot pedal, the Rubbermaid will not move much, especially for lightweight plastic tanks. However, it's not as weighted as our other choices, so when it's almost empty, it's still possible for a toddler or medium-sized dog to tip it over. We like that black plastic hides stains well, but it still has dust and needs to be wiped occasionally.

Unlike our recommended Simplehuman canister, which has a generous 5-year or 10-year warranty, Rubbermaid only has a one-year warranty (PDF). But cans in this price range can be expected.

If you have space in your kitchen, side-by-side or adjacent recycling bins can easily separate the recyclables before bringing them to the garbage room or the roadside. Although any of our choices can be easily converted to recovery tax, we intend to study a dedicated recovery box so that we can provide separate guidelines in the future. At the same time, we recommend the Simplehuman double-compartment cabinet inner tank, which is similar to the pull-out tank we currently recommend, but it has an additional recycling box.

If you cannot use the stepper can, you may have searched for a trash can that is "ADA-compliant" (the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability). Many trash can manufacturers advertise that their touch cans comply with ADA standards in their product specifications. However, according to Richard Hunter, an expert on accessibility design law, “Generally speaking, ADA construction standards only apply to what it calls architectural elements, that is, what is built-in. So usually, a separate trash can ADA Not covered, at least not covered by the design standards.” This means that trash cans advertised as “ADA-compliant” have not been certified by official agencies. We realize that some people may not be able to use the stepper tank, and hope to research and test the touch screen or other non-stepping options for our next update. At present, if access to the trash can in the cabinet is not a problem, you can try this pull-out trash can without a lid.

To prevent trash from smelling in the kitchen and attracting pests, the best thing you can do is to take it out often, especially after you put food scraps in it. Matt Frye also recommends washing the wrappers and containers that contain the food, as this will help reduce the possibility of odors.

If the bag breaks or something falls into the jar outside the bag, you need to rinse it off: in the kitchen sink, with a garden hose, or in the bathtub, depending on your living space. Spray with vinegar, bleach or enzyme-based cleaner, such as Simple Solution. Brush it clean with a brush, let it dry completely, and then line it with a new bag.

If you always throw in warm and humid items such as coffee grounds, mold will grow on the inner lid of any trash can. The mold is easy to wipe off, but you can let the warm food scraps cool before throwing them in the trash can to help prevent condensation and mold.

We read some reviews online and complained about fingerprints on stainless steel trash cans, even those with "anti-fingerprint" finishes. We think this is a small problem, but if fingerprints bother you, here are the ways to avoid them (except regularly wiping the cans): Apply a layer of very light baby oil, mineral oil or neutral edible oil cans on the surface, and then use chamois Polish with leather or microfiber cloth. The coating will eventually wear out, but you only need to clean and re-oil it.

We would like to recommend an option for those who can't (or don't like) using step tanks and who don't want tanks in cabinets. Simplehuman's entire Touch Top series, a good alternative that we mentioned in the competition, is now discontinued. Once we enter our office and test kitchen again, we hope to research and test more independent non-ladder tanks. At the same time, if you have any suggestions or specific requirements for this category of trash cans, please leave a message below.

The 12-gallon Simplehuman rectangular brushed stainless steel ladder tank is one of the best looking trash cans we have tested. We also appreciate its extra-long footrest, which can easily open the lid from multiple angles. Its back pocket is designed to store additional bags, and when new bags need to be loaded, these bags can be pulled out of the inner tank (just like the paper towels in the box). However, if you are not going to use Simplehuman's expensive custom bag (Code M bag), you will leave a hole on the back of the jar, which may attract fruit flies and allow the smell to escape.

We once recommended Simplehuman Slim Step Can for small kitchens, but after years of long-term testing, we found that its narrow shape is not as suitable for small spaces as we initially thought. For such a narrow jar, its shape is surprisingly bulky. In addition, when it is placed in the narrow space between the cabinet and the refrigerator, its slender opening makes it awkward to slide vegetable scraps from the cutting board into the trash can.

We like the locking lid on the Simplehuman plastic semi-circular stepped tank, it is perfect to prevent pets from entering your litter box, even if they manage to tip the litter box over. However, the weight of the base is not enough to prevent the can from sliding when it is empty. If you want to spend less than our main option, or if you need a lockable lid to prevent pets from entering, we still think this is a good can. But keep in mind that the semicircle of this model will take up more space.

Simplehuman's plastic rectangular ladder tank has a liner, the ladder is smooth, and the design can hide garbage bags. However, it does not have a lock cover, a normally open switch and a removable lining. Its lightweight base can easily be knocked over by children or medium-sized dogs.

The iTouchless SoftStep 50-liter stainless steel stepped trash can is one of the few hand-operated trash cans sold by iTouchless, which is a manufacturer of a series of automatic trash cans. The lid on this jar will hit the wall behind it, and it will make a strange sound that almost sounds like raindrops when it is closed. When you remove the inner barrel, the lid will also block, which makes bagging more difficult.

We like the compartment on the GLAD GLD-74506 stainless steel stepped trash can for storing extra bags, but the thin metal arms of this can are not very effective in holding the trash bags in place. This trash can also has no plastic inserts, so if your trash leaks, it will seep into the deep groove at the bottom of the trash can that is difficult to clean.

The lid of the AmazonBasics rectangular soft-closing trash can hits the wall behind when opened. Even if you pull the trash can a few inches away from the wall, it will slowly move back every time you step on the foot pedal. In addition, when you pull it out to fit into a new bag, the plastic insert will get stuck on the edge of the lid.

The soft-closing lid mechanism on our Kohler 13-gallon stepped tank broke after a few uses, causing the lid to slam shut with a loud noise. In addition, when you use the foot pedal to open this model, the entire collar around the edge of the jar will pop out slightly.

We like Umbra Brim Trash Can, available in three colors, designed to create a more upscale look than most budget trash cans. We dismissed it because its pedals were harder to clean than some of the other trash cans we tested, and its tapered design was too easy to knock over.

The Hefty Touch Lid 13.3 gallon trash can was our previous budget choice. However, after long-term testing, we found that the torsion spring that opens the lid will weaken over time, and the 1/8-inch gap around the lid will emit a garbage smell.

There are a total of six GIGANTISK trash cans, which need to be assembled, which is very brand-specific for IKEA. Its square shape is bulky, and when leaning against a wall or cabinet, it protrudes farther than a typical rectangular trash can. The capacity is 16 gallons, which is a bit too big to fit in a standard 13-gallon garbage bag.

In 2015, we tested two automatically opened sensor-based ("contactless") trash cans: iTouchless 13-gallon deodorizing sensor trash can and Ninestars 13-gallon automatic trash can. Every sensor tank has obvious problems. First, the sensors are inconsistent and often require the use of a second hand to open the lid. The mechanized "head" is also heavy, and it is troublesome to disassemble when removing the bag. If your trash can is not stored near the socket, you cannot use the A/C adapter, which means you must use three or four C or D batteries, depending on the model. Based on the customer reviews we read, battery life seems to vary between six months to three years. If you cannot use a stepped trash can, we recommend that you use a top-out trash can.

The Rev-A-Shelf 35-quart pull-out trash can is very shaky and not as stable as our recommended Simplehuman pull-out trash can. The handle of the Rev-A-Shelf model is also thinner and harder to grasp than the wider handle of the Simplehuman model.

After testing the Simplehuman Butterfly Step Can in 2014, we learned that using this design to scrape things into the trash can can be very awkward. In our later update, we chose not to test trash cans with butterfly lids.

Just like the jars with butterfly lids we tested, the 16½ gallon Umbra Venti trash can has difficulty scraping food in without getting it on the lid. The swing cover cannot lock the smelly garbage or prevent fruit flies.

The square edge of IKEA FILUR makes it too difficult to pull the bag to the edge, so we abandoned this trash can.

Sarah Zorn, Best Kitchen Trash Cans of 2020, Reviewed January 22, 2020

Sienna Livermore, the 5 best kitchen trash cans you don’t know you need, good housekeeping services

Lindsey M. Roberts, Experts Consider the Best Trash Can, Chicago Tribune, July 5, 2017

Amanda Mull, the best $104 I have ever spent: Rose Gold Trash Can, Vox, January 15, 2019

Matthew JX Malady, "The Problem of Relying on Machines to Eat All Trash", The Awl, September 8, 2014

Elizabeth Passarella, Cheap Trick: Cleaning stainless steel with a $2 product, The Kitchn, December 6, 2011

Since 2016, Michael Sullivan has been a full-time writer on the Wirecutter kitchen team. Previously, he was the editor of the International Culinary Center in New York. He has worked in all aspects of the food and catering industry for more than ten years.

Simplehuman's rectangular ladder tank is a huge leap forward from the basic trash can.

After dozens of hours of research and testing of finishing options, we recommend more than 20 items to make the most of your small kitchen.

Compared to your other options, here is everything you need to know about choosing, ordering, buying and installing an IKEA kitchen.

The Wirecutter kitchen team knows how to hold a party, and we spent hundreds of hours looking for the best equipment for any occasion, even competition day.

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