Tips on finding the ideal dustbin

The choice is vast. From shiny stainless steel to rugged plastic, built-in to loose standing, from pedal to push button and from canary yellow to an elegant grey. So are you feeling a bit overwhelmed? Don't worry, we'll help you in choosing a trash can that is perfect for you.

Quick to:

> THE SIZE

> THE USE

> WAYS OF OPENING THE CAN

> APPEARANCES

> SMALL SPACES

THE SIZE.

The first question you should ask yourself when buying a trash can, is how big must it be. Do you have a large family or do you live on your own? That will make a huge difference in the amount of waste your household produces, and the garbage bin you need. You might be thinking: the bigger, the better. But if it's just the two of you, a huge bin won't be such a good idea. If the bag isn't replaced regularly because it isn't full yet, you will soon be faced with bad smells. And a family with four children will soon regret buying a trash can with just a 8 gallon volume. So choose a model that suits your household

How many house mates?
You can assume that a waste bin from 2.6 to 8 gallons will suffice for a small family (up to three persons). Those with four in the household, should rather go for a waste bin between 8 to 10.6 gallons and for families with five or more persons, a 10.6 to 16 gallons  bin will be ideal.

Which room?
By the way, this advice on the ideal volume is of course applicable to the rubbish bin in your kitchen. A more compact model is more convenient in the bathroom or in the toilet. A model of up to 2.6 gallons is advisable there. For your study or bedroom, you won't need a bigger content than 8 gallons.

THE USE.

Then comes the question: what are your requirements for a waste bin?

Separate waste.
Do you simply want to be able to separate the waste? Then take a rubbish bin with two compartments. So you will be able to separate the organic waste from the rest. Would you like to sort even better? Then you should rather buy a rubbish bin with at least three compartments. Plastic, paper and glass are then easily sorted.

Silent closure.
And would you prefer not to wake up in the morning with someone smashing the lid down too loud? Rather buy a rubbish bin with a silent closure.

Fingerprint proof.
When choosing the material, also consider how often and by whom the bin is used. For example, are there small children whose little hands touch everything? Then you should rather go for a lovely stainless steel waste bin, but make sure the model has a fingerprint-proof coating. This prevents fingerprints of little hands all over the bin.

WAYS OF OPENING THE BIN.

When choosing your rubbish bin, you should also look at the way you want to open the waste bin.

Foot operated.
One of the best known is the pedal bin You open the lid with your foot. The advantage is you don't have to open the waste bin with your hands. Very hygienic. You will also have your hands free to throw away the rubbish, and bad smells are kept in check.

Push it.
Another option is the 'push' system. You just push the cover inwards to open it, which is then pushed back in place afterwards by spring action, shutting the bin properly. Again, you can use both hands to throw the waste away. A bit of a drawback, the waste easily presses against the lid, so those parts become dirty faster.

With a light touch.
With a soft-touch-lid, the waste bin can be opened easily by pressing it lightly. The usefulness of this system lies in that the lid remains open and you can simply throw away several things. This lid also gets dirty faster as it is touched by your hands and the waste.

Aim well.
For bits of paper, bags and cardboard tape rolls, you don't really need a lid on your bin. An open waste bin is convenient and even fun in the study or office. Take careful aim, and you can just pitch the waste in your waste bucket, seated in your office chair. 

APPEARANCES.

Design-item.
Nowadays, you don't have to hide your waste bin either. There are beautiful designer waste bins that are real gems in your kitchen. There are stylish models on legs that are both very stable and easy to move, and retro waste bins for a fun accent in your interior. There's something for everyone!

SMALL SPACES

Built-in.
If you have limited place in your kitchen for a trash can, choose a waste bin fitted inside your kitchen cupboard. This is also an ideal solution for households that want to separate waste: these systems often have multiple partitions. But there isn't space for a large trash can, and you have to give up a cupboard.

Oh yes, one more tip. Our tips will hopefully allow you to find the trash can that best suits your household and decor. You must however remember when you buy your new model, to also buy the right sized trash bags. It is very frustrating when you want to replace your square trash bag and you find out you bought a roll of bags for a round garbage bin. So look closely at the codes and descriptions on the packaging!