Attack of the Stinky Trash Monster

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

23 Oct 2008 12:26 PM

"It creeps upstairs, alone or in pairs, what's that horrible smell? A thing, a thing, a horrendous thing, everyone knows it's stinky." Does the stinky trash monster live at your house? Here is an account of my ongoing battle with this beast, and all of the ways I try to conquer it.

In my home, the stinky trash monster sits there innocently in the kitchen, waiting to turn on me and let its presence be known to one and all. Usually, it does its work in the middle of the night or while our family has been out of the house all day. Of course I am talking about the garbage and all of the odors that go with it.

I have a really hard time with stinky garbage, although my husband tends to ignore it. He isn't intimidated by it in the least. He'll gladly throw away raw chicken trimmings, diced onions and the two-week old carton of take out in the half-filled kitchen garbage with a smile and a whistle. During his late night snacking, he may heat up leftover chili and toss the remainder in there as well. And then he will go to bed.

The next morning, it isn't the alarm clock or even the town rooster that wakes me up but the stinky trash monster, that having time to ferment, reaches its long arm right up the stairs and into my nostrils.

I've tried using small bags in the trash can, figuring that smaller bags fill faster, making actually throwing out the stinky garbage more likely. But because we don't have a small can, most often the stinky garbage missed the bag and landed in the can itself, creating a new problem.

I've tried using those scented bags, but my husband, ironically, says they give him a headache?!?

I've tried placing the garbage outside when it stinks, but my husband says it will attract animals (skunks perhaps?).

Perhaps I can set the alarm for one am, just in order to take the garbage out while the stinky trash monster is still in its infancy?

What are your ideas?

(Oh and five points to you if you guessed that I blatantly used the jingle from the old 1970s Slinky commercials.)

Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, creating a home in the Home Blog and caring for little ones in the Baby Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.

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Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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