Unscented Trash Bags

March 6, 2012 by Debra Lynn Dadd

Question from Annette 

Hi Debra,

I thought I saw a while back on your blog, something mentioned about trash bags. I tried to find it but could not.

We have a large kitchen trash can that we had been keeping in the kitchen. It uses 33 gallon trash bags. I don't remember the name of them because they are outside now. ''

You see, used to, I was able to handle the trash bags, but months ago they started smelling like fabric softener sheets. We moved the trash can to the front of the house, but inside the house and our daughter said she did not want the smell in her room, since her room is right next to the room the trash can was put in. So the trash can was put on the front porch outside.

Can you recommend a 33 gallon trash bag that is unscented?

Debra's Answer

Readers? What do you recommend?

I personally don't use plastic trash bags, so I have no experience with this.

My food waste goes into compost and trash in a paper bag, which then goes into the garbage can outside.

Update 2020: Here are some recommendations from readers. This does not guarantee that a reader who is sensitive will not react to any of these products:

  • Target’s Up & Up brand unscented white garbage bags

  • Pantry Essentials 13 gallon tall kitchen trash bags (distributed by Lucerne North, in California) still come unscented

  • The Plastic Place actually has a HUGE website with all kinds of plastic bags in many thicknesses, sizes, and colors, for business and home. Confirm before ordering that the model you want is fragrance-free.

Toxic-Free Q&A

These are archives of Q&A asked by readers and answered by Debra Lynn Dadd (from 2005-2019) or Lisa Powers (from 2019-2020). Answers have been edited and updated as of December, 2020.