My husband and I are in an all-out garbage war. Yes, we’ve chosen sides and are standing our ground. Because this is my blog, I’m going to just say it clearly: I’m right. Now judge for yourself.
I have this very nice (if one can actually use those words to describe this) garbage can. It’s stainless steel, is fairly large and has one of those nifty foot pedals for easy insertion of trash. Really, it couldn’t be more perfect as far as garbage cans go. Before my husband moved in with me, all trash went directly into this garbage can. And since then? It remains woefully empty. Basically, a “decorative” vessel that’s not all that pretty to look at simply taking up space in the kitchen which has no space to spare.
My husband’s method of storing garbage until it’s ready to go to the incinerator? A plastic supermarket bag that he hangs from the knob of one our cabinets, not only making it unsightly and sometimes smelly but also making it difficult and frustrating to get into that cabinet. I have to push the bag aside while I open one of the cabinet doors and grasp for what I want with one hand because I have to hold the bag to the side with the other.
I’m constantly perplexed by this. What, exactly, is the advantage of this ugly plastic bag over the actual garbage can? He claims that because we don’t have the garbage bags that fit the can, it’s too difficult to make the plastic bags stay taut and the weight of the trash make the bag fall into the can. And on the few occasions in which I’ve actually convinced him to use the garbage can, he basically just piles the trash on top of the bag thereby making the bag essentially useless. All I can say is this: I never had a problem with using the garbage can before he moved in. Not once. So what exactly does he find so hard about it?
Speaking for us men, I’m not sure why your husband would go with the exposed plastic bag, instead of the can. Maybe, instead of using your foot to press the trash can lever, you should use it to kick him in the shins a couple times. That may make him rethink his disposal policies.
I get it!! When our garbage gets full instead of taking it out my husband puts larger things (empty milk jug, etc.) on the counter or in floor, a grocery bag would be nice! Even when it isn’t full, he does the same so it won’t fill up so quickly!? Are you kidding me? Isn’t that what a garbage can is for? Worst part is, this is rubbing off on the kids!
If it is one of those Simple Human brand trash cans (which it looks like) you can’t use any other trash bags than the ones from their company. Regular tall kitchen trash bags do not fit. My recommendation? Get the right bags. Guy’s are simple, they will use stuff if it works.
That is so like my husband. The only worse thing? Once the trash starts to get full, do you think he can take it out? Oh, no. It gets piled on top and around the trash can. Drives me crazy!
Why not just throw those ugly cabinet garbage bags in ur pretty garbage can EVERY time u see one hanging there?, no matter if it’s not full!! You’ll kill 2 birds with one stone, ugly bag out of sight, and quick depletion of his obvious next “annoying” habit….plastic bag hoarding! LOL!
I’m with Brent…try getting the right bags and see if that helps. Otherwise, a swift kick in the shins (per mike’s instruction) might be in order. (Sorry to swing on your coattails, guys! Just want to echo two great suggestions!)
Buy the right sized bags in bulk and steer him to the trash can. Hanging bags of trash is disgusting!
YES!! He (apparently) refuses to take the trash out and/or replace the bag. When it becomes full and I’m not immediately there to address the situation, I arrive home to discover that he has established a little garbage village that surrounds the trash can.
On the off-chance he is feeling magnanimous enough to tackle the refuse, he makes a big show out of it–”WOW, THE GARBAGE CAN IS REALLY FULL. I GUESS I’LL TAKE IT OUT.” Despite the fact that take it out 99.9% of the time, and I’m the one who set up garbage service to begin with (not sure what he used to do with it. it makes me scared to contemplate. have opted to just ignore the possibilities.).
Wow, that IS annoying! I’d get the trash bags that fit the (very nice) trash can, eliminating his excuse that it’s not easy to use since the bags don’t fit. Then, every time you see his little bag hooked onto the cabinet, put it straight into the trash can. After a while, it’ll be so annoying for him (having to get a new bag out to hook onto the cabinet) he’ll just start using the trash can.
GOOD LUCK!
Nicole, my husband does the EXACT same thing. I am lucky enough that he’ll take the trash out when it’s full BUT even if there’s a brand new bag, he places larger/heavier objects on the counter. Pizza box…okay, maybe I get it from the awkward size. But the Sunday paper or a wine bottle? C’mon! Who wants trash on their counter???
We use a giant mega strength rubberband or 12 to keep our trashbags from falling in, (that is hidden in our pantry 12 steps away from the kitchen) because we have an annoying eat everything in sight dog.)
I have a similar garbage can as you! Our garbage bags fall but I would never consider puttign one on the cabinets? when my husband complains I tell him he can either pay for the ridiculously expensive ones that fit….or suck it up. So far he’s sucked it up
I had to solve the garbage dilemma when I was prego with 2 kids already living in a 3rd floor apartment! Can you imagine me? I had to haul a trash bag, 2 kids and myself down two flights of stairs! I started taking the trash over to the TV and setting it right in front of it. I he wanted to watch Tv he had to take the garbage out. It worked!
I love the smelly game of Jenga. Let’s see if I can get one more egg shell to balance on top of the coffee grounds mixed with the cantalope seeds seeping into the junk mail…a lovely sight. We don’t want to waste five cents and put a new bag in when we can use this one for just one more day!!!
This is so frustrating…Nicole, my husband does the same thing. If I put a milk carton in the trash can he always comes behind me and acts as if I committed a horrible crime…”I can’t believe you just put that big old thing in the trash can like that!”
umm…IT’S TRASH!!!!
At least crush it first. Why put a container of empty space in the trash. Crush it first. Geesh
Ugh. I HATE that. My hubby calls it garbage ball – how many pieces of trash can you fit on the already full garbage can? I started putting the whole box of garbage bags into the bottom of the garbage can so that my husband actually puts a new garbage bag in the can instead of tossing garbage into the can without a garbage bag. Gross. Garbage.
my boyfriend was very unhappy with my garbage can too when he moved in. he would complain that the bags didn’t fit and that it wasn’t ideal. i was getting along just fine with this garbage can for YEARS before he came along. finally, when i was in a vicodin fog after having my wisdom teeth pulled, he snuck out to Target to buy a new can. i had no fight.
my husband used store bags until I moved in. It was one of the first of many things that I got rid of. Now I use the go green reusable bags so we never have to worry about dumb plastic bags again.
When I first moved in with my husband and his uncle, they used one of those great big garage trash cans in the kitchen. It was gone within days and they both adjusted with only minor complaints. It’s ridiculous to me to hang a bag on a knob for garbage rather than use a nice, neat garbage can. Ridiculous.
As the garbageman of my house…. Tell him to be civilized and GO BUY a Garbage can He can use.
Honestly, if you plan on PROCREATING evolve…
Once, you have a Diaper Genie – your kids will rip through those TRASH BAGS like a wet paper bag.
Himself buys trash bags that will fit the can (regular “tall kitchen can”, those icky black trashbags) and then takes the trash out.
i realize every day how fortunate i am to be with him…then the gas kicks in and i realize that he’s just annoying in *other* ways.
Get the Hefty Gripper bags with the elastic around the top. I had the same problem, with bags falling into my nice stainless steel garbage can. The Gripper bags saved the day – and so easily, even the kids will replace the bag.
I’ve found a phenomena happen in my house. B (husband) insists on things to do and say that are simply opposite of things I do and say (i.e. reason and logic) for that, i want to choke him.
Mine does the same thing. I don’t get it. Doesn’t make it any easier.
My fiance uses the giant Hefty leaf bags in our kitchen garbage can because once like, 5 years ago, a bag broke on him. When we first started living together, he would fill the leaf bag halfway, until the can was full, pull the bag out of the can, set it next to the can, and put a new bag in the can. Then proceed to fill the GIANT LEAF BAG until it was full.
I put a kabosh on that bs right away. I said you have 3 choices: use smaller bags, get a bigger can, or throw away half-empty bags. I don’t care which one you pick, but we’re not going to have a trash can and a trash bag sitting open and half full in our kitchen. Beyond strange….
I have a simplehuman garbage can that we got as a wedding gift and, at least for ours, you can use any trash bags. It has a nifty thing in the back to grip excess bag so it doesn’t fall. Works great! Definitely wouldn’t buy their special made bags.
My husband’s friends are the ones who got us the trash can…it’s his favourite gift. He not only uses it, but also empties it when necessary!
At least yours isn’t complaining about the trash can…just not using it. Mine complained constantly about the standard issue tall kitchen can…it was too small and he had to take it out too often. I told him to buy whatever he wanted. Instead he just continued to complain. I finally found a 33 gallon can like they use for recycling at offices, along with the bags. Then he started complaining about the garbage smelling because it was in the house so long! Now he insists that I use plastic grocery bags to wrap all food waste and anything that could become stinky during the two weeks it takes to fill the garbage before I dispose of it.
My wife and I have come to a nice solution for this very problem. We have a double sink in the kitchen and simply put a plastic grocery bag in one side of the sink in the morning. This is only for food waste that could become stinky and is not even noticeable unless you are directly over it. This bag is taken outside to the garbage can each evening by me since it was me that had a problem with foodwaste going into the big can. All other garbage (paper products, etc… go into the big can in the kitchen until it is full and then I take it out. Viola! Simple compromise solved a problem. Now quit complaining about the little things, compromise, and save that passion for more important matters… like ending wars and getting fair health coverage for all.
Just get bags that fit the can, or if thats not possible, get a trash can that fits normal bags.
Problem: I had an expensive(relatively speaking) trash can that didn’t fit any normal trash bags, so I did the same thing your husband does, and hung a grocery bag from the cupboard. I looked for weeks and didn’t find a bag that would fit.
Solution: BUY A NEW GARBAGE CAN.
Problem solved.
Find something better to whine about, hahaha.