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Pro tip: rinsing my plastic containers before recycling cut my bin smell way down
I started doing it after a hot week in July left my whole kitchen smelling like old yogurt, and now the garbage guys actually take my recycling instead of leaving a sticky note.
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the_gray3mo ago
Whoa, I gotta disagree a bit here. I actually stopped rinsing my recycling because I felt like I was wasting way too much water for something that was just gonna get washed again at the plant. Plus, my neighbor works at the recycling center and told me they actually prefer things a little dirty because the cleaning process handles it better and dry plastic doesn't stick to the machinery as much. I just scrape my containers clean with a spatula and call it good, and I haven't noticed any extra smell or bugs honestly.
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jenniferwells3mo ago
The real hidden benefit is keeping bugs and rodents away. I learned the hard way that even a little leftover food in a bottle attracts fruit flies and ants like crazy. Rinsing also stops the plastic from getting that weird slimy film that makes your hands smell for hours after you touch it. Plus, if you're in an area with open bins, raccoons will tear through anything that smells edible. Gets your neighbors talking to you in a way nobody wants.
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