Or, at the very least, put it in its own container first (see below). Don't even think about throwing your old soup into the trash. Before you throw something to the trash, drain off any excess liquid into the sink. Moisture is not your friend because a damp environment allows bacteria to thrive.Better trash bags equal less-stinky trash cans-and sometimes it's not the trash, but the can, that really reeks (so clean that often, too).

Use high-quality trash bags. You want trashbags that are thick enough to hold in odors and sturdy enough not to spew garbage or leak funky juices as you drag them down five flights of stairs.

Consider getting a smaller trash can. It may seem counterintuitive to downsize, but having a smaller receptacle will force you to take the trash out more often, and it will mean that the stuff at the bottom of the can has not been lingering there for weeks on end.

But what makes this sad reality bearable is that there are tricks that will help keep your trash as least smelly as possible.

Meat absorbent pads accidentally cooked