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Why Simplehuman Trash Cans Are Worth the Splurge

Photo credit: Simplehuman
Photo credit: Simplehuman


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As the Executive Director of Good Housekeeping's Cleaning Lab, I'm all about managing messes, which is why I'm so in love with my Simplehuman trash can. You won't find a monstrous dish rack sitting out on my counter or a stick vacuum with its many attachments hanging from the wall in my home. I like my cleaning tools well-designed, tucked away and as unobtrusive as possible.

Simplehuman trash cans have the look, features and following that other trash cans only aspire to. And yes, they are expensive, but they are worth every penny for both the aesthetic and convenience they provide. Here's why:

Stylish Design

I own the $180 Simplehuman's 45L Rectangular Step Can in a brushed stainless finish. It comes in other finishes, a larger size or as a dual-bin can with a section for recyclables, but the single 45L model is perfect for my two-person household. We regularly take our glass and plastics to an outdoor container, so we just need an indoor can for trash. I like that this one doesn't overwhelm my kitchen space.

Photo credit: Carolyn Forte/Good Housekeeping
Photo credit: Carolyn Forte/Good Housekeeping

With rounded corners and a slim, flat profile my Simplehuman can hugs the wall and doesn't take up much floor space — Simplehuman also makes round, semi-round and other shaped cans to fit into all kinds of large and small spaces.

And its beautiful aesthetic is not marred by a plastic trash bag peeking out from under the lid. Instead, the outer rim of the Simplehuman's lid lifts up when it's time to put in a new liner and when you snap it back down, it covers up and hides the top of the liner. Sure, you could use regular trash bags instead of the custom Simplehuman can liners that are letter-coded for each style and size of can, but don't expect them to fit perfectly. And there are no messy lids or buckets to remove and wrangle back in place after you've taken out the trash. This attention to detail is one of the things that impresses me most about the brand.

Top-Notch Features

Lest you think a Simplehuman can is all show, it's not. There are many thoughtful and helpful features, starting with its full-width foot pedal. No matter where you step on it, the can opens easily. And, I'm happy to report that its soft close lid works as smoothly and silently as it did when it was new (I've had it for almost four years). But one of my most favorite features is the liner pocket in the back. It not only stores a package of 20 liners so they are always handy but lets you grab them one-by-one from inside the can when it's time for a new one. Genius!

It's Easy to Keep Clean

Photo credit: Carolyn Forte/Good Housekeeping
Photo credit: Carolyn Forte/Good Housekeeping

I would be remiss not to point out how easy this Simplehuman trash can is to keep clean. When it comes to a trash can, there's no more important feature aside from good capacity. Most notable here is its fingerprint-resistant stainless steel exterior, something even many expensive appliances (like my built-in fridge, by the way) can't boast about. I rarely have to take a sponge or cloth to the exterior of this can and when I do, spots and smudges wipe away easily.

Because the liner completely covers the inside and eliminates the need for an interior bucket, there are fewer nooks and crannies for food bits to fall into and generate odors. All I need to do is occasionally wipe splatters from the underside of the lid and crumbs from the ledge around the opening. Newer models now come with a slot in the underside of the lid to hold an odor-eliminating freshener pod.

The Bottom Line: Is the Simplehuman Trash Can Worth It?

Yes, Simplehuman trash cans are worth it, thanks to their streamlined design that's easy to clean, durability and convenient features like can liner storage and a responsive opening mechanism. Trash is an inevitable part of a busy kitchen's activities and, while it's easy to dismiss, having the best possible vessel to contain it is a real timesaver and cuts down on cleaning. Everything in your kitchen should be both hardworking and beautiful, and Simplehuman trash cans check both those boxes and don't disappoint.

Get the Simple Human Trash Can

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