# How to remove the stench of decomposition? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 24, 2010, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-the-stench-of-decomposition/544396 "2010-06-24T19:25:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-the-stench-of-decomposition/544396/21 "2010-06-24T22:51:03Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Hm. Grass clippings. Only I’m not planning to have the grass cut until next week. > > I do have some charcoal briquettes I can crush up. For the love of all that’s holy, do NOT use charcoal with lighter fluid alread in it (the quick-light stuff). You will simply trade one smell out for another. 🆒 Sunshine is surprisingly deodorizing. The UV kills the odor-causing bacteria. ---
**Author:** ![Joanie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@Joanie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joanie)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-the-stench-of-decomposition/544396/22 "2010-06-24T23:57:49Z")
I want you to know that I have had similar problems in the past and I have tried many, many different kinds of solvents and taken many different tips from people on how to fix this problem. But, in the end, nothing ever worked for me and all I could ever do was to throw away the conatainer. Just throw it away. One thing you might want to try is to call your local undertaker and tell them your story and beg them for some help. If anyone ought to know how to solve this problem, they are the people who should know. If they are certain that you are not a competitor (and why should you be?), then they may give you a good solution. Regardless, if you find a solution, please come back and let us all know what you find. It would be so helpful in future unpleasant situations. P.S. I assume you did try to use Google. Correct? ---
**Author:** ![Joanie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@Joanie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joanie)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-the-stench-of-decomposition/544396/23 "2010-06-25T00:11:34Z")
I spent some time with Google just to see if there might be anything under “how to” eliminate odor decaying body I found some place that sells products designed to help. I would be very suspicious of these products and would never spend any money in excess of an amount that you didn’t care about losing. But, take a look and see what you think? > **[odor control and treatments for the home kitchen attic basement](http://bugspray.com/catalog/products/odor_control.html)** > > Odor control can be accomplished with a variety of products available today. First you need to determine the kind of odor you have. Then you need to I know that address contains the word “bugspray”. But that is not what these products are about. Also, you might like to try to Google on “how to eliminate odor decaying body” or try some of your own alternatives? Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-the-stench-of-decomposition/544396/24 "2010-06-25T00:15:45Z")
Take it to the car wash and power wash it by hand. That’s what I usually do with anything large, messy and / or smelly. You have high pressure water, a long handled brush that dispenses soap and water and you don’t wind up with the mess of water and crud in your driveway. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-the-stench-of-decomposition/544396/25 "2010-06-25T00:55:55Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Rat went into a bag. Bag went into the trash bin. Rat leaked. Bag leaked. The trash has been picked up, but wheeeeeee-_doggie!_ What a stench! I poured some ammonia into the bin and left the top open. (Good thing the houses nearby are empty for now.) Is there anything else I can do? Some of that ‘freshening’ cat litter? Or just let the ammonia do its work? Scub it out and spray it with Lysol. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-the-stench-of-decomposition/544396/26 "2010-06-25T04:31:27Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I do have some charcoal briquettes I can crush up. Hey!! Do what \*\*Missred \*\*says. Take it to the car wash and power spray it clean. Unless you get out all traces of the decomposing stuff, it will continue to stink. If it still smells after that, do the ammonia again or use vinegar or bleach. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-the-stench-of-decomposition/544396/27 "2010-06-25T04:35:23Z")
I shut the lid a few minutes ago. There was no corpsetacular cloud of ratty funk floating over the bin. Not that I stuck my head in it, or anything. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-the-stench-of-decomposition/544396/28 "2010-06-25T04:36:38Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > Hey!! No, not those! I have some left over from a couple of years ago that have probably absorbed enough moisture to be useless for grilling! ---
**Author:** ![Oly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oly/32/8255_2.png) [@Oly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oly)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-the-stench-of-decomposition/544396/29 "2010-06-25T04:48:15Z")
Jesus Haploid Christ! It’s a GARBAGE CAN. Does it have to smell like roses?! Decmposition is recomposition from another point of view. The perfume of recycling. Paper or plasitc? NO! Mister. That’s LIFE! Breath it in. Suck it up. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-the-stench-of-decomposition/544396/30 "2010-06-25T04:51:34Z")
> [@Oly](#): > > Jesus Haploid Christ! It’s a GARBAGE CAN. Does it have to smell like roses?! Well, there’s malodourous, and then there’s ‘Christ in crotchless panties! What died?’ ---
**Author:** ![Oly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oly/32/8255_2.png) [@Oly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oly)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-the-stench-of-decomposition/544396/31 "2010-06-25T05:08:12Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > ‘Christ in crotchless panties!’ Don’t tempt me, Ratkiller! My advice is to shred up your garbage can and throw it in your compost bin. That is, if you know what’s good for you(r planet). In my town you would be cited for both - killing a rat and not composting the carcass. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-the-stench-of-decomposition/544396/32 "2010-06-25T05:22:51Z")
> [@Joanie](#): > > I > But, in the end, nothing ever worked for me and all I could ever do was to throw away the conatainer. Just throw it away. Yes, just toss it. Trust me.🆒 Note my user name. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-the-stench-of-decomposition/544396/33 "2010-06-25T14:40:28Z")
> [@Oly](#): > > My advice is to shred up your garbage can and throw it in your compost bin. Technically, it’s not my bin. It belongs to the trash company. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-the-stench-of-decomposition/544396/34 "2010-06-25T15:52:43Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Technically, it’s not my bin. It belongs to the trash company. Maybe the trash company can provide a new one? Call it in as broken, they usually will get you a new one. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-the-stench-of-decomposition/544396.md?page=1)