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The Best Trash Bags for Keeping Everything Clean

A full black garbage bag beside garbage can in kitchen.

Trash bags are one of the unique household items that you don’t really think about until you need them. Reliable trash bags help you tackle nasty messes and yard clean-up. But with so many options in the market, how can you figure out which ones are right for your needs? We have searched through the best garbage bags to find the ones that are great for a variety of messes and households. Here are some fantastic trash bags we recommend.

What to Consider When Purchasing Garbage Bags

Which bag will be best for you? Consider these few keys points, so you know you’re getting the best bag for you:

  • Types: Flap or quad tie bags can be securely closed and are easy to tie as well as carry. They can also be tied multiple times and more easily fit a larger load of garbage without spilling. Drawstring tie bags can offer a tighter fit around the top of the garbage can and are easy to lift and remove out of the can or bin. These bags also typically have a stronger load-bearing capacity and offer automatic closing so that there is no reaching your hand around to tie the bag. With these bags, you can simply pull the strings, and the bag is shut.
  • Size: These bags need to fit inside whatever you’re putting them in! The bag can’t be too big or, it might loosely hang over the edges. It can’t be too small, or it might constantly fall down. When looking at a bag’s measurements, ensure that the depth of the bag fits your trash can as well as the closure straps. 
  • Features: Heavy-duty material is not necessarily needed, but heavy-duty bags will be more likely to handle almost anything you put it through, including liquids and pointed items. Leakproof bags to cleaning out the bottom of the garbage can on a regular basis. Stretchy material will offer additional room to help accommodate a larger than usual garbage day. If you are looking for environmental-friendly garbage bags, there are options that will help make sure you’re making less of an impact by using plant-based materials.

Top Choice: Solimo Tall Kitchen Drawstring Trash Bags

A full white trash bag with red drawstring handle on white background.

Available in multiple pack counts and styles, these bags are 24-inches wide and 27-inches tall with a 13-gallon capacity. Select the 45-count to support your regular trash output, or opt for the 200-count in preparation for a large gathering. There is a red drawstring for easy closure and carrying, while the thickness of the bags is .9 millimeters for durability and strength.

Top Choice

Solimo Trash Bags (Unscented, Tall Kitchen Drawstring, 13 Gallon, 120 Count)

Drawstring closure and 13-gallon capacity make these bags ideal for kitchens.

Best Heavy Duty: Hefty Ultra Strong Kitchen Trash Bags

An orange box of garbage bags showing bag and qualities.

With a black exterior to hide any inside mess, these bags are available in both scented with the Arm & Hammar fragrance and unscented styles. They offer tear-resistant technology as well as an additional stretch for durability. A gripping drawstring keeps the bag in place once inserted in the garbage can. When removed from the can, these bags can hold up to 49.2 liters of trash and make it to the dumpster without coming undone.

Best Heavy Duty

Hefty Ultra Strong Tall Kitchen Trash Bags, Blackout, Clean Burst, 13 Gallon, 80 Count

Scented and unscented black bags to hide the mess with extra durability and stretch.

Best Large Bags: Hefty Strong Large Trash Bags

A patterned orange box of garbage bags with black strong label.

When you have big jobs that need a tough bag suitable for more than the kitchen, these trash bags are ready with 1.05-millimeter thicknesses for sharp indoor and outdoor debris. The drawstring closure is made with added durability and strength for easy transport. This bag’s stretchy but strong material allows it to handle trash from seasonal debris to after-party messes and anything in between. They have a big enough capacity to hold just about whatever you need and are available in multiple package sizes.

Best Large Bags

Hefty Strong Large Trash Bags, 30 Gallon, 56 Count

Made with a durable, thick plastic and sturdy drawstring closure for heavy indoor or outdoor messes.

Best Flap Tie: Glad Odorshield Tall Kitchen Quick-Tie Trash Bags

A yellow and blue box of white garbage bags.

These bags are made with odor shield technology and the fresh clean smell from Febreze to keep your kitchen smelling great. The 13-gallon bags offer a flap tie design for quick closure. Also designed with reinforced bands for strength and reduced plastic waste, these bags are great for use throughout the house while neutralizing any garbage odors.

Best Flap Tie

Glad Odorshield Tall Kitchen Quick-Tie Trash Bags - 13 Gallon, Fresh Clean, 72 Count

Quick tie closure and reinforced bands with an odor neutralizer make these bags great for use all over the house.

Best Small Bags: FORID Small 2.6 Gallon Garbage Bags

Multiple rolled color bags in front of the packaging.

These multipurpose bags are made of high-quality material to give you a colorful garbage can without any smell. Ideal for the home or the office, these bags are made of pure PE for durability and odor reduction. They can even be used as pet-cleanup bags for your next walk with your pet. FORID chose the bags’ colors to help freshen your home and create an ambiance. The green color indicates freshness, hope, safety, and calmness, the blue bag is for infinite forgiveness, improved mood, and sleep quality, and the purple bags represent elegance and romance. On the warm tone spectrum, the pink bag stands for love and romance to warm your home with simplicity and innocence, while the yellow color is for lighting up the darkness and relaxing.

Best Small Bags

Best Biodegradable: Hippo Sak Plant-Based Tall Kitchen Bags with Handles

A woman in gray jeans holding full white trash bag by handles.

Made from plants, these bags won’t make you worry nearly as much about the environmental impact you are having through your regular trash output. Instead, reduce your carbon footprint with these bags that are made from sugar cane instead of fossil fuels, making them renewable and recyclable. These bags are also designed to be puncture and leakproof and are a USDA Certified Biobased Product.

Best Biodegradable

Plant Based - Hippo Sak Tall Kitchen Bags with Handles, 13 gallon (45 Count)

Made using renewable resources, these bags reduce your carbon footprint and are biodegradable.

Alesha Billie Alesha Billie
Alesha Billie is a momma to three kiddos (unless we count the furry ones) who has been writing and researching for over 15 years. After a start as a romance ghostwriter, she's written countless full-length novels in addition to articles, blog posts, advertorials, memoirs, and eBooks. Read Full Bio »
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