(Last Updated: July, 2020)
What Changed?
- Added Simple Human 48L Compactor
- Removed Discontinued Products
- Updated Pros and cons on Step N' Sort
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Whether you want a trash compactor to shove the garbage down and away from pets or to save yourself from using so many garbage bags, you don’t need to look any further than these five great options here.
Choose one of these best trash compactors to keep your home that much cleaner and to save you time and money throwing out the garbage too!
Since starting CompuKitchen, we've had the chance to test a TON of kitchen appliances. We've tested a handful of the best trash compactors to put together this list. According to our tests the best trash compactor is the Simple Human 48L trash compactor. It uses completely hands-free operation, and crushes garbage quietly, with a great compaction ratio.
Our Picks For Best Trash Compactor
More About SimpleHuman 48L Stainless Steel Trash Compactor
Everyone wants to keep separating their garbage and recyclables, even when they’re compacting their trash. For this, take a look at this Simple Human Trash Compactor. It has two buckets, one for garbage and one for recycling, and will help you neatly sort everything into separate bags. Beyond the sorting feature, it’s easy to use as well.
Just touch the bar, which is easy to open at any angle, if your hands are full. You can tap with your elbow, bump it with your hip, or nudge it with your knee to throw your garbage inside and move along.
This fully integrated trash compactor is made to be efficient, with a wide opening to throw your kitchen garbage into. The springs will control the opening smoothly and evenly so that you don’t hear the opening and it stays working right.
Pros
Cons
Shop Related Products | |
|---|---|
GLD-74507  | SONGMICS Compactor  |
Household Essentials Compactor  | HOmeLabs 21 Gallon Automatic Compactor  |
More About Simple Human 58L Dual Compartment Trash Compactor
You can use this fully integrated Simple Human Dual Compartment Trash Compactor for 10 years under warranty. It's made from some of the best materials with solid engineering to boot. Use it in your home for years, with one side for kitchen garbage and one side for the easy disposal of recyclables. No matter what side you're dealing with, though there are custom fit liners, that means you'll be able to pull out garbage bags simply and effectively.
You only need 6 AA batteries to help this compactor work. Once you have the liner rim down over the compactor, you’ll be able to watch it work on its own. It’s so quiet with the silent close lid that you probably won’t even notice it working.
Pros
Cons
Shop Related Products | |
|---|---|
GLD-74507 | SONGMICS Compactor |
Household Essentials Compactor | HOmeLabs 21 Gallon Automatic Compactor |
More About Krushr K012 Trash Compactor
If you’re looking for a Trash Compactor that really features hyper crush compaction, you don’t have to look any further than the Krushr Trash Compactor. The compression factor ensures that all of your plastics and cans will be crushed without using energy, and will also mean that you’ll produce less waste and abide by the functionality to different municipal authorities.
You probably don’t care too much about that though. What you care about is that this trash compactor means you can throw all of your recyclables right in there and forget about them. It works so quietly and with great energy efficiency that you won’t ever have to think too much about it.
Pros
Cons
Shop Related Products | |
|---|---|
GLD-74507 | SONGMICS Compactor |
Household Essentials Compactor | HOmeLabs 21 Gallon Automatic Compactor |
More About Step N Sort Compactor
What makes this Step N Sort Compacting Trash Bin unique is, yes, the price. It’s one of the cheaper options out there, but that doesn’t make it any less impressive. It will hold up to 40 liters or 11 gallons of items before you have to grab the removable drawer / inner bucket to dispose of your kitchen garbage. This removable drawer / bucket makes it easy to throw out your kitchen garbage with ease, but check out the trash compacting and slow close lid of the bin too. With this bin lid, you’ll be completely safe when you throw food in.
You'll love that this trash compactors so easy to use too and the innovative features it comes with. The finish is made to be fingerprint proof and made of stainless steel. This means more durability and longer use. And when you use it—you don't even need your hands. Just step onto the pedals to get this trash bin working right.
Pros
Cons
Shop Related Products | |
|---|---|
GLD-74507 | SONGMICS Compactor |
Household Essentials Compactor | HOmeLabs 21 Gallon Automatic Compactor |
More About Squash-It Manual Compactor
This is a manual trash compactor option. This means that you’ll pick up this 30-inch compactor and shove it into your trash to crush everything down yourself.
It’s made to be light at only 1.5 pounds, meaning that anyone can use it, and includes a thick pole that you can hold simply without straining your hands too much. Just push down the trash to save space in your garbage bag so that you don’t need to throw it out so quickly.
The features of this trash compactor are minimal. It's a simple, inexpensive product with one singular purpose: to crush trash.
Pros
Cons
Shop Related Products | |
|---|---|
GLD-74507 | SONGMICS Compactor |
Household Essentials Compactor | HOmeLabs 21 Gallon Automatic Compactor |
What is a Trash Compactor?
A trash compactor will help reduce the waste in your home, allowing you to save space and time taking out the garbage. Any trash that goes into a trash compactor will be minimized into smaller pieces and discarded within a trash compactor bag. This makes the amount of trash in your house much more manageable to dispose of.
The trash will be loaded into the door of the compactor. There will be a feature sensor to alert you when you put trash into the compactor in the wrong order since bottles and cans have to be placed first and larger items should go in the middle of the bin. The compactor will turn on once the door to the machine is closed and you activate the switch.
While using the trash compactor, it is always good to be aware of the safety hazards that they can cause. Glass or any type of chemical should not go into a trash compactor as it can cause damage to the machine and possibly yourself. You should also not allow your children to play around the compactor unsupervised.
Also, make sure not to place more in the trash compactor than it can take. This will only cause damage to the machine and make it much harder to operate as a result. You should not operate it if it is damaged and you should not touch any of the moving parts while you are operating it.
Choosing the Best Trash Compactor
Compaction Force
The most important feature to pay attention to is the amount of compaction force your trash compactor will have. The maximum amount of compaction force that any trash compactor will have is 3,000 pounds worth of power.
You should definitely find a trash compactor that has that level of compaction power, or at least one that is close enough to that power level. Any trash compactor that has a high level of compaction force will prove to be useful for your household.
Good Performance & Compaction Ratio
Your trash compactor should be capable of high-performance work with a decent amount of compaction ratio as a core feature regardless of size. So, what is a compaction ratio when it comes to garbage compactors for your kitchen?
The size and amount of compaction ratio will determine how many bags you will be able to fit into the trash compactor all at once, so you will need to figure out how much you can lift and discard into the compactor in one sitting. There is no need to settle for a weaker product with a bad compaction ratio, even if it has a better rate of affordability.
Type & Size
The type of trash compactor that you will want or need for your house will tend to really make a difference. Measure the area of the place you plan to store your trash compactor in order to determine which type you have to get. You can choose from freestanding compactors, under-counter compactors, or even portable trash compactors that you can take practically anywhere in your yard that are small in size.
If you have a large kitchen, or a large family, a larger size machine is a better choice so it can accommodate the needs of all people in the household.
Odor Control System
A trash compactor that comes with an odor control system will prove to be pretty handy for all people in your home. Odor management systems will manage and eliminate strong odors from the area surrounding your trash compactors. Be aware that some trash compactors will not come included with their own odor management systems, but you will be able to buy your own separate system for your trash compactor. This is especially true for machines that come at a low price. If you know you need a quality compactor, you shouldn't let price be your main reason for buying a product.
Durability
It goes without saying that any trash compactor you choose to purchase for your own home must be durable enough to take as many loads as possible for as long as it can. A trash compactor that is not durable will not be able to provide you with the compaction force you need without a bit of a struggle. The overall efficiency of your trash compactor will be highly dependent on its durability.
Most trash compactors are made of some sort of steel, specifically stainless steel. Stainless steel is an inexpensive, but durable material for a bin.
Easy to Clean
Owning a trash compactor will require a good bit of maintenance, including having to be cleaned quite often. If you are worried about difficult having to clean your trash compactor will be, keep your eyes out for any trash compactors that will be easier to clean compared to other products. Cleaning your trash compactor is also a bit of a process that requires a decent level of care.
First, you will have to remove the trash bag and drawer from the cabinet inside of the trash compactor and vacuum up any bits of loose debris from inside the trash collector. Clean the drawer with warm water and mild cleaner, as well as inside and outside of the trash compactor. Make sure that everything you have cleaned is dry before replacing the drawer and trash bag, and be sure to wear protective cleaning gloves while cleaning.
Cost
The cost of different trash compactors will depend on all of its features and various functionalities. Trash compactors definitely are not cheap, but some brands and models are much more affordable than others. Look out for a trash compactor that you can easily afford but also offers all of the functions that you need.
Conclusion
Getting a trash compactor for your home will resolve the struggle of constantly storing and processing heavy loads of trash. It will also be much better for the environment since you will use fewer trash bags and fill up less space in landfills.
Knowing which features to look out for, how to use a trash compactor correctly, and how to clean it out will help you identify what you need and what type will be best for your home.
