How to put a trash bag in a garbage can: Do bags come inside out?

Glad trash bags are manufactured with seams on the outside, unlike your clothes, which typically have seams facing inwards (toward your body.) This can make it appear as though trash bags are made inside-out, but they’re not!

Some garbage bags are reversible, meaning they may be used with the seams facing either outwards or inwards. Others have technology which only works when the coating on the inside of the trash bag can come into contact with the trash. These trash bags should be used with seams facing outwards (towards or touching the walls of the trash bin).

Steps:

1. Remove the trash bag from the box and shake it open to fully expand
2. Insert the bottom of the bag inside the can and position it evenly
3. Pull trash bag edges over the rim of the garbage can to secure it in place
4. Smooth out folds and release trapped air so the bag fits properly

Shaking the bag open allows it to fully expand before placement, making it easier to position evenly around the rim. This method also ensures the orientation of the bag remains unchanged: seams facing outwards and any technology coatings facing inwards.

When to use it:

• Smaller bins
• Bags with odor-control coatings
• Glad® Leakguard Bags

This widely shared method flips the process and is gaining popularity for a reason.

Steps:

1. Keep the bag folded (don’t shake it open)
2. Place the opening over the rim of the bin like a “hat”
3. Push the rest of the bag down into the bin so it expands naturally
4. Smooth the bag into place to get rid of trapped air so it fits properly

This method lets the bag expand gradually inside the bin, rather than shaking it open quickly and forcefully.

When to use it:

• Heavy or bulky trash
• Reversible trash bags

While there is no single “correct” way to put in a trash bag, there are certainly some wrong ways! The “hat method” can be efficient and is currently trending, but it’s never required. Moreover, for some trash bin liners like Glad® ForeceFlex MaxStrength Leakguard, which has a leak-absorption technology inside the bag, this hack would keep the technology from working as intended!

Place the bag inside the can and press it firmly into the bottom. Fold the top edges over the rim to secure it, keeping the flaps accessible. Once full, lift the bag out and tie the flaps together into a knot for easy, secure closure.

Place the bag in the bin and smooth it along the bottom and sides. Fold the top edge over the rim if needed. When full, gather the top of the bag and use the attached twist ties to close it tightly.

1. Match Bag Size to Your Bin
• Bags that are too small for your bin may fall or tear, resulting in messes.
• Bags that are too large for your bin may slip out of place, causing spills.
• Check out our trash bag size guide for more.

2. Switch to Drawstring
If a correctly sized quick-tie or twist-tie garbage bag keeps slipping down into the bottom of the can, consider drawstring instead. Glad’s grips-the-can drawstring helps the bag stay in place.

3. Don’t Overfill (Even If You Can)
No matter which method you use to put a trash bag in your trash can, overfilling increases stress on the bag. Even stretchable strength has its limits!

4. Don’t Chuck Everything in the Trash
Household trash bags aren’t designed to hold every possible kind of waste! Use special caution in the disposal of sharp objects, such as broken glass. Avoid dumping large volumes of liquid — especially hot liquids — into a trash bag. Local guidance will vary on the use of liners for recycling, composting, and yard waste; reach out to your local waste management agency for guidance.

There’s no single right way to put a trash bag in a garbage can.

• The traditional method works for almost all trash bags
• The over-the-rim “hat” method can also work well for some kinds of trash bags
• The best choice depends on your specific trash bag and use case