Step trash cans, explained
A foot pedal lifts the lid, so hands stay free.
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How a pedal works
A step can has a foot pedal near its base. Pressing the pedal lifts the lid through a linkage inside or behind the can. Releasing the pedal lets the lid close.
Soft-close lids
Some step cans have a damper that slows the lid as it closes. The maker's manual describes how its lid and pedal work and how to care for them.
A lid that rests closed
A step can's lid stays closed until someone presses the pedal. EPA says garbage containing food scraps should be placed in tightly covered trash cans.
Cleaning the pedal and lid
The CDC says to clean high-touch surfaces regularly, and gives light switches, doorknobs, and countertops as examples. A pedal and lid get touched too; that is our note, not the CDC's. The CDC says to clean surfaces using a product suitable for each surface, following instructions on the product label.
Children and pedals
A pedal opens the lid for anyone who steps on it. The AAP says any trash container used for possibly dangerous items should have a child-resistant cover or be kept out of a child's reach.
Sources: CDC, When and How to Clean and Disinfect Your Home; EPA, Do's and Don'ts of Pest Control; American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org, Home Safety: Tips for Families With Young Children.
FAQ
General information only. Keep a trash can that holds spoiled food, sharp objects, or batteries behind a lid a child cannot open, or out of a child's reach. Knot plastic bags before you throw them away, and keep button and coin batteries out of reach of children. Keep cleaning products in their original packaging, out of sight and reach of children and pets, and never mix cleaning or disinfecting products. Read and follow the label on every cleaner and the maker's manual for your can, including how to change or remove its batteries. A swallowed button or coin battery needs medical help right away; do not delay. If you think a child swallowed something harmful, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222; if the child is unconscious, not breathing, or having convulsions or seizures, call 911. If a pet did, call your veterinarian or a pet poison control center right away. In an emergency, call 911.
Next: touchless cans
A sensor opens the lid.
