The Best Garbage Bags

Your guide to this review today is by Cleaning expert Ben Thurber
Published on
February 25th, 2019

Expert BioExpert Bio

Ben has over a decade of experience in cleaning projects of all types along the entire eastern seaboard of the United States. Ben’s formal training and certifications in cleaning include the AMRT (Applied Microbial Remediation Technician), WRT (Water restoration technician), CCT (Carpet Cleaning technician), as well as several other certifications from the IICRC. Ben has managed teams involved in cleaning projects around the United States. Ben’s passion for cleaning and leading teams goes back as far as he can remember.

The Cleaning Institute

Garbage bags are an essential household item to have on hand, especially when it comes to waste disposal. However, not all garbage bags are created equal; they can widely vary in durability, strength, and size. This is why it’s so important to pay attention to a garbage bag’s level of quality. This factor affects how easy it is to toss out certain items and transport them to the curb before they’re picked up.

We tested several different garbage bag brands to determine which ones stood out and will appeal most to consumers. Our top pick is the Glad ForceFlex Plus Drawstring Large Trash Bags because of their versatile, 30-gallon capacity that is designed to withstand the toughest jobs and messes. It even includes LeakGuard and RipGuard protection that makes it ideal to use in offices, restaurants, and commercial facilities. After the testing process was completed, we decided our honorable mention would be the Hefty Strong Large Trash Bags because they can be used in extra-large trash cans and for large clean-up jobs around the house. While they’re made from plastic, they’ve been constructed with a thicker texture, complete with superior puncture resistance to avoid messes or spills. Our green pick is the Compostable Trash Bags 100% Biodegradable Trash Bags Kitchen Trash Bags because they have one milliliter of thickness and are compostable to reduce waste. This eco-friendly product is the strongest green trash bag on the market. It’s made from compostable plant starches and is completely free of plastic or polyethene.

EXPERT INSIGHTS

From our team: Glad and Hefty have always worked well for us. Regardless of bag brand, be sure to not overfill the bag and be careful to avoid disposing of sharp objects in trashbags.

Testing Categories

We used multiple testing categories to rate each product and determine how it compares to other, similar items. With our years of experience with testing products in various industries, we’ve learned that using testing categories offers a higher level of accuracy with selecting our top choices. When testing garbage bags throughout the week, we mainly considered odor, quality, and efficiency.

Odor: We evaluated the scent of each trash bag to determine how well they were able to mask garbage odors. We also assessed how efficiently it blocked odors—whether the garbage smell was noticeable or completely snuffed out.

Quality: We carefully review the overall quality of each trash bag to determine how well it performs and its versatility for different types of clean-up projects or jobs. We also tested the strength of the material and the handles when lifting a completely full bag.

Efficiency: We used the efficiency category to determine the convenience of the garbage bags, both when we placed them into trash cans or carried them. We also considered the size of the bags, paying particular attention to their overall capacity.

Top Pick

Glad ForceFlex
Plus Drawstring
Large Trash Bags

The Glad ForceFlex Plus Drawstring Large Trash Bags is a versatile 30-gallon bag with an inner layer designed with ForceFlex technology, which allows the bags to stretch and expand over objects.

Price Check

Most notable upside: The Glad ForceFlex garbage bags are extremely flexible to reduce the risk of tears and rips from excess weight and strain. They’re designed to fit large outside garbage bins and come with durable drawstrings that are wide and easy to use. Large trash loads can easily be closed quickly and transported just as efficiently. The product has been redesigned with a new look and a double layer construction that makes them ideal to use both indoors and outdoors. The heaviest loads can be carried without worrying about the plastic ripping. The product smells like an air freshener to mask strong trash odors. Their durability even allows them be used over clothing while moving or for transporting items. The large size of each bag also reduces how often you’ll have to take out the trash, adding further convenience.

Biggest downsides: These bags are more prone to rips than their older design, thanks to their reduced use of plastic and thinner material. Sharp metal objects or pizza box edges, for instance, can easily cause tears. Pulling the string tightly can also cause rips. Some of the garbage bags may also be inside out in the packaging and have an odd shape despite their large capacity. The odor of the plastic bags may also turn off some consumers because it’s strong and overpowering. Liquid messes can also occur underneath the bags when pulling it out of the trash can.

Honorable Mention

Hefty
Strong
Large Trash Bags

The strength and size of Hefty Strong Large Trash Bags makes them perfect for multi-purpose use. It delivers superior puncture resistance and drawstring dependability.

Price Check

Most notable upside: The Hefty Strong trash bags proved to live up to their name during our tests. With their thicker plastic, they can be used for seasonal item storage, donations, kitchen use, lawn clippings, and garage clean-up. Each purchase includes a box top you can turn in to donate cash to local schools. The bags are unscented and feature a durable drawstring that is easy to grip, along with water-resistant material to reduce messes. The bags also include “Odor Block” technology and come in a refreshing White Pine scent.

Biggest downsides: Some of our testers felt the scent of the Hefty Strong trash bags resembled bug spray; as a result, it may be too strong for some consumers, especially those who are allergic to perfume. The lack of bottom seal increases the risk of messes and leaks. The bags can also come with holes, which compromises their durability and overall quality.

Green Pick

Compostable Trash Bags 100%
Biodegradable Trash Bags
Kitchen Trash Bags

The Compostable Trash Bags 100% Biodegradable Kitchen Trash Bags have a capacity of 13 gallons. They are composed of plant starches and don’t contain plastic.

Price Check

Most notable upside: The compostable trash bags are the strongest green trash bags on the market and do not contain any artificial materials, such as polyethene. The product meets ASTM D6400 standards for composting and are ideal to use for recycled materials, container liners, garbage disposal, and as biodegradable scraps. They are most effective when used within one year of purchase. They are designed to be used for food waste, leaves, and wood trimmings. The bags prove to be durable with one milliliter of thickness but still decompose easily when exposed to heat or moisture.

Biggest downsides: The bags may be eco-friendly but they’re also limited on how they can be used and stored. They’re high-maintenance compared to traditional plastic trash bags and can’t be stored in an area with lots of sunlight. Discarding soggy food into the bags can also cause them to tear and spill.

All Our Picks

Tips for Effective Garbage Bags

Garbage bags are only effective and useful if they’re durable and can completely contain liquids and trash. The most effective garbage bags have a thick material that doesn’t tear or rip easily, especially if exposed to contact with sharp objects. A larger capacity can also prove more useful, as this attribute can allow the bags to serve more purposes—whether that involves discarding lawn trimmings or donating items—without having to use as many bags. Garbage bags with handles are also considered to be convenient and functional; handles make it easier to seal the bag and transport it to the curb without risking the material tearing where it’s been knotted. These qualities make it much easier to keep your garbage easily contained, maintains the sanitation of your kitchen, and overall makes your home a more pleasant place to live in.

A Note About Safety and Storage

Garbage bags should be stored in a locked storage area that is out of reach of children or pets; this is due to the risk of suffocation. The bags should also never be placed in cribs, playpens, beds, pet carriers, or carriages. Avoid using garbage bags for food storage. Keep the bags in the original packaging to prevent them from coming in contact with dirt or grime. Following these tips will help your garbage bags last longer so you can get plenty of use out of them.

The Best Garbage Bags

Your guide to this review today is by Cleaning expert Ben Thurber

The Cleaning Institute

EXPERT INSIGHTS

Testing Categories

Glad ForceFlex
Plus Drawstring
Large Trash Bags

Hefty
Strong
Large Trash Bags

Compostable Trash Bags 100%
Biodegradable Trash Bags
Kitchen Trash Bags

All Our Picks

Glad ForceFlex
Plus Drawstring
Large Trash Bags

Hefty
Strong
Large Trash Bags

Compostable Trash Bags 100%
Biodegradable Trash Bags
Kitchen Trash Bags

Tips for Effective Garbage Bags

A Note About Safety and Storage

Quick Links

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

The Best Garbage Bags

Your guide to this review today is by Cleaning expert Ben Thurber

The Cleaning Institute

EXPERT INSIGHTS

Testing Categories

Glad ForceFlexPlus DrawstringLarge Trash Bags

Hefty Strong Large Trash Bags

Compostable Trash Bags 100% Biodegradable Trash BagsKitchen Trash Bags

All Our Picks

Glad ForceFlexPlus DrawstringLarge Trash Bags

Hefty Strong Large Trash Bags

Compostable Trash Bags 100% Biodegradable Trash BagsKitchen Trash Bags

Tips for Effective Garbage Bags

A Note About Safety and Storage

Quick Links

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Glad ForceFlex
Plus Drawstring
Large Trash Bags

Hefty
Strong
Large Trash Bags

Compostable Trash Bags 100%
Biodegradable Trash Bags
Kitchen Trash Bags

Glad ForceFlex
Plus Drawstring
Large Trash Bags

Hefty
Strong
Large Trash Bags

Compostable Trash Bags 100%
Biodegradable Trash Bags
Kitchen Trash Bags