Most people have been putting trash bags in their bins the same way since childhood. You shake open the bag, wrestle it into place, and hope it stays put. A viral trick from TikTok has changed the game entirely, and it’s so simple that thousands of people are wondering why they never thought of it before. Professional organizers and cleaning experts have been sharing this method, and even trash bag manufacturers had to chime in on the debate. Once you try this technique, the old way will feel like unnecessary work.
The hat method changes how you line your bin
Instead of shaking your trash bag open and trying to fit it into your bin, professional organizer Hannah Ian suggests a completely different approach. She noticed that the seam on most trash bags appears to be inside out when you first pull one from the box. Rather than fighting with the bag to open it up, she recommends placing the unopened bag like a hat on top of your trash can. Then you simply push the top of the bag down into the bin, and it lines itself perfectly. The method works because you’re using the natural shape of the bag instead of forcing it into place.
This technique eliminates the awkward moment when you’re shaking a bag and it clings to itself or sticks to your hands. The hat method went viral because it solves a problem most people didn’t realize they had. Hannah Ian’s video showed exactly how the seam placement makes this work, and viewers immediately understood why their old method felt clunky. No more violent shaking or wrestling with stubborn plastic. The bag slides into place smoothly every single time. You can use this with any brand of trash bag, from Hefty to store brands, and it works equally well on small bathroom bins or large kitchen cans.
Manufacturers confirm there’s no wrong way to do this
When the hat method went viral, people started questioning whether they’d been doing it wrong their entire lives. Hefty responded to the debate on social media and clarified something important: there’s actually no incorrect way to put a trash bag in your can. The company explained that while the hat method might be more convenient for some people, the traditional shake-and-place method works just fine too. The seam isn’t necessarily inside out when the bag comes from the box. It’s simply the way the bags are manufactured and folded for packaging.
This revelation means you’re free to choose whichever method feels easier for your situation. The company survey showed that 66 percent of people still prefer the shake method, which proves both techniques have their fans. Some people find the hat method awkward at first because it requires unlearning years of muscle memory. Others switched immediately and never looked back. The key takeaway is that convenience matters more than following supposed rules. If the hat method saves you time and frustration, use it. If you’re comfortable with your current approach, stick with what works for you and your household.
Air pockets waste valuable trash can space
Have you ever noticed that your trash bag seems full when the can itself still has plenty of room? This happens because air gets trapped between the bag and the plastic shell of your bin. When you press down on the trash, the air has nowhere to escape, so the bag billows outward and creates the illusion that you’re out of space. This means you’re changing bags more often than necessary and wasting money on extra liners. The trapped air also makes it harder to tie up full bags because they’re puffed up with empty space.
The solution is surprisingly simple: drill a small hole near the bottom of your trash can’s plastic shell. This allows trapped air to escape as you fill the bag, which means you can pack more actual trash into each liner. Hefty recommends this trick to maximize the space in your bags regardless of which placement method you prefer. The hole should be small enough that liquids won’t leak through but large enough to let air flow freely. You can use a standard drill bit, and the whole process takes less than a minute. Most people notice an immediate difference in how much they can fit in each bag.
Different trash cans require different approaches
The hat method works brilliantly for standard cylindrical trash cans with smooth rims, but it might feel awkward with other bin styles. Rectangular kitchen cans with swing lids often have grooves or channels designed to hold bag edges in place, which makes the traditional method more practical. Step-on cans with inner buckets that lift out present their own challenges because you need to line the bucket rather than the outer shell. Slim cans designed to fit in tight spaces between appliances sometimes have such narrow openings that the hat method becomes difficult to execute properly.
Your best bet is to experiment with both methods on each type of can in your home. Small bathroom bins might work perfectly with the hat technique because they have simple, wide openings. Your kitchen can might benefit from the traditional approach if it has a complex lid mechanism. Some people use the hat method for cans they empty frequently and save the shake method for bins they access less often. The flexibility of choosing your technique for each situation makes daily tasks feel less tedious and more manageable around your entire house.
The shake method isn’t actually a mistake
After watching viral videos about the hat method, many people felt foolish about their lifelong trash bag technique. The reality is that the shake-and-place approach has worked perfectly well for generations of people. It’s quick once you get the hang of it, and most folks can open and place a bag in seconds without thinking about it. The method also works better for certain bag materials, particularly thinner store-brand liners that don’t hold their shape as well as premium brands. Some people simply prefer the tactile feedback of knowing the bag is fully open before placing it.
The viral nature of the hat method doesn’t mean everyone who shakes their bags open has been doing something wrong. It just means there’s an alternative technique that some people find more convenient. Think of it like discovering you can peel a banana from the bottom instead of the stem end. Both ways work fine, and neither is incorrect. The survey results showing that most people stick with shaking prove that familiarity and personal preference matter more than following trends. Try the hat method if you’re curious, but don’t feel pressured to abandon a technique that already serves you well in your daily routine.
Bag thickness affects which method works better
Heavy-duty trash bags with reinforced seams and thicker plastic tend to work better with the hat method because they hold their shape. When you place a sturdy bag on top of your can and push down, it slides smoothly into position without collapsing or bunching up. Thinner bags, especially bargain varieties or small bathroom can liners, sometimes lack the structural integrity to make the hat method practical. They crumple or fold in on themselves when you try to push them down, which defeats the purpose of using the easier technique.
Premium brands like Hefty or Glad typically have enough body to work with either method, while ultra-thin bags might frustrate you if you try the hat approach. The material thickness also affects how well bags conform to the shape of your can. Stretchy bags that expand easily might work better with the shake method because you can pull them taut around the rim. Stiffer bags that resist stretching often perform better with the hat technique because they don’t need to be manipulated as much. Pay attention to how your specific bags behave, and adjust your technique accordingly rather than forcing one method to work with incompatible materials.
Professional organizers use tricks beyond bag placement
Lining your trash can efficiently is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to waste management at home. Professional organizers suggest keeping extra bags at the bottom of your trash can so you always have a replacement ready when you empty the bin. This saves trips to the storage closet and makes taking out the garbage less of a chore. Some people fold their extra bags flat and tuck them under the current liner, while others prefer to keep a small roll of bags attached to the inside rim of the can with adhesive hooks.
Another trick involves using newspaper or paper towels at the bottom of your kitchen trash bag to absorb leaked liquids before they create a mess. This prevents the dreaded drip trail when you’re carrying a full bag to your outdoor bin. Professional organizers also recommend keeping a small spray bottle of cleaner and a rag near your trash area so you can quickly wipe down the can each time you change the bag. These simple habits take seconds but prevent the buildup of grime and odors that make trash management unpleasant. The hat method might be trending, but these practical touches make the biggest difference in day-to-day convenience.
Social media spreads household tips faster than ever
TikTok has become an unexpected hub for household tips and life hacks that previous generations learned from parents or magazines. The platform’s short video format makes it perfect for demonstrating techniques like the hat method because viewers can watch the entire process in seconds. Professional organizers like Hannah Ian have built large followings by sharing simple tricks that solve everyday frustrations. The algorithm pushes content to people who might benefit from it, which means a trash bag technique can reach millions of viewers overnight.
This rapid spread of information means you’re likely to encounter useful tips without actively searching for them. The downside is that viral content sometimes presents preferences as facts or suggests that common practices are mistakes. The trash bag debate perfectly illustrates this phenomenon, with viewers initially believing they’d been doing something wrong for years when they’d simply been using a different valid technique. Social media makes household knowledge more accessible but also requires viewers to think critically about whether viral methods actually improve their routines or just offer alternatives to perfectly functional existing practices.
Small changes add up to noticeable convenience
Switching to the hat method might save you only a few seconds each time you change a trash bag, but those seconds accumulate over weeks and months. If you change your kitchen trash three times a week and the new method is even slightly faster or less frustrating, you’ll notice the difference in how you feel about this particular chore. The same principle applies to the air hole trick and storing extra bags at the bottom of your can. None of these changes are dramatic on their own, but together they transform trash management from an annoying task into something that barely registers.
Think about other small household tasks that frustrate you throughout the week. Loading the dishwasher, folding laundry, or organizing your refrigerator might benefit from similar tiny adjustments that make them slightly less tedious. The trash bag technique going viral demonstrates how much people appreciate discovering easier ways to handle routine tasks. You don’t need to overhaul your entire home organization system to improve your daily experience. Sometimes the most valuable tips are the simplest ones that address minor annoyances you’ve learned to tolerate. Keep an open mind about trying new approaches while remembering that what works for others might not suit your specific situation or preferences.
The hat method offers a genuine alternative to traditional trash bag placement, but it’s not the only correct approach. Experiment with both techniques to see which feels more natural in your home. Drill that air hole to maximize bag capacity, and store extra liners where they’re easy to grab. These small adjustments won’t revolutionize your life, but they’ll make one routine task slightly less annoying. Sometimes that’s exactly the kind of improvement that matters most in daily living.
