The KwicKan “Portable Instant Container” is an insertable flexible liner that can hold any type of garbage bag open for easier filling. When you’re done, it can be easily cleaned and stored flat until the next use.
It looked to be simple and easy to use, it requires minimal storage space, and was inexpensive, so I bought one.
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I have been using my KwicKan for nearly 12 months now, and I still enjoy the user experience every time I take it off the garage wall. The KwicKan has been especially handy for helping me collect lawn clippings from my EGO mower each week.
How to use it:
- Grab the KwicKan
- Find and open a trash bag
- Fold the KwicKan in half and hold the 2 side handles together
- Insert the KwicKan and allow the side handles to spread apart
- Voila! You now have a light, portable, and easy to fill container
The KwicKan has eliminated nearly all of the hassle of working with loose bags. I empty my lawn clippings into the upright bag until its full. Then I just grab the KwicKan handles and lift it up for removal. The KwicKan easily slides out, leaving a full bag that’s ready to be tied shut.
Raking leaves? No problem with the KwicKan. Simply lay the bag with the KwicKan on the ground like below, and rake the leaves in.
In addition to using the KwicKan weekly to fill bags with yard waste, I have used the KwicKan to fill 5 mil thick construction-grade trash bags full of demolition debris. You can also use the KwicKan to easily create a quick container for recyclables at the house, or for trash when tailgating and camping. The KwicKan can be used in almost any situation where a trash bag is needed.
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The KwicKan is very portable, and can easily be packed for any adventure or work space. You can use a KwicKan at job sites, parties, events, camping, the beach, tailgating, or at home.
The KwicKan is made from 0.060″ thick ABS plastic and, despite its thin size, it feels quite sturdy and should take some abuse. It does not get cold in my area, so I have not been able to test it in extreme weather conditions. Being ABS plastic, I would be gentle when using a KwicKan in frigid temperatures.
The KwicKan is available in 2 sizes:
- KwicKan (larger size) fits 33 to 55 gallon bags
- KwicKan II (smaller size) fits 13 gallon bags (standard kitchen bags)
Pricing: $17 for KwicKan, $11 for KwicKan II
Buy Now (via Home Depot)
What are your thoughts on the KwicKan? Would this solve a problem for you?
Stuart’s Note: Yep, I’m buying one with my next HD order. I never liked the uni-tasker lawn bag chutes, and this looks like it could work better. But at the least, I’ll set one up with a bag as a place to dump clean kitchen and household recyclables. Maybe that’ll help eliminate the overflows we’ve been having with our small kitchen recycling bin.
KwicKan has a 3rd product, the Sandbagger, a shoveling tool used to fill sandbags. The Sandbagger will keep a sandbag open in the same way the KwicKan keeps a trash bag open, while doubling as a shovel to quickly fill the sandbag. This would be excellent to own if flooding or storm surges occur in your area. The Sandbagger costs a little more – $21.
Nathan
I have a nifty wire frame job that I bought years ago – at a local hardware store. 2 folded wires – ball park of 1/8 thick or so and base of 2 tubes the wires go into – also metal. lays up against the wall when not used – wires go into tubes and bam – place bag into it stretch out to wires – they spring in to hold it all taught. Holds 39 gallon contractor bags with ease.
Never seen another like this – wish I could. So is this tall enough for large 39 gallon bags? How much was it?
Nathan
never mind I didn’t catch the 2 sizes bit.
ca
Pretty steep price for a thin piece of plastic. It looks like a crazy carpet.
ca
Which incidentally cost like $3. Three Canadian dollars.
Jimmie
Wish I could find a crazy carpet sled for $3 here in the states. I’d like to use it to construct a snow rake.
Wayne Ruffner
I sure like the one-flat-side aspect of this, makes it easy to sweep stuff into.
Brian Ferus
Funny timing of the article, just finished my trash bag holder for my shop yesterday .
It’s on wheels, don’t know how to attach a picture of it.
Garrick
I wouldn’t use it for my garbage. I consider anything in my waste contaminated. I just use a plastic garbage can and put the bag inside it, and keep the can itself clean. I use just the right size tie off bags that hold tight around the can. easy peasy. The empty can does use more space, because it does not fold flat, but I use it often and store it outside with the lid when I’m not
Nathan
I think this is more for clean up sort of tasks – more specifically for outdoor cleanup. I could see this being used in the garage. But you know what else might work – a sheet for coroplast or something.
Stuart
I think the lawn bag chutes I saw last Fall were made from Coroplast.
This also looks good for barbecues and holiday dinners. Set it up, fill it up, throw out the trash, store or repurpose the liner.
Nathan
Only real issue I have is with the thing “inside” the bag – then it gets dirty with whatever. So those used BBQ plates and the like leave residue on it. As opposed to something you roll up and put the bag inside it – so it’s more like a real trash can.
That would be my concern using it for something other than yard/shop debris.
BonPacific
You could always get one of those collapsible trash cans instead. They’re basically tarp-material around a spring which can be collapsed into a plate, and lined or washed out just like any other trashcan.
Stuart
Double bag, with the liner between the 2 bags, and inner bag folded up and over it?
dave
CrazyCarpets can be had at Meijer stores in the sporting goods section for about $5. I have been using them for DIY bike fenders as they have a natural curve to them. Don’t think they would work for this as they want to curl up instead of straighten out.
Dave
Jimmie
Looks like I’ll be stopping by Meijer on the way to work tomorrow. Thanks.
Koko the Talking Ape
I can’t find anything called “CrazyCarpets.” Do you mean “Crazy Canuck Carpet” maybe?
Jimmie
Found one for $5.99. Meijer calls them “Wacky Carpets” and, like you said, they’re in the sporting goods section. I’d been looking in the seasonal section with the other sleds and snow gear.
I made a DIY roof rake (for snow) that uses a plastic tarp as the slide. The tarp works pretty poorly when there’s a breeze. I think the Wacky Carpet will make a much better slide. And it automagically curls up when not in use.
Pete
Looks pretty cool. Kind of cool to have in the Travel trailer where a brute trash can takes up too much space. Kind of would suck to have nasty crap on it though… i dunno i seems like it would work for a very specific person. I would only use it for camping since i have no lawn lol and my leaves get sucking into a leaf blower/sucker to make mulch then put on the garden.
Henry
To avoid the ick/contamination factor, why not simply design a flexible sheet of plastic that rolls and fasten to itself (i.e. a tube), and then use that as an *external* frame to support a plastic bag on the INSIDE?
What am I missing?
Kyle Altendorf
KwicKan looks like… KanJam?
http://www.kanjam.com/product/kanjam-ultimate-disc-game/
BonPacific
Same price (or more expensive) than a comparable lawn-bag or collapsible trash can. I guess I can see the use, and the “lay flat” option is the only place where this would trump a collapsible trashcan.
mattd
Now I am going to cut up a roll up cutting board and use them to hold open small zip lock bags.
Stuart
Not a bad idea! Might be good for collecting and discarding really messy stuff. I find that grocery store shopping bags aren’t good for holding gunk, even if double or triple layered, and so on rare occasions I’ll use zipper bags as sealable mini trash bags.
Certain kinds are thick enough to stand up on their own if you fold the top over.
Bryan Waddell
I have had a Kwik Can for about 15 years. Love it!
Christopher
I like the Gorilla Trash bags- heavy trash bags with a gusseted bottom, they’ll stand-up on their own. extremely handy come spring cleaning.
Koko the Talking Ape
For reference, in case you want to improvise your own:
The regular large KwicKan is 47″ x 28″ (and the flexible sleds like the Crazy Canuck Sled are 54″ x 18″ in the large size, so they would make a shorter trash can.)
The smaller KwicKan II, that holds 13-gallon kitchen-size bags, is 31″ x 19″, according to a customer on Home Depot’s website. So a large sled could be cut into two of these, roughly.
You can get the large sleds on Amazon for about $13 including shipping.
https://smile.amazon.com/Northern-Ridge-Classic-Roll-Up-Plastic/dp/B01N64CMAZ/
nigeldh
I got two of them back in the late 90’s when Home Depot had them for sale in the fall – put in a trash bag for raking leaves into the bag. Heavy black plastic only, no fancy printing.
I rarely use them to stiffen a trash bag. Instead I use them as a heavy duty plastic ground cover/tarp when I am planting or digging up shrubs. A place to put dirt that I dig out of a hole. A place to move a plant to after I pull the plant out – then I have a surface to divide the plant on. A drag sheet for sliding a plant to a new location.
Alick
Too me, this looks undersized. I’d want it to fully line a standard waste sack not leave the flat side.
After pruning overhanging branches from our neighbours trees we need to bag them and haul them down to the local dump. This bag liner would help but the unprotected flat side of the waste sack is easy to tear with sharp waste like branches, wooden offcuts or broken tiles.
Good idea though for garden or building type waste where the sheet can be easily brushed or hosed down afterwards for cleaning.