Setup guide
Get CanClamp installed in about ten minutes.
You'll need: your CanClamp base and strap, about 0.4 cubic feet of fill (we recommend sand), and your trash can.
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1
Run the strap through the sleeve on the bottom of the base
Flip the base over. Feed the strap through the sleeve sewn across the underside until it's centered, so an even length hangs out each side. Flip the base back over — you're ready to fill it.
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2
Find the zipper on the base
The CanClamp base is a 24-inch diameter fabric disc with a zipper across it. Stand it upright with the zipper accessible and unzip it all the way, so you can pour material in without spilling.
Tip: Do this on a tarp or in your driveway — not on grass — so any spilled fill is easy to sweep up.
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3
Fill it with one bag of sand
The base is designed to hold 0.4 cubic feet — about one standard bag from any hardware store. We recommend sand, but anything dry and granular that adds weight works: pour in the whole bag and you’re done.
Pea gravel, crushed rock, or aquarium gravel work too. Whatever you use, the target is the same: enough weight that the base still lies flat once it’s zipped shut.
Tip: Pour slowly and shake the base down as you go, so the fill settles evenly instead of mounding at the bottom.
Important: Do not overfill. If the base bulges instead of lying flat, the trash can won’t sit square on it and can tip. Overfilling also stresses the zipper. One bag is plenty — the weight holds the can down, and more weight gives no extra benefit.
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4
Zip it shut and lay it flat
Zip the base completely closed and run your finger along the zipper to confirm it's fully seated. Then lay it flat and pat the fill out so it's even across the whole disc — no high spots, no empty pockets, no bulges.
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5
Position the base under your trash can
Pick the spot where your can lives. Set the filled base flat on the ground, then place your trash can directly on top of it, centered. The base should disappear under the can — you shouldn't see fabric sticking out past the rim.
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6
Choose your strap mode
Both ends of the strap should now be coming up either side of the can. It's cut long on purpose — the same strap fits a small can or a large one. The velcro is on both sides and self-mating: no male or female half, it sticks to itself wherever it lands, so there's nothing to size or adjust. You have two options:
Mode A — Through the handles
Run each end of the strap up the side of the can and through the handle, then fold it back on itself. The velcro grips itself and locks, pulling the can down onto the base.
Use when: you want the can itself anchored but still want easy lid access for daily use.
Mode B — Over the lid
Bring both ends up the sides of the can and over the closed lid so they meet on top. Press them together and the velcro locks. This holds the can down and keeps the lid shut at the same time.
Use when: trash day winds, animals testing the lid, or anytime you want both can and lid locked down.
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7
Test it
Give the can a firm shove from each side. It should resist tipping and stay planted. If the base shifts under the can, recenter and reseat the strap.
Common questions
Can I use water instead of sand?
No. The base isn't waterproof on the inside — water will leak through the zipper and the fabric. Use a dry granular fill: sand, pea gravel, crushed rock, or aquarium gravel.
Will it work with my trash can?
The strap fits small cans and large ones, so that's never the problem — the base is what sets the limit. It's 24 inches across, which covers standard residential cans. Measure the bottom of yours: if it's wider than 24 inches the can won't sit properly on the base. Email us if you're not sure.
Can I leave it outside year-round?
Yes. The base is 18 oz lined duck canvas with a water-resistant #8 zipper, built to live outdoors. In a hard freeze a sand-filled base stays flexible; gravel may stiffen slightly.
What if the velcro stops sticking?
Pick the velcro clean with a stiff brush — grit and lint are almost always the problem. If it still won't hold, email us at support@can-clamp.com and we'll make it right.
Need help?
Email us anytime — we read every message.
- Email: support@can-clamp.com
- Web: can-clamp.com