Dressing up to take out the trash becomes lockdown trend, with formal wear, costumes

Getting dressed up to take out the trash has become a sport for people cooped up by coronavirus lockdowns, and they don’t care if you think it’s crazy.

We’re not just talking about putting on a clean shirt and pants, but going all out: formal gowns, tuxedos, jewelry, makeup and heels.

Blame it on cabin fever.

These odd moments have become “Bin Isolation Outings” on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. And hundreds of photos and videos show some people are taking it seriously enough to get into character while walking their bin to the curb. This includes skits, singing, dancing and pet tricks.

“So basically the bin goes out more than us SO let’s dress up for the occasion!” Danielle Askew of Australia explains on the Bin Isolation Outings Facebook page she created last month. “Fancy dress, makeup, tutu ....be creative! Post photos to cheer us up...after all laughter is the best medicine.”

Posts on her page, which has more than 900,000 followers, include a woman celebrating her birthday between trash bins, a guy emptying the trash in scuba gear, a woman running with a bin while being chased by a bull, and a woman in a bikini and cowboy hat rolling out her bin in the snow.

Then there’s the woman dressed up like a cat, dancing in the street after taking out her trash.

Each post tends to get dozens, if not hundreds of comments, as well as expressions of gratitude from people left in isolation by COVID-19.

Mandatory stay-at-home orders are being orchestrated around the world to keep people from being infected, yet the virus continues to spread. As of April 17, 2.2 million had been infected and nearly 150,000 have died, according to Johns Hopkins University

“I live in Illinois in the USA and I just can’t thank you all for the wonderful positive laughs during all of this,” Kristin Buddin posted Friday on the bin outings Facebook page. “I have definitely needed the fun and laughter.”

Below are some of the social media posts from people enjoying “Bin Isolation Outings” around the world.

This story was originally published April 17, 2020 at 11:37 AM with the headline "Dressing up to take out the trash becomes lockdown trend, with formal wear, costumes."