Let’s be honest: no one likes cleaning out their trash bins. It’s one of those chores that’s easy to ignore until the smell makes it impossible. A dirty bin can fill a garage or your yard with an unpleasant odor and can even attract bugs and flies.
The great news is that cleaning your bin doesn’t have to be difficult. With the right tools and a few easy steps, you can remove trash residue and prevent foul odors from accumulating.
Still, this isn’t a task many people enjoy. That’s why more homeowners opt to let a professional do the dirty work to keep their bins tidy year-round.
Step-by-Step: How to Clean Trash Bins
Cleaning out a trash bin is typically not someone’s idea of a fun time, but it is a chore that makes a big impact once it’s finished. Follow these steps to do it right:
- Clean out all trash and loose litter
- Hose out the bin with a garden hose
- Wash with hot water and dish soap
- Use bleach or vinegar for disinfection
- Wash thoroughly
- Allow the bin to dry thoroughly
Let’s dive into each of these a bit more.
1. Clean Out All Trash and Loose Litter
Remove any trash bags, food residue or excess waste. Inspect the bottom for any bits that are stuck on there or liquid that has dried up.
2. Hose Out the Bin With a Garden Hose
Use a strong spray from your hose to rinse the inside and outside of the bin. This loosens dirt and grime, making scrubbing less difficult.
3. Wash With Hot Water and Dish Soap
Fill the bin with a few inches of hot water and dish soap. Scrub down the inside walls, corners and lid with a longer-handled brush. Don’t forget about the outside, as flies and residue can stick to all surfaces.
4. Use Bleach or Vinegar for Disinfection
Disinfect your bin to kill germs and remove foul odors using a disinfectant. Combine a cup of bleach with a gallon of water, or use white vinegar. Spray or pour the solution into the trash can and allow it to sit for 10 minutes.
5. Wash Thoroughly
After disinfecting, use your hose to rinse the bin to remove any remaining cleaning solution.
6. Allow the Bin to Dry Thoroughly
Keep the lid ajar and put it outside under direct sunlight. This can help it dry faster.
Doing this task keeps smells away and makes each cleaning easier. If you’d prefer not to mess with it, contact a professional trash bin cleaning service to do it for you. An exterior cleaning professional can also help with other outdoor tasks, like cleaning gutters from the ground.
How Do You Get Rid of a Bad Smell in a Bin?
If your trash can smells even when it’s empty, it’s probably because of bacteria and lingering trash. Food that is past its expiration, liquids and sticky bits tend to accumulate at the bottom or around the edges. Eventually, these pieces decompose and emit unpleasant odors that are hard to ignore.
To address this, scrub the inside of the trash can. Be extra thorough with the lid, bottom and corners since these parts tend to catch more debris and retain odors. Scrub all surfaces with hot, soapy water and a hard-bristled brush. Follow this by rinsing it with a hose.
Once you’ve scrubbed the bin, you’re ready to disinfect. Mix bleach and water or use white vinegar. Pour or spray it into the bin so it coats the inside well. Let the bin air out with the lid open, ideally under the sun.
If you find that the smell persists or you do not want to deal with it, it’s best to hire a professional to regularly do this task.
How to Stop a Garbage Bin From Smelling
After cleaning your trash bin, you’ll want to help reduce odors from returning. Foul odors often return because of leaks from trash bags, food spills or moisture inside the bin.
These easy tips will help you stay a step ahead of the stink:
- Bag up food scraps and securely close garbage bags
- Rinse trash cans on trash pickup days
- Use baking soda
- Keep the lid firmly shut
- Keep the bin somewhere shaded
Let’s dive into each of these tips.
Bag Up Food Scraps and Securely Close Garbage Bags
Food waste decomposes rapidly and can release a bad smell. Choose sturdy trash bags and make sure you close them tightly before putting them in the trash bin.
Rinse Trash Cans on Trash Pickup Days
Even if a bag doesn’t break, liquids can still leak. If you rinse your trash bin with a hose after each garbage collection, you can help prevent odors from lingering.
Use Baking Soda
Add a sprinkle of baking soda to the bottom of the bin. This can help absorb moisture and bad smells.
Keep the Lid Firmly Shut
This way, flies and other unwanted creatures won’t be able to get inside your trash bin. You’ll also prevent odors from circulating in your garage or yard.
Keep the Bin Somewhere Shaded
Heat and humid conditions aggravate smells. Find a place for your bin that is out of direct sunlight but has good airflow.
Want to keep your trash bins fresh? Having a professional clean them regularly is an excellent way to beat the mess. These pros have the experience and equipment to thoroughly wash trash bins.
How Often Should You Clean Your Garbage Can?
As a general rule, it’s best to clean out your trash bin approximately once a month. This will help prevent smells, bacteria and dirt from accumulating. Monthly cleanings are typically enough for most homes, but certain situations may require more cleaning.
During hot weather, for instance, bins can become smelly sooner. When you dispose of significant quantities of food, meat or moist trash in hot weather, you may need to wash your bin as often as every two weeks.
Many homeowners don’t want to spend their precious free time cleaning out a smelly trash bin. Call in the help of a professional who will regularly clean and sanitize your bins for you.
Why Do People Wash Their Garbage Cans?
Cleaning out your trash can is more than just eliminating stinky odors. It is also about maintaining a hygienic living space.
Garbage cans are an ideal breeding ground for bacteria, mildew and germs, especially if liquids and food scraps are left there for days. They can stick to the bottom and edges of your container even after the garbage bag is removed.
The dirty bin can also invite pests such as flies, ants, roaches and even rodents. These issues can spread from your bin into your garage or yard.
By regularly cleaning your trash bin, you reduce the chance of having these negative effects of a dirty garbage bin. It also makes your bin smell fresh and look better.
When It’s Time to Call in the Pros
Cleaning garbage cans is many people’s least favorite home task. That’s why many homeowners prefer to leave this task to the pros.
With specialized tools and cleaning products, cleaning professionals can deep-clean bins. They can strip away grime and have your bins looking and smelling great.
Trash bin cleaning isn’t the only task worth delegating. More substantial tasks, such as gutter cleaning and power washing, are a bit tricky, too. If you ever find yourself asking yourself, “Can power washing damage concrete?” you may want to enlist professional assistance with that outdoor task.
Ready to Skip this Stinky Task?
Keeping trash bins clean doesn’t have to be a chore. Contact a professional trash bin cleaning service and have this chore become one less worry for you.
ABC Can Keep Your Trash Bins Clean
Cleaning out garbage bins is one of those tasks that’s easy to avoid, until the smell becomes unbearable. Keeping your bins clean is about more than keeping away bad smells. It helps prevent bacteria buildup, pest problems and lingering odors that can spread to your garage or yard.
That’s where ABC Home & Commercial Services comes in. Our team has the tools and experience to deep-clean your trash bins, removing grime, neutralizing odors and sanitizing them thoroughly. Whether it’s a one-time service or a regular cleaning schedule, we’ll help you stay ahead of the stink.
