How to Clean Your Garbage Cans

Our home trash cans have to deal with a lot of…well, trash. And it doesn’t take too many leftover chicken bits and old orange peels before the cans themselves start to smell. That can be a serious annoyance in your kitchen or garage, which is why it’s a good idea to clean your trash cans from time to time. Here are a couple of effective ways to get rid of persistent odors and any accidental seepage that may be making your trash a problem.

A Simple Cleanup for Smells and Grime

1. Find a good spot in the yard and a clear day for cleaning your trash can. Try not to do this on the lawn if possible; a gravel area or your driveway is ideal. You can do this over the sink with smaller trash cans, but it will be more difficult. If you need to get rid of trash first, we can help with that.
2. Squirt a teaspoon or two of your dish soap into the bottom of the can.
3. Use your garden hose and fill the can with a gallon or so of water (enough to get a lot of suds). Swish the sudsy water around to help clean the trash can. If there are any particular stains that you need to tackle, get out a scrub brush at this point and use the soapy water to clean that dirty spot.
4. Bring back the hose and thoroughly rinse out the soapy water. This may take a few rinses to remove the soap completely.
5. Let the trash can sit outside for a little while to dry, then tackle the remaining water with a towel.

A Thorough Cleaning for Lasting Odors

1. Find a spot in your yard well away from plants to rinse out the trash can. Again, you can use the kitchen sink but you will have to work harder at it.
2. Use the garden hose to rinse out the trash can quickly and prepare it for a deeper wash.
3. In the trash can, mix ¾ cup of bleach, about a gallon of water, and a tablespoon of detergent, similar to a small load of particularly dirty clothes. Let this mixture sit for a while so that it has time to tackle any grime and odor.
4. Scrub the mixture around the insides of the can with a brush; a long-handled brush works best. Don’t forget to wear gloves!
5. Thoroughly rinse out the can and let it dry. Keep it in the sun as long as possible, since this will also help clear out any odors.

Tips on Upkeep

Many trash bags these days come with extra features to help your trash can stay clean. If your trash bags tend to rip, buy versions designed to stretch and resist sharp edges. If your trash smells, buy deodorizing trash bags. For long term odor management, sprinkle a little baking soda in the bottom of the can to absorb future odors.

At Debris Box, we can clear away your trash to make cleaning a little bit easier. Give us a call today to learn about our available box sizes. And, as always, for more helpful tips check out our other blogs!