How to Clean Your Outdoor Trash Cans

Taking out the trash is a dirty and stinky job, but you just need to hold your nose and get it done. The one upside is that at least once the garbage is in the trash can and out at the curb, you can forget about it until the next pickup day, right? Wrong. Trash residue in your garbage containers can create not only awful odors but is an easy way to breed bacteria and attract vermin to your property. Luckily, cleaning an outdoor trash container is not as unpleasant as you may imagine as long as you follow these guidelines.

Steps for Cleaning Your Garbage Cans

1. Timing is everything. No matter how much you may want to delay cleaning your garbage can, the sooner you do it, the better. If there is any reason you are unable to clean your cans immediately after the garbage pickup, make sure you at least tackle the job before you have to start filling it up again. Otherwise, things can get pretty disgusting.
2. Choose the right area for cleaning. Cleaning your trash cans involves soap and water, so you want to select an area which you don’t mind getting wet. Avoid cleaning your trash can on your grass since some dish soap may be harmful to your lawn. An ideal place is your driveway within easy reach of your garden hose.
3. Start with a quick rinse. Make sure your garbage is empty and then lay it on its side. Lightly spray the interior of the cans with a garden hose to get rid of any stuck on debris. Let it drain and then stand the trash can up.
   
4. The proper washing begins. Mix around a gallon of warm water with a little dish soap for each of the trash cans you want to clean. If you can, try to use biodegradable soap to reduce any negative environmental effects. Pour the solution into each garbage container and let it soak for 10 to 15 minutes.
5. Scrub. Use a long-handled scrubber to clean the inside of the container. Make sure you get into all nooks and crannies of the container, especially where the sides of the can meet the bottom. Pour out the solution and then rinse with fresh water and empty again. Set the garbage can aside and let it completely dry before using.
6. Make sure all your garbage bags are securely sealed before tossing. Open bags can leak and attract bugs and rodents.

Are you planning a large construction project and need a quality dumpster for your home? Debris Box in San Diego has a wide selection of containers to rent. Call us at 619-284-9245 for more information. Don’t forget to check out more helpful cleanup tips in our blog!