Our useful garbage can cleaning tips will make this nasty chore easy. We use large 35, 65 or 96-gallon garbage cans for waste storage. These bins require regular washing & deodorizing for a few reasons. To keep our family healthy as they are full of harmful germs. The other is to avoid holding our noses when we lift the lid to throw trash.
Another reason to have a garbage can cleaning done is to prevent critters seeking food from rummaging through them.
Luckily, washing, deodorizing, and disinfecting a garbage bin can is quick. It takes around 10-minutes. If the bin is infested with maggots, you will have to kill & remove them all, before proceeding.
Below is a step-by-step trash can cleaning guide & how-to video here.
What to clean trash can with
To do a good job washing your bin, you will need 
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A garden hose or pressure washer
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Cleaning detergents / Baking soda
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Disinfectant spray
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A brush & hand scrubber
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An old towel or rag.
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Rubber gloves, a mask, and eye protection
Why does garbage can cleaning improve hygiene
Getting any type of waste container clean is pretty much the same. They usually contain a sticky-smelling sludge and waste matter at the bottom & walls of the bin. This sludge contains germs & gives off a bad smell.
When is the best time to wash outdoor trash cans
The best time to wash your trash can is right after the garbage truck has come by and emptied it.
Before you start:
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Your garbage bins are full of harmful germs, wash your containers where no children or pets play. This prevents the tracking of germs into the home.
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When washing bins on the driveway, clean up after. This stops car tires from catching matter & bringing it into the garage. You also do not want to see any food chunks rotting away & maggots crawling about.
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Watch out for storm drains, as it’s against most bylaws to let dirty runoff water get into them.
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Vinegar and cleaning products kill damages lawn grass. Have an emptying spot for the water planned.
Can garbage bins make you sick
Use a face mask, gloves, and eye protection. Have hand sanitizers, soap, 
and water to wash & clean up. Be ready to get sprayed, with dirty unhygienic germ-filled water bouncing off your dirty bin. Avoid touching items like your phone, that you will hold near your mouth and nose. Salmonella, E. Coli, and Listeria & other bacteria are found in bins. I did not use any protection & developed a bad eye infection. Water particles from the spray must have gotten into my eye.
and water to wash & clean up. Be ready to get sprayed, with dirty unhygienic germ-filled water bouncing off your dirty bin. Avoid touching items like your phone, that you will hold near your mouth and nose. Salmonella, E. Coli, and Listeria & other bacteria are found in bins. I did not use any protection & developed a bad eye infection. Water particles from the spray must have gotten into my eye.Can garbage cans be cleaned with garbage inside
Cleaning out your bin is best done on the same day waste gets picked up by the garbage truck or waste collector. Remove and bag anything stuck inside, that failed to fall out during collection. Use a stick or grabber to pick out these items. Avoid reaching into a dirty bin full of bacteria and viruses,
Which product is best at removing odours from a trash can
Most cleaning products today easily mask bin smell. Getting the bin ready is the easy part. A de-greaser, liquid soap, bleach, or vinegar loosens & breaks up garbage gunk. This reduces the physical effort needed when scrubbing. Follow products instructions labels and wait times. Then spray the inside of your can with water. Ensure you have good water pressure and use a spray nozzle with many settings.
Use a powered/electric pressure washer to make the job easier.
Does scrubbing improve garbage can cleaning results
Check and see if the products and spraying the bin did their job removing the grime. If the container is still dirty, a scrub does the trick. Use a brush with stiff bristles and a long handle.
Again add the cleaning solution to aid with the scrubbing process & remove tough odours.
Tip:
Turn the bin over to make using the scrubber easier and more effective. Do not forget the lid and the outside too.
Before using your bin after washing them, place them in the sun and let them dry out. Keep the lid open during the drying time.
Should you Deodorize and Disinfect the Bin
When dry, check to see if your container still holds emits an odour. White vinegar or a commercial deodorizing anti-bacterial spray product to disinfect & remove odours. The main reason to wash a dirty garbage can is to reduce & remove maggots. So yes, please use whatever you like.
Tips to make your garbage can cleaning reduce smell
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Sprinkle baking soda in the bottom of plastic trash cans to help absorb orders. Avoid using baking soda in metal trash cans as it causes corrosion.
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Place essential oil on cotton balls in your garbage can to control unwanted odours.
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Hang dryer sheets in trash cans to keep them smelling fresh.
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Try odour-masking and odour-elimination stick on products that ward off odours. They are available online, at grocery stores and home improvement centers.
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Anything put into trash cans lifted & emptied into garbage trucks gets lost. Replenish baking soda, cotton balls or dryer sheets weekly
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Finally, use tools that help to keep your trash can clean.
Hope we helped.
If you have any suggestions our readers would find helpful,
please leave them in the comments.
What garbage can cleaning products are useful
To keep trash cans clean without washing them, use BagEZ. A multi-purpose trash bag holder that hangs bags open to hold messy waste.Compared to trash can cleaning services BagEZ is a more cost-effective solution.
Check the video here
BagEZ is also available on Amazon
