How to Clean Stinky Garbage Bins: A Step-by-Step Guide

Indoor and outdoor garbage bins are part of our everyday lives and boy do they get stinky if not properly and regularly maintained. This may not make the top of your to-do list, but it’s a must. Cleaning your garbage bins regularly not only prevents unpleasant odors, but reduces the risk of pests like insects, rodents and roaches, keeps bacterial and mold growth that thrives in dirty bins at bay and creates an overall healthier environment.

Here’s how to clean your indoor and outdoor garbage bins effectively, without the use of toxic chemicals:

What You Need

• Rubber gloves
• Face mask (optional, but recommended)
• Scrub brush or sponge
• Dish soap or a all-purpose cleaner like Branch Basics
• Baking soda
• Vinegar
• Hose with a spray nozzle

Prep

Choose the Right Time Cleaning your outdoor bins in the driveway or walkway outside on trash collection day is ideal since it’s just been emptied. And while you’re at it, bring out your indoor kitchen bins. Ensure that the bins are completely empty.

Wear Protective Gear Put on rubber gloves and a face mask, if you fancy, to protect yourself from germs and the strong smell.

Pre-Rinse the Bin Use a hose with a spray nozzle to rinse the inside and outside of the bin. This will help remove loose debris and reduce odor.

Clean

Soap and Water Give a couple of squirts of dish soap to the interior and exteriors of the bins and spray with the hose. Let everything suds up. Scrub all surfaces of the bin, including the lid and handles. Pay extra attention to corners and crevices where grime tends to accumulate. So as to keep your head out of the bin, we like this extendable scrubbing brush. Rinse and pour out dirty water.

Baking Soda and Vinegar: For stubborn odors, sprinkle baking soda inside the bin after it’s been washed and rinsed, and then spray with vinegar. The mixture will fizz and help lift off tough stains and smells. Once more use your handy extendable scrubbing brush to get the grimey bits. Give a final rinse with the hose to remove all soap and residue.

Air Dry

Allow the bin to air dry completely before using it again. Placing it in direct sunlight will help speed up the drying process and further disinfect it.

Keep it Up

Maintain Incorporate a quick rinse and scrub into your weekly or bi-weekly cleaning routine. It’s a valiant chore that pays

Use Bin Liners Using garbage bags or liners can help keep the bin cleaner and make the cleaning process easier.

*Pro-tip* for keeping your bins odor free! Sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda at the bottom of your bins to absorb odors.