Dealing with smelly outdoor trash bins is no one's favorite chore, but it's essential for keeping your home clean and pest-free. Here’s a simple, effective way to get it done.
First, gather your supplies. You'll need heavy-duty rubber gloves, a long-handled scrub brush, a garden hose, a biodegradable dish soap or all-purpose cleaner, and a disinfectant spray or a bleach solution (one part bleach to ten parts water).
Start by moving your bin to a flat, open area, like your driveway, where the runoff can drain safely. Using your hose, give the inside a thorough pre-rinse to loosen any grime. Now, add a generous squirt of your soap to the bottom of the bin and fill it with about a gallon of warm water from your hose.
This is where the scrubbing begins. Use your long-handled brush to scrub every surface—the bottom, the sides, and especially under the lid. Pay close attention to any stubborn, sticky spots. Once you've scrubbed everything, tip the bin over to empty the soapy water and give it another powerful rinse with your hose until the water runs clear.
The most crucial step is disinfecting. Spray the entire interior and the lid with your disinfectant or diluted bleach solution. Let it sit for about 10 minutes; this gives the disinfectant time to kill germs and bacteria. After it has sat, you can let it air dry completely in the sun, which is a natural disinfectant itself, or wipe it down with clean, old towels.
For ongoing maintenance, sprinkle a bit of baking soda in the bottom of the dry bin to help control odors between deep cleanings. Aim to clean your bins like this every season, or more often during the hot summer months. This simple routine will keep your outdoor space fresher and more hygienic.