Cleaning a heavily soiled outdoor trash can is a tough but necessary chore. Don't worry, you can tackle the grime, sticky residues, and awful smells without harming the plastic. Here’s a natural, step-by-step approach.
First, take your bin to a well-ventilated area, like your driveway. Put on gloves! Remove any loose debris. For a powerful DIY cleaner, mix hot water with a generous squirt of dish soap. For extra cutting power on grease and organic gunk, add one cup of white vinegar. Scrub the entire interior and exterior vigorously with a long-handled brush with stiff bristles.
For stuck-on sludge or lingering odors, make a paste from baking soda and a little water. Apply it to problem areas, let it sit for 15-20 minutes, then scrub again. The baking soda is a gentle abrasive and deodorizer.
Rinse everything thoroughly with a garden hose. For deeply embedded dirt, a pressure washer on a low or medium setting can be very effective—just keep the nozzle moving to avoid damaging the plastic.
Finally, disinfect. Spray the entire can with a solution of one part water to one part white vinegar or a diluted bleach solution (follow product instructions carefully). Let it sit for 10 minutes, then give it one final rinse.
Tip: Let the trash can dry completely in the sun before putting a new bag in. The sunlight helps kill bacteria and removes any last traces of odor. To make future cleanings easier, consider lining the bottom with a layer of old newspaper or a sprinkle of baking soda to absorb liquids.