Contrary to what you may think, garbage cans still need regular cleaning and sanitizing to keep them from stinking up your home. We often overlook the cleaning of these trash bins as they are meant to hold filthy garbage anyway, but the smell, germs, and muck will make you think otherwise.
It is because garbage cans take in a lot of dirt that we need to clean and sanitize them often. Doing so will keep your home healthier and fresher, especially as you remove the source of bacteria and odors from your house! Here's how you can clean and disinfect your garbage can at home, using only a few household staples:
What You'll Need
The smell of a trash bin can be neutralized by baking soda, so it is a must-have when it comes to cleaning your trash bins. Dish soap or laundry detergent works well as a cleaning solution, and a disinfectant spray will remove the germs, viruses, and bacteria that could make you sick.
- Baking soda
- Dish soap
- Disinfectant spray
- Gloves - to protect yourself
- Garden hose
- Old sponge or Scrub brush
- Trash bag or Trash bin liner
- Kitty litter - optional
How to Clean Garbage Can: A Step-by-step Guide
Step 1: Take Out the Trash
Unless you're cleaning the outdoor trash cans, it is best to take your trash bin outside to clean it. This will prevent getting stinky garbage juices in your home. Once outside, take out any trash can liner, as well as any pieces of trash in the garbage bin. If cleaning outdoor garbage cans, schedule your cleaning after the garbage has been collected to start with a clean slate.
Step 2: Hose Down Your Trash Can
Hose down the trash can with a powerful garden hose, preferably with a jet stream to eliminate trash residue from your garbage cans. This will also reduce the odor in smelly trash cans, as well as clear any stuck-on muck from inside the bin.
Step 3: Clean Your Trash Can with Soapy Water
Create a soapy water solution using dish soap and water, and use this to scrub your trash can. Start scrubbing from the outside of the bin, and work your way inside where the grime is most concentrated. Use an old sponge or brush that you can easily dispose of or use only for this purpose. Keep scrubbing until the grime is gone.
Step 4: Rinse, Dry, and Sanitize
Rinse your trash can to remove the cleaning solution, and let it air dry completely. If you have a stinky trash can, you can sprinkle baking soda in the interior once the trash can has dried. Kitty litter can be used in outdoor trash bins to both deodorize, and keep garbage juices from leaking out, creating a smelly outdoor garbage bin.
Sanitize your dry trash bins with an aerosol disinfectant or rubbing alcohol. This will remove germs and kill any mold growth forming in and around your trash bin. Be careful when using harsh chemicals in outdoor trash cans, especially if you live in an area with plenty of scavenging wildlife.
Step 5: Line the Trash Can
Line the fully-dried trash can with trash bags. If your garbage tends to leak, like bins in the kitchen, add some kitty litter to the bottom of the bin liner to soak up the juices, and prevent the garbage bags from leaking juice all over your kitchen or home.
Why Clean Your Trash Cans?
Cleaning your trash bin may seem ironic, but it is actually an essential aspect of your home cleaning routine that you shouldn't go without. Your garbage is a host to millions of germs, viruses, bacteria, and mold that could make you sick when they travel through your home, and simply tossing the garbage bag out won't completely remove them.
Not to mention, the muck surrounding your trash can will continue to accumulate, harden, and start to spread a foul odor around your home. Combat this by cleaning your garbage can weekly, and disinfecting it daily. Not only will you keep your home clean, you'll find your household healthier as well.
Keeping Clean
Get all your cleaning tips and needs from Luce, as we offer the best home cleaning services in Singapore! Let our cleaning professionals tackle the grime for you, and wonder at the cleanliness of your pristine home.
Contact us today for inquiries, and we'll get you a cleaning session that fits your schedule.
