How to Get Rid of Weird Trash

How To Properly Clean Your Trash Can

29 February 2016

Albert Mendoza

In many homes, the trash can is one of the last things that anyone thinks about cleaning. As it holds trash, it should come as no surprise though that your trash can is one of the places where germs are most likely to accumulate in your home. You should clean your trash cans inside of your home at least once a month, and you should clean your large trash can that you take out to the curb on at least a seasonal basis. Here are the steps for properly cleaning your trash can.

Protect Yourself

Put on some old clothes that you don't mind getting dirty. If your trash can has a particularly strong odor to it, you'll want to put on a mask as well. You should also put on rubber gloves to protect your hands from the germs and bacteria that may be lurking inside of your trash can. 

Empty Out The Trash Can

The first thing you need to do is empty out your trash can. Take any trash that is inside and place it inside of a trash bag. Use a paper towel to pick up any trash or food that is stuck to the inside. 

Rinse It Out

Next, rinse out your trash can. If your trash can is small, you can rinse it out in your utility sink or bathtub. It your trash can is on the larger side, rinse it out with an outdoor hose. 

Soak Your Trash Can

After you have rinsed out your trash can, fill it up with hot water. If you are cleaning your trash can outside, boil some water inside and bring it outside or fill a few containers with hot water from the tap inside and bring it outside. Fill your trash container up about half way with hot water.

Next, add bleach to the hot water. Follow the dilution instructions on the bottle of bleach. Let the hot bleach water sit inside of the can for at least an hour. This will help loosen up any grime that is stuck to the side of the can and will kill any bacteria or germs present inside of your trash can. If your trash can is really dirty, you may want to let it soak for a few hours. 

Scrub Your Can

After you have let your can soak, use a scrub brush to clean the inside of the can. Make sure that you clean around the edges of the can really well; debris likes to build up around the edges of the can. 

You should also use some of the bleach water to scrub down the outside of the can as well as the lid to your trash can. 

Pour out the bleach solution and allow the trash can to air dry in the sun. This should help get rid of any remaining odor as well as dry out your trash can.

Before you start using your trash can again, make sure that it is completely dry, especially around the top and inside of the lid. You don't want to put a bag inside of your trash can when it is still wet; this can lead to the growth of bacteria and mold again. If you clean your trash can on a regular basis, you should be able to prevent bad odors and bacteria from residing inside of your trash can. 

For trash removal, contact a business such as City Waste Services of New York, Inc.

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