How to clean your smelly garbage can: Video

Just because you’re putting trash in the garbage bin doesn’t mean you don’t need to clean it, too. Bins harbor dirt, grime, bacteria, mysterious liquids and foul smells — all of which can attract insects such as flies and maggots.

A thorough cleanup is essential to keep things smelling fresh and to get rid of germs and larvae. Cleaning your garbage can is dirty work, but regular scrubbing will keep odors at bay and bugs away. Plus, there are easy ways to maintain your bins and repel pests in between cleanings.

Watch this video to see how to clean your garbage can.

How to clean garbage can

Treat washing your garbage can like washing your car. Find a spot outside that you can reach with your hose and where the dirty water won’t run into your lawn or garden.

You can use your favorite cleaner, but water and dish soap are equally effective. Be careful not to combine different cleaning solutions. Drizzle some dish soap into the bin and spray with water. An adjustable nozzle on your hose will also help you clean from afar — just watch out for the splash.

Use a brush on a telescoping pole to clean the inside without getting too close or straining your back to reach the bottom. The inside of the can doesn’t need to be spotless, but you’ll want enough soap and water to break down the dirt and kill germs.

Rinse the inside thoroughly to remove grime and soap residue. Be mindful of where you dump the dirty water. Look for a storm drain or curb instead of pouring it in your yard.

For an extra-deep clean, spray distilled white vinegar inside the can and let it sit for five to 10 minutes before rinsing again.

Don’t forget to scrub the outside of the bin and the nooks and crevices around the lid.

The best way to dry and deodorize your garbage can is to set it in a sunny spot and let the sun do the rest. Once the can is dry, sprinkle baking soda into the bottom of the barrel to absorb odors that may appear when you start using it again.

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Prevent bugs in garbage can

Trash cans are full of what bugs and other insects like most: food.

While you can’t avoid putting trash in the bin, you can make it less appealing — or even repulsive — to the critters hoping to call it home.

All-American Pest Control recommends: 

• Putting dried herbs or citrus peels in the bin. 
• Putting cotton balls dabbed with peppermint, lavender or eucalypts essential oils in the lid. 
• Spray a mix of water and the essential oils around the bin area. 
• Make sure everything is bagged and avoid putting fast food bags directly in the can. 
• Keep the lid closed. 
• Store the bin in a shady spot away from your doors and windows. 
• Set up fly traps near your trash cans. 

Spritzing and rinsing the inside of the bin with vinegar is an easy way to kill fly eggs and maggot larvae.