How to clean a wheelie bin: a step-by-step guide

by Craig Pryce September 29, 2025

Knowing how to clean a wheelie bin is a useful thing to learn. We all have to deal with getting rid of household waste, but that shouldn't mean living with a smelly bin infested with maggots.

If you're asking "How can I clean my wheelie bin?" our simple step-by-step guide is the place to start, with practical how-to tips to keep your outside bins sparkling all year round.

Why clean your wheelie bin regularly?

One of the best tips for how to clean your wheelie bin is to make it a regular task. You don't need to do it every week, but an occasional rinse can help to avoid the need for an annual deep clean.

Rule one for how to clean a smelly wheelie bin: stop it from getting smelly in the first place. The 'little and often' approach is your friend to achieve this, especially during the hot summer months.

In this guide we'll look at how to clean an outside bin, not only as an occasional rinse-out, but also when it needs more attention to get rid of a stubborn substance or infestation.

What you'll need to clean your wheelie bin

Make sure you have everything you need before you start cleaning your bin, as it's annoying to have to stop halfway through to go find a spare sponge or cleaning product.

A good starting point is to grab some rubber gloves, your preferred all-purpose cleaning product, some hot clean water and some sponges or cloths.

Preparing your bin for cleaning

It goes without saying that your bin should be empty when you clean it, so plan to do this on bin day or soon after.

Position your wheelie bin in an open space where you can easily get to all sides. You might need to drain dirty water away too, so have an idea of where you can tip that out.

Be careful if using chemicals. A face mask might be sensible to protect you against fumes from the cleaning chemicals and also odours from the bin.

Cleaning without a hose or pressure washer

The general process for how to clean a wheelie bin without a hose is not much different than cleaning a wheelie bin with a hose - and if you want to use hot water, it's often the only option.

Just make sure you have a big bucket (a gardening trug is a good choice) and be ready to refill it with fresh, clean water for rinsing, if your bin is heavily soiled.

Deep cleaning for heavily soiled bins

A really dirty bin might need a bit more elbow grease. Remove as much surface dirt as you can with a dry brush. Use a long-handled broom or dry mop to dislodge stuck-on waste inside the bottom of the bin.

You shouldn't need to use bleach - in fact this can damage and fade the plastic. Mild cleaning products, hot water, and a bit of scrubbing with a brush or mop should be enough to bring your bin back to its best.

How to get rid of wheelie bin smells

There's no big secret to how to clean a smelly wheelie bin. Just follow the same steps as above, using a mild disinfectant to get rid of bacteria lurking in the crevices of your dirty wheelie bin.

Once your bin is clean and dry, you could consider adding a few drops of essential oils like tea tree, peppermint and eucalyptus. This isn't just a spa day for your bin - it also helps to deter flies.

How to prevent odours developing

If you're still wondering "How can I stop my wheelie bin smelling?" then here are a few more suggestions:

Make sure your rubbish is in bags with the top tightly tied.
Rinse out recyclables before putting them in your wheelie bin.
Get your bins emptied every time, even if they're not full.
Try to reduce your food waste and/or compost it.
Use fragranced cleaning products to clean it, not just water.

Get into the routine of keeping your wheelie bins clean and you'll naturally keep them smelling nicer. It's not always possible in the middle of a summer heat wave, but you can at least keep nasty smells to a minimum, whatever the weather.

Dealing with maggots and pests

Hot weather and unbagged food waste can soon lead to a bin with life of its own. Flies can lay around 150 eggs per day and once those hatch, you can easily face thousands of maggots emerging from your bin.

A good way to get rid of maggots from a wheelie bin is as follows:

Remove as much waste as possible from the bin.
Pour boiling water into the bin to kill the maggots.
Carefully scoop up and tightly bag the maggots.
Clean the wheelie bin thoroughly in the usual way.
Kill and dispose of any stray maggots you missed.

If your garden is popular with birds, one option is simply to push your wheelie bin over to where your birdfeeders are, and leave it open.

The birds should pick off the maggots as they emerge from the top of the bin, and you can just deal with the remnants after a few hours of feasting.

How often should you clean your wheelie bin?

It depends on how dirty they get, but even heavily used wheelie bins should only need cleaning once every few months, especially if you avoid direct contact between the bin and the rubbish you put inside it.

You might want your bin to be cleaned more often. If so, consider hiring a professional bin cleaning service. This can cost about £5 per bin for a monthly clean for domestic customers (business contracts will vary).

It's cheaper to clean it yourself - you're unlikely to spend more than about £1 on cleaning products, gloves and water - but if you want a frequently washed wheelie bin without the effort, a regular bin cleaning service is a good alternative.

Make cleaning easier with the right wheelie bins from Wheelie Bin Solutions

A good-quality wheelie bin is easier to maintain. Wheelie Bin Solutions' colour-stable, hard-wearing HDPE wheelie bins should withstand mild cleaning products without fading, and most dirt rinses off the smooth plastic with practically no effort required.

We also supply drop-front wheelie bins in common sizes like 240L and 360L. These are even easier to clean inside, as you can just drop the front access door and easily reach into the bottom of the bin.

Our product range is available with fast nationwide delivery on wholesale orders, and we welcome enquiries from business customers and local authorities, with a wide range of colour options to suit your established recycling scheme.

Craig Pryce

With over 17 years of experience in the waste and recycling industry, Craig is passionate about making recycling easier and reducing the negative impact of litter. He has been the managing director of Wheelie Bin Solutions (WBS) since January 2016, and prides the company on his expert knowledge, top-quality products, and customer service. His proudest moment was when WBS supported the 2012 Olympic Games, working in partnership with Contenur UK to supply over 9000 bin containers to all Olympic venues. Craig is always keen to share his knowledge, so whether you need advice about the benefits of a wheelie bin lock, or ideas for alternative uses for your wheelie bin, Craig will ensure your recycling and waste disposal habits are gold medal worthy.