How to clean your wheelie bin

by Craig Pryce August 09, 2019

Wheelie bins are used to store waste outdoors in a warm, moist environment, so it’s no surprise that they sometimes get a bit dirty and smelly, and start to attract flies. If the stench is becoming overpowering — or before it does — it’s a great idea to clean your bin.

So, where do you start when it comes to cleaning your outdoor bins? We’ve got some top tips for you below.

Prevention is better than a cure

The more care you take with what you place inside your waste bin, the less cleaning it will require.

When it comes to your black bin (or general waste bin), make sure all rubbish is placed inside a bin liner and not directly into the container. This will avoid the problem of spillages, with waste left to rot at the bottom of the bin. It is these spillages that create odours.

Bin liners aren’t allowed in the green bin (or recycling bin, if yours isn’t green), so it’s essential to thoroughly clean each item before it’s placed in your waste container. Make sure they are dry too, as if paper and cardboard get wet in the bin, they can no longer be recycled.

What you might think is fine to chuck in there unwashed could create all manner of problems later on. Bacteria grows fast on food — even smears and crumbs of it!

If you ever notice that your bin liner has split, it’s best to clean up the mess sooner rather than later, before it attracts flies and pests. It’s also much easier to clean when it’s fresh and hasn’t had time to dry on.

To prevent odours, try pouring a small amount of bicarbonate of soda in the bottom of your bins before use.

bicarbonate of soda for cleaning wheelie bins

How to clean your bin

If you do realise your wheelie bin needs a clean, or you do it regularly, the first step is to find a suitable location in your garden or on your work premises. This job can get messy, so you’ll need plenty of room.

You’ll also need to consider where you’ll be disposing of the dirty water — is there a drain nearby that you can legally use?

Using a garden hose, wet the inside and outside of the wheelie bin. If you don't have access to a hose, a wet sponge will do the job.

Then, apply an antibacterial cleaner and use a textured sponge or a strong brush to deal with the dirtiest areas — usually the inside corners.

If it’s a regular wash and the bin isn’t filthy, washing-up liquid will do the job and will probably be kinder for the environment.

Once you’ve shifted the worst bits, give the whole bin a clean, and then rinse it down with the hosepipe.

Next, you need to leave the bin to dry. You can speed this process up by towel-drying it. Make sure it is thoroughly dry before you close the lid and put it back in use.

On a dry day, you could leave it outside with the lid open to dry it.

Outsource the cleaning

If you manage housing that comes with tens or hundreds of bins, then you might want to outsource the job to someone who has the time to do it! Either that or encourage the residents to get cleaning themselves.

If you live in the Liverpool area and have too many bins to clean, Wheelie Bin Solutions offers an excellent bin cleaning service, meaning you don’t have to lift a finger. Get in touch today to find out more.