No one likes a stinky house, but when your kitchen bin smells like rotting food waste, it’s time to take action. Learning how to clean your bin and wheelie bin lid is important for two reasons: you want the people you live with to know that you care about them enough to do the messy jobs, and nobody wants their house smelling like food scraps. So here’s your guide on how to clean a bin.
How to Clean a Bin
How to clean a wheelie bin – what you’ll need
No matter how bad your bin smells, you can do it – even if you need to hold your nose while cleaning wheelie bins. It’ll all be worth it when you and those you live with no longer have to smell the funk every time we enter the kitchen.
- Your choice of cleaning solution
- Rubber gloves
- Kitchen towel
- Scrubbing brush
There are many cleaning solution choices that can help eliminate stubborn grime
and odor from your bin. They’ll take your bin from funky to fresh… ready for when something else gunky causes a smell. If you’re wondering how to clean a kitchen bin (or any other type of container), the following methods are definitely worth exploring:
- You might not think it, but hot water and soap can be the key to cleaning a rubbish bin quickly and easily.
- You can use your kitchen cleaner on your bin too, and disinfect it in the process. Just make sure you follow the instructions that come with the product.
- You can’t go wrong with this trusted, homemade cleaning duo.
How to clean your bin properly– a step-by-step guide
Remove Debris
Once the wheelie bin has been emptied, remove the lid and set it aside. There will likely be some loose debris left inside and/or hardened gunk stuck to the bottom. To remove it, place the bin on its side with the bottom against a wall, and use a long, hard-bristled brush to scrape off as much gunk as possible; clean out any debris and dispose of it in a garbage bag. For more on effective cleaning tools, you might find this guide on how to clean under a very low bed useful.
Wet the Interior
First, stand the wheelie bins upright and wet their interior with a hose with a high pressure nozzle. If garbage has left some residue behind, rinse the bin thoroughly by spraying water inside it and then emptying it out. You might need to soak the bottom of the bin if there is tough grime present; in this case, fill the bin with 5 inches of water (or boiling water if necessary) and leave it for 15 minutes. Finally, rinse off any dirt from the lid before you put it back on. For tips on cleaning other household items, see how to clean a freezer.
Give the Inside a Light Scrub
With the inside now damp and the bottom having soaked, use a long-handled brush to lightly scrub away the sludge on the interior of your wheelie bin. Set the bin back on its side and rotate it until you have brushed each of the walls, including the bottom. Rinse out the wet debris when finished. For additional cleaning strategies, consider this article on how to clean a shower head.
Clean with Soap and Water
In order to clean your wheelie bin, mix together ½ cup white vinegar, 1 cup liquid dish soap, and a bucket of room-temperature water. Give the mixture a few stirs to combine the ingredients thoroughly before pouring it into the bin. Depending on the size of your wheelie bin, you may need more than one batch of this solution; keep the necessary ingredients nearby so that you can easily make more as needed. If you’re interested in making your own cleaning solutions, this guide offers some helpful tips.
With the Vinegar and Bicarbonate of Soda Option
Mix together equal amounts of each ingredient until you have half a cup. If the mixture is for a large bin, use more paste as needed. Gently rub the coated area with the paste, leave it be for five minutes, and then scrub away diligently. You can also sprinkle some baking soda. Repeat this process until all gunk is gone before rinsing with clean water and drying with a kitchen towel. For an effective paste that can tackle tough grime, consider using DIY cleaning solutions to enhance your cleaning routine.
Final Thoughts on How to Clean a Bin
Wheelie bin cleaning isn’t always easy and it might take some time to get used to. But if you’re committed to ensuring your wheelie bin smells as fresh as possible, this guide can help make things easier.
As you can see, the process of how to clean a bin doesn’t have to be complicated or messy – in fact, by following these tips, you can get the job done quickly and easily, without a lot of fuss or hassle. Good luck!
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