How to Clean a Trash Can at Home (and When to Call a Pro)

What you'll need

Gather a pair of rubber gloves, a long-handled stiff brush, dish soap or white vinegar, a garden hose, and some baking soda for deodorizing. Pick a spot where the runoff won't pool on your patio or run straight into a storm drain — ideally a grassy area, since the wash water will be dirty.

Step by step

Empty the bin completely and give it a first rinse to knock out loose debris. Squirt in dish soap, add hot water, and scrub the inside walls, bottom, and lid thoroughly with your brush. Let the soapy water sit for 10 to 15 minutes to break down the grime, then scrub again and rinse. Sprinkle baking soda inside to absorb odor, and flip the can upside down to dry fully — moisture left behind invites the smell right back.

The catches nobody mentions

Two things make DIY tougher than it sounds. First, household water tops out around 120°F, which cleans but doesn't truly sanitize — a lot of bacteria survive. Second, that runoff is genuinely dirty, and in many municipalities letting it flow into the storm drain isn't allowed. Add winter, when hosing down a can outside is miserable, and the "free" option starts to cost you in time and hassle.

When to call a pro

If you don't have the space, the time, or the stomach for it — or you want the bin actually sanitized — a professional service is the easy answer. Pros use 190°+ hot water that kills bacteria a hose can't, capture the dirty water so nothing hits your lot or the storm drain, and keep it all on a schedule so you never think about it.

Rather skip the gloves and the runoff? Bin Busters cleans, sanitizes, and deodorizes your cans curbside — see how affordable it is.