It might just be the most dreaded household job, but unfortunately, cleaning your wheelie bin is an essential chore. But don't worry, you needn't climb in like Kate Garraway recently did on a recent episode of Good Morning Britain to reach the bottom.
Whether you're looking to increase your home's kerb appeal or are completing your yearly spring clean, your wheelie bins will probably need more attention than they've been getting. Although they're away from your home, if you're trying to keep rats out of your garden, you'll need to deep-clean your wheelie bins more often than you think.
And who better to bring our attention to this than Queen of Clean and GMB regular Lynsey Crombie.
How to clean a wheelie bin – the right way
Firstly, we do not recommend climbing into the bin like Kate Garraway, although that is certainly one way to clean your wheelie bin. It's definitely not an expert cleaning hack we can get behind.
"I’d say start with a small bucket of water and a good old-fashioned garden broom. So I have a specific broom for the bin and a mop for the bin. Obviously, I’m very over the top," begins Lynsey.
And you may be wondering why you should even bother cleaning your wheelie bin, especially if you always use bags. The answer is simple: they're ridiculously dirty and smelly, no matter how hard you prevent them from getting that way.
In the same way, you need to clean your indoor bins more during summer, wheelie bins will get smellier as the weather warms up. This will not only make the walk down your driveway unpleasant, but it can also attract pests like rats, mice and insects to your home too.
"So I would just get the bin, empty all the bags out and then I would lay it down straight away. So I’d be laying it onto its side like that, and I’d give the lid a really good clean here," Lynsey says, laying the bin on its side with the lid flat to the floor.
"Just warm soapy water and a sponge, you haven’t got to go too over the top with this, so give that a bit of a clean, obviously we’re not going to do it properly. You’ve got to put rubber gloves on," she adds.
You don't exactly need luxury cleaning products to clean your bin, as Lynsey points out, a simple mix of soapy water will do the job. However, if you want some extra cleaning power, she also recommends using some salt or bicarbonate of soda to soak up unwanted liquids.
"I would dip the brush in, and then I’d be right in there like that (giving it a good scrub). And then you could always as well put like an old rag on or an old cut-up towel and get that in there, and then just get out that bin juice stuff. And then go back in with the soap and water," Lynsey finishes.
Now, this isn't a job to add to your daily cleaning habits, but doing it monthly or even bi-monthly if you use bags will make a huge difference.
Bin cleaning essentials
This pack of two rubber gloves comes in a size medium and is perfect for protecting your hands when tackling deep cleans in particularly gross spots.
Dish soap really is the wonder product when it comes to cleaning, especially in places where you don't want to use lots of chemicals.
This high-quality brush will make quick work of various garden tasks. With a support bracket and thick wooden handle, it's the perfect tool for deep cleaning your bin.
If you want to ensure no unwanted smells are coming from your home, then we'd also recommend cleaning your drains before a heatwave or even summer in general.
