5 tips for a clean wheelie bin

If you hire a wheelie bin for commercial waste, you'll want to spend as little time on it as possible. Even so, it's wise to keep the bin clean. Especially on warm days, waste can start to rot, attracting pests such as maggots and causing nasty smells. That's the last thing you want at your shop or business premises. With these 5 simple tips, you'll avoid a smelly wheelie bin and keep it clean. Got maggots in your bin anyway? We've also got tips on how to get rid of them.

You don't usually need to clean your bin every week, but giving it a good clean now and then is a smart idea. It's easy to do yourself. Use an all-purpose cleaner or soft soap with a large brush or broom. Rinse the bin thoroughly with a hose or a bucket of water, then leave some soapy water in it for a while and rinse it out well again. Let the bin dry completely before you put any waste in it. If the bin is still wet, dirt can go mouldy and cause unpleasant smells.

Do you have a wheelie bin for organic waste (swill)? Then it's swapped for a clean bin every time it's emptied.

A bad smell is often caused by rotting food or moisture in the bin. That's easy to prevent. Sprinkle a layer of baking soda or bicarbonate of soda on the bottom. It absorbs unpleasant odours. Don't have any to hand? Then put some old newspaper on the bottom before you throw any waste in. It soaks up moisture, so the waste doesn't stick to the bottom. That way, your bin stays fresh for longer too.

If possible, keep the bin in a convenient spot, which may change with the seasons. In summer, it helps to keep the bin in the shade to prevent bad smells. In winter, it's wise to store the bin indoors or somewhere sheltered. That way it stays dry when it rains and the waste won't freeze to the bin in winter.

Let wet waste, such as food scraps, drain as much as possible before you throw it away. To stop food scraps from rotting, wrap them in old newspaper first. Also make sure you clean packaging as much as possible before throwing it away. Scoop out the last bits of food and rinse the packaging. That way, no stray food scraps end up in your bin and you avoid flies and maggots.

It may sound contradictory, but to keep pests away, leave the lid of the bin slightly open. For example, wedge a small stick under it. This gives the bin enough ventilation and helps wet waste dry faster. It also stops the lid from freezing shut in winter.

Found maggots in your bin anyway? Especially when temperatures climb above 30 degrees, it's hard to prevent. In warm weather, maggots love to settle into your bin. Of course, you'll want to get rid of them quickly. Use these tips to tackle maggots in your bin:

• Throw a sprig of ivy (Hedera) into the bin. It's poisonous to maggots.
• Maggots hate the smell of lavender. Throw a few sprigs of lavender into the bin and they'll soon be gone – and it smells lovely too.
• Sprinkle some salt over the maggots. Just like slugs, maggots can't handle salt. Sprinkling some sand over them works well too.
• Pour boiling water with a dash of vinegar over the maggots. Do this when the bin is about to be emptied, though, as the moisture actually creates ideal conditions for future maggots.
• Leave the bin open so birds can eat the maggots.

With these tips, you'll stay ahead of the problem and avoid a smelly wheelie bin or pests. If you still have a lot of waste that rots quickly, simply request an extra collection. We'll then pop by one extra time.