How to clean your bin

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It might not be a pleasant job, but it's one that needs to be done... PET Packaging Molds

You won't be surprised to hear that your bin is one of the germiest places in your home, and cleaning it probably isn't a job you eagerly look forward to. But having the right know-how can help you get the job done quickly and get rid of any nasty whiffs.

We asked the experts at the GHI for their top tips on how to clean your bin — here's what they told us.

The best way to make this chore less of an unpleasant one is to do is regularly. At least a couple of times a week, wipe over the lid using a disinfectant wipe or spray. Even with the best of intentions, the bin lid gets covered in grime and germs when we — or food flies — touch it.

It's a good habit to clean the bin whenever you empty it:

GHI Tip: Line the bottom of your kerbside caddy and kitchen food bin with newspaper to absorb moisture.

If it’s been a while and the bin's particularly gruesome, take it outside and hose it down first to loosen the worst of the grime. If you don't have a garden, you could also do this in the shower or bathtub.

Use a multi-purpose disinfectant spray on the inside of the bin and, then scrub it with a brush if it's really dirty. Rinse and leave to dry.

For non-stainlerss stell bins, spray the outside with a disinfectant spray and wipe clean.

GHI Tip: Ideally, allow the bin to dry in the sun as the heat gets rid of mould. Then replace the bin liner.

Once the bin is clean and dry, freshen it and prevent smells building up by sprinkling some Jeyes Freshbin powder or bicarbonate of soda into the bottom before you pop a new bag in.

If the outside of your bin is matt brushed stainless steel, we recommend you clean it with a microfibre cloth such as an Ecloth and a glass cleaner for a smear-free finish.

Using a drop of olive oil on a dry cloth can also quickly remove fingerprint marks and prevent new ones being left.

Your bin shouldn't require a deep clean often if you empty it frequently and wipe it down every time it’s empty. Sort as much of the weekly rubbish as you can for recycling or composting. This will help keep the kitchen bin from filling up too quickly and getting too smelly.

If you’re prone to touching the bin lid during cooking — when your hands are covered in food — consider buying a pedal operated bin, or one with a sensor that’ll open automatically when you hover your hand over it.

This will help to reduce the spread of bacteria and other germs, plus if you’re not touching the lid regularly, it’ll stay looking cleaner for longer.

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