How Rain Makes Wheelie Bins Dirty & Why Bin Cleaning is Important

Rainwater leaves everything looking clean and fresh but not your wheelie bin. Once water has gotten into a bin containing food scraps, packaging, garden waste or general rubbish, that’s a recipe for grime and foul smells.

For households and businesses, regular bin cleaning keeps things fresh in between emptying and collection. Water spreads the residue inside the bin as well, leaving behind an even more stubborn residue the longer it’s left.

Does rain make wheelie bins dirty? Yes, especially if there’s a mix of water and waste residue inside.

What Does Rain Do to Your Wheelie Bin?

A closed wheelie bin seems like a good place to keep rubbish safe from the weather. Rain gets into the container anyway, either around the lid, or when the lid is opened to dispose of waste.

When water gets into the bin with the rubbish, a few things occur:

• Food scraps get soaked and start to break down.
• Liquid waste spreads over the base of the bin.
• Residue sticks to the inside of the bin.
• Moisture encourages smells to come out.
• Organic waste leaves a more stubborn film after being emptied.

It’s part of the reason that a dirty wheelie bin becomes more difficult to manage after wet weather.

Commercial premises dealing with food or general rubbish have the same problem. Restaurants, cafes, offices, childcare facilities and other businesses regularly disposing of rubbish will find that residue builds in their bins quicker, because of the higher volume of waste being put in.

Why Does My Wheelie Bin Smell After Rain?

Moisture plays a large part in why your wheelie bins smell after rain.

Water rarely produces a smell on its own. It’s when it mixes with other substances that odours form, and that includes the residue and waste already in the bin.

A wet bin retains moisture after the rain stops, especially in folds or creases of the bin, around the base and along the underside of the bin lid. Residue left in these places contribute to the smell of the bin, especially between collections when the bin isn’t being emptied.

This is where wheelie bin sanitising comes in. It removes the residue that causes smells, and sanitising the surface of the bin itself. Sanitising isn’t enough to remove odours on its own, though.

The answer to how do you get rid of the wheelie bin is similar to getting rid of the grime and residue. Empty and rinse the bin and clean the inside surfaces. For a heavy deposit of residue, or persistent smell, a professional cleaner can provide a more thorough clean.

Keep Your Wheelie Bins Clean During Melbourne Rainy Weather

Melbourne weather can change from clear skies to dark clouds overnight. Bin cleaning doesn’t have to come after a smell has developed, though.

Household bins requiring residential bin cleaning keep food residue, liquid waste and grime from building up after each use. Households producing more food waste, or with multiple bins, will require more frequent cleaning than those generating less organic waste.

Businesses have a different set of requirements. Commercial bins contain and process more waste, and may hold food scraps, packaging and other materials for longer periods. A regular cleaning schedule keeps the area around bins cleaner and reduces the chances of unpleasant smells developing.

How often should I clean my wheelie bin? There’s no set schedule that applies to all residential or commercial properties. The frequency of use, type of bin and volume of waste all impact how quickly residue builds up, and a bin that collects food waste needs more frequent cleaning than one that only takes dry rubbish.

For more stubborn deposits of grime or smell, a professional bin cleaner can provide a more thorough clean. Their equipment and products are designed to remove residue from the inside and outside of bins.

Professional cleaning for commercial premises is ideal for properties with multiple bins. Instead of having to deal with heavily soiled bins when their waste is collected, a cleaner can come at a time convenient to the business.

How do you sanitise a wheelie bin? First, remove the waste and clean away the visible residue and grime. Wheelie bin sanitising is performed after a general clean and isn’t sufficient on its own to remove smell.

Ready for a Cleaner Fresher Wheelie Bin?

Rain is beyond your control, but the state of your wheelie bins doesn’t have to be. Regular bin cleaning manages the grime, residue, and smell that develop after wet weather.

For bins that require more thorough cleaning, a professional bin cleaner can remove the film that builds up and take care of odours that persist. Whether it’s wheelie bin cleaning for your household, or a regular schedule for a commercial property, keeping bins clean and fresh is a much more pleasant experience.

Don’t let odours and grime build up on your bins. Book an appointment with Real Posh Bin Wash today for same-day professional bin cleaning.