Why Do My Garbage Cans Smell So Bad?

You took the trash out, the can is empty, and it still reeks. If that sounds familiar, the problem is not the trash. It is the can itself.

What is actually causing the smell

Every bag leaks a little. Over time, food juice, spills, and moisture coat the inside of your can and dry onto the plastic. That residue grows bacteria, and bacteria is what you smell. Add Elmhurst summer heat and a closed lid, and your can becomes an oven for odor. Emptying the trash does nothing because the source is baked onto the walls of the bin.

Why rinsing does not work

A garden hose pushes water around but does not have the pressure to break grime off the plastic, and cold water does not cut through the greasy film. You end up with a wet can that still stinks and a puddle of nasty water on your driveway.

How to actually fix it

The only real fix is a deep clean that blasts the residue off and deodorizes the can. Pressure washing lifts the stuck-on grime, and a deodorizer neutralizes what is left, so the can comes out fresh instead of just wet.

Let us handle it

Bin Bros pressure washes and deodorizes garbage cans right at your curb in Elmhurst. One clean and that smell is gone. Plans start at $30 a month or $85 for a one-time clean.