Why trash cans get so bad here
Every bag that goes in a can leaves something behind: a drip of juice, a split bag, food scraps that miss the bag entirely. In a mild climate that residue just dries out. In Baton Rouge, where summer days are hot and humid and a dark plastic cart can sit in full sun all afternoon, it does the opposite. The bottom of the can becomes warm, damp and full of bacteria breaking down whatever is in there.
That’s where the smell comes from, and it’s why cans draw flies and, if they go long enough, maggots. Rinsing with a garden hose moves the mess around but rarely gets the film off the walls and the bottom corners where it builds up.
What a can cleaning covers
- Inside of the can
- Walls, bottom and corners washed out
- Lid
- Underside and hinge area cleaned
- Outside
- Grime, drips and dirt rinsed off
- Recycling bins
- Cleaned the same way
- The spot it sits on
- Easy to add if we’re cleaning concrete
- Multiple cans
- Quote it all at once
How it works
- Tell us how many cans. Call, text or use the quote form. Let us know your pickup day.
- We schedule it for an empty can. The best time is right after pickup, when there’s nothing left inside.
- We wash it out. Inside, outside and the lid, then a rinse so it’s ready for the next bag.
Pair it with another job
Most homeowners add can cleaning to a visit that’s already happening. If we’re coming out to clean your driveway, sidewalks and curb or for a house wash, adding the cans takes little extra time. The pad or side yard where the cans live usually needs cleaning too, and it can be done on the same trip.
Keeping a can fresh between cleanings
A few habits help a clean can stay that way longer:
- Tie bags tightly and double-bag anything wet, like seafood shells or meat scraps.
- Keep the can in shade if you can. A can out of the afternoon sun stays cooler and smells less.
- Leave the lid open for an hour after pickup on a dry day so the inside can air out.
- Sprinkle a little baking soda in the bottom to absorb odor and moisture.
For more on this, read our guide on keeping garbage cans from smelling.
Businesses and HOAs
Restaurants, offices and neighborhoods deal with the same problem on a bigger scale, usually at the dumpster pad. Dumpster pads are part of our commercial pressure washing, and we can quote multiple cans or containers at once.