How to Keep Trash Bins Clean and Smelling Fresh
Tired of smelly trash cans? In the New Mexico heat, your bins can go from clean to stinky fast — especially in the summer. At Anytime Trash Services, we’ve picked up thousands of bins across Santa Fe, Española, Edgewood, Chimayó, and beyond. Here’s how to keep yours clean, odor-free, and pest-resistant all year long.
📞 Need trash service you can count on? Call Anytime Trash Services at 505-795-5415.
🧽 1. Clean Bins Monthly (or More Often in Summer)
Use a hose, a long-handled brush, and mild soap or vinegar to:
Rinse out food residue
Scrub inner walls and lids
Let air dry with the lid open
💡 Pro tip: After rinsing, add a splash of white vinegar or baking soda to kill odors naturally.
🚫 2. Don’t Put Loose Trash in the Bin
Always bag your household waste. Unbagged trash leads to:
Strong odors
Mold and bacteria growth
Sticky leaks in the bottom of the bin
Bugs and maggots (especially in summer)
For big loads or events, consider extra bag pickup options available on request.
🧊 3. Use Odor Absorbers
Try these bin-safe deodorizing methods:
Sprinkle baking soda in the bottom weekly
Place a dryer sheet under the liner
Use charcoal-based bin deodorizers
Try eco-friendly sprays like BinBreeze
Avoid bleach unless diluted, as it can damage plastic over time.
🐾 4. Keep Bins Critter-Proof
Rural areas in Northern NM attract animals like:
Raccoons
Stray dogs
Bears (especially in Pecos, Edgewood, Chimayó)
Tips to keep animals out:
Freeze meat scraps until pickup day
Use bungee cords or locking lids
Rinse containers before tossing
Keep bins out of direct sun to reduce smells
For bear-resistant bin options, check out BearWise.
🗓️ 5. Follow a Pickup Routine
Missed pickups = overflow = smell.
Make sure to:
Put bins out by 6:30 AM on pickup day
Sign up for text/email reminders from our team
Schedule extra pickups during holidays or large cleanups
Need to report a missed pickup? Contact us here »
📍 Serving Northern New Mexico Homes
At Anytime Trash Services, we proudly keep neighborhoods clean in:
✅ Weekly trash collection
✅ Flat-rate pricing
✅ Heavy-duty 95-gallon bins
✅ Reliable, local team
