When you take your kitchen scraps or office waste out to the garbage, it helps make your space cleaner. However, your dumpster or garbage can may attract insects and other pests—which could eventually find their way into your home or building. To prevent this, use the following tips to prevent pests from climbing into waste receptacles.

How to Prevent Pests From Getting Into Your Garbage

1. Spray Ammonia

Many animals are receptive to harsh chemical smells, such as ammonia, which is in a variety of household cleaning products. By spritzing your garbage can or dumpster when it’s empty, you line the container with a pest-repelling scent. Ammonia is also known to kill cockroaches. Fill a spray bottle with one part ammonia, one part water, and wear a mask or covering while you spray.

2. Look for Holes

Over time, the rain, sun, and harsh temperatures will diminish your garbage can, resulting in exterior wear and tear. The items you throw away will also contain chemicals, which seep out and eat away at your dumpster’s interior. If cracks or holes develop, pests will be even more attracted to the scent of the waste, and they’ll have an easy passageway to climb in. Therefore, patch or replace your cans or dumpsters as soon as you notice such damage.

3. Rinse Your Trash

Whether you finished your takeout or are throwing away plastic ware that you forgot, the food residue inside trash attracts bugs and wildlife. To prevent critters from being lured into your garbage cans, make a policy to rinse out food containers before throwing them out.

If you’re looking for help managing the waste from your home or office, turn to T-Mac Solid Waste & Roll-off Services. This Columbia, MO, company has over 30 years of experience emptying dumpsters and performing trash removal services for residential and commercial customers. To learn more about their services, visit the website. You can also call the office at (573) 814-2844 to schedule a trash pick-up.