If you want to keep your home free of pests, maintaining your trash cans is essential. Your trash, including both food and paper products, can attract a wide variety of creatures to your yard and, from there, into your home. Learn more about the visitors that are common if trash can cleaning and care is neglected, and how you can avoid them.

A Guide to Common Trash Can Pests

1. Bugs

Ants, flies, roaches, and yellow jackets love to scavenge food from your garbage. In between trash service, the moisture that collects in your trash containers can be a breeding ground for flies and even mosquitoes. Regular trash can cleaning, including pressure washing inside and out, will make your garbage cans less attractive for bugs, especially as a place to nest long-term. You should also keep your garbage containers far from the house so bug problems are less likely to travel inside.

2. Larger Animals

Raccoons are notorious trash bandits, but there are also other animals that will root for a snack in your trash if given the chance, like skunks. Raccoons can often remove lids or knock over cans, so choose sturdy containers that are bottom-heavy and difficult to tip over. You may have to use bungee cords to hold the lids on securely.

Keep your trash cans in an enclosure in between trash service to prevent animals from getting into them. Regular trash can cleaning will also help limit the smell and keep animals from getting too curious.

3. Rodents

Mice and rats are classic garbage nuisances if there’s food available. A mouse can squeeze through a hole as small as 1/4 inch wide, so check your containers regularly for holes and repair or replace them if you find any. Keep the trash cans away from shrubs or structures that would make them easier to climb to minimize the risk of rodents getting past the lid.

 

For regular trash can cleaning, choose Always Clean Cans in Maryland Heights, MO. For 12 years, they've offered a full range of recycling and trash pickup services as well as trash can cleaning and power washing for commercial and residential clients. Call (314) 736-1199 to get started, or learn more on their website.