When was the last time you cleaned your trash bin? Most of us don’t even like taking the trash out, let alone cleaning the can, but that dirty bin could cause more problems than just an awful stink when you open the lid. It could attract a long list of pests, including cockroaches and rats, which will happily move from your garbage can and into your home.

At Element Turf & Outdoor Solutions, LLC, we offer convenient bin cleaning service plans to ensure your trash can stays clean—and pest-free. We serve all of Alton, Godfrey, and Edwardsville, IL.

Dirty Trash Cans Attract Pests & Rodents

Leaking trash bags can leave behind liquids and crumbs that provide the perfect food source for a wide variety of pests, and where there’s readily available food, pests will nest. Here are just a few of the unwanted houseguests your trash bin may invite:

Wasps

Wasps, bees, and other stinging insects are responsible for more than 500,000 emergency room visits each year. Allergies to insect stings are common and can result in severe symptoms such as anaphylactic shock and respiratory distress. Wasps are attracted to sugars and protein, making things like soda can residue or meat trimmings an irresistible treat.

Rats and Mice

Rodents can carry a horrifyingly high number of diseases—35 to be exact—that can be transmitted to humans and other animals through contact, droppings, and urine. But rats and mice pose a bigger threat than just leaving a big mess and a potential health hazard. As they sometimes chew electrical wiring, they can pose a fire risk as well.

Flies

Most people view flies as a nuisance—and if you've ever had a big black fly stuck in your house, you know why—but did you know they can also spread dysentery and other infectious illnesses? Certain types of flies bite too.

Cockroaches

Close-up photo of a cockroach attracted by a dirty garbage bin in Godfrey, Illinois.

No one wants cockroaches, and they are notoriously hard to get rid of once your home has them. Like many of the pests your trash bin can attract, cockroaches cause problems beyond the gross-factor. Cockroaches carry bacteria and intestinal diseases, such as salmonella, streptococcus, cholera, typhoid fever, and staphylococcus.

Their excrement and other debris they leave behind, such as body parts and saliva, are also a common cause of indoor air pollution and allergies.

Bacteria

Bacteria growth is partly responsible for the smell inside your trash bins but left unaddressed, it can also make you and your pets sick. When you take out the trash, you inevitably touch the bin. Plus, all those pests we just talked about will also track bacteria around your home.

Inside or Outside: The Best Way to Avoid Attracting Pests Is a Clean Trash Bin

You may think that all the above are less of a concern if you keep your trash bin outside rather than in your garage or home. Unfortunately, even in an animal-proof storage area, dirty trash bins will still attract pests, increasing the likelihood of an infestation in your home.

If you don't have a secure storage area, debris in the bottom of your trash bin may also attract animals such as stray dogs, cats, and raccoons.

Don't Invite Pests—Call Us for Reliable Trash Bin Cleaning Anywhere in the Alton, IL Area

If you don’t have time to keep your trash cans clean, our team can help with our routine trash bin cleanings. Whether you’d like a one-time cleaning, monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly service, our five-step bin cleaning process will ensure your trash cans are pest-free, clean, and even smell better!

Do your home a favor and call us today at (618) 467-7047 for fast and friendly trash bin cleaning services in Alton, Godfrey, Edwardsville, or a neighboring community.