How to clean trash cans professionally

The short versionProtect the storm drain and set up your mat, empty the can, pre-rinse, wash the inside and outside, then apply an EPA-registered disinfectant and leave it wet for the full contact time on the label. Rinse if the label says to, deodorize, and pump the dirty water into a tank to dispose of where your city allows. Never let wash water reach the street or storm drain.

What you need on site

• A pressure washer and a clean-water tank
• A trash can wand with a spinning head, or a trailer lift with wash heads
• A containment mat, a pump or wet vacuum, and a grey-water tank
• A degreaser or detergent, an EPA-registered disinfectant and a deodorizer
• Gloves, eye protection and waterproof boots

Prices for all of it are in the equipment checklist.

The process, step by step

1. Set up and protect the storm drain

Before you spray anything, walk the area and find the nearest storm drain. Spokane's guide for mobile washers suggests doing exactly this, then blocking drains with covers, berms or sandbags. Park so the can sits on your containment mat and the runoff stays on it. A mat doesn't empty itself; you need a pump or vacuum to move the water into your tank.

2. Empty out leftover trash

Cans are emptied on trash day, but there's usually something stuck at the bottom. Tip out loose bags and debris and put them in a trash bag, not the street. Spokane's guide says to throw collected solids in the trash and never send them down the sewer, where they cause clogs.

3. Pre-rinse and loosen stuck-on gunk

Give the inside a first pass to knock off the worst of it. For dried-on food or grease, apply your degreaser or detergent and let it work for a minute before the main wash. Hot water helps a lot here, especially on restaurant and commercial cans.

4. Wash the inside

Run the spinning wand or the lift's wash heads inside the can. A wand like the Mosmatic TRL has side jets that help prevent blowback, so you're not sprayed with what comes off the walls. Work from the top down so the dirt ends at the bottom and drains onto the mat.

5. Wash the outside, lid and handles

Do the outside, the underside of the lid, the hinge and the handles, since those are the parts people touch. Don't forget the wheels and the bottom of the can, where gunk collects.

6. Apply a disinfectant and wait the contact time

Washing removes dirt; disinfecting kills germs. The EPA says to pre-clean surfaces that are visibly dirty, which is why disinfecting comes after the wash. Spray the inside, lid and handles, and leave the product on for the full contact time printed on the label. The EPA says the surface should stay wet the whole time for the product to work, so reapply if it dries early in the sun.

7. Rinse if the label says to, then deodorize

Check the label to see whether it asks for a rinse after the contact time, and follow it. Finish with a deodorizer, which is what customers notice when they open the lid next week.

8. Collect and dispose of the wastewater

Pump or vacuum the water off the mat into your grey-water tank. Strain out solids before emptying the tank. Empty it only where your city allows: often a sanitary sewer connection with the property owner's permission, never a storm drain. Details below.

9. Return the bin and take a photo

Put the can back where you found it, lid closed. A quick before-and-after photo is proof of the job, and the best marketing you'll get (see how to get customers).

Choosing a disinfectant

Disinfectants are regulated by the EPA as antimicrobial pesticides. The EPA says more than 4,000 antimicrobial products are registered and sold. A few things to know when you pick one:

• Look for the EPA registration number. It's on the label, and you can look it up on the EPA's site. Checking it is the first of the EPA's six steps for safe disinfectant use.
• Sanitizer and disinfectant aren't the same. The EPA describes sanitizers as reducing germs to levels public health codes consider safe, while disinfectants destroy or irreversibly inactivate infectious bacteria and fungi on surfaces.
• Read the use sites and surface types. The label tells you where the product can be used. Make sure it fits plastic bins and outdoor use.
• Check the contact time before you buy. It varies by product, and it decides how long each can takes. A product that needs the surface wet for a long time is harder to use in summer sun.
• Read the precautionary statements. They list the protective gear the product requires and first-aid steps.

Using chemicals safely

• Never mix bleach with ammonia or any other cleaner. The CDC warns it can create toxic fumes. Rinse your tank and sprayer between products.
• Wear the gear. For bleach, the CDC recommends rubber or other non-porous boots, gloves and eye protection. The EPA says to wash your hands after removing gloves.
• Keep lids closed and store chemicals locked up, out of reach of children, as the EPA's sixth step says. That matters when your trailer is parked at home.
• Keep safety data sheets. Once you have employees, OSHA's hazard communication standard requires a safety data sheet for each hazardous chemical and training before workers use them.
• "Biodegradable" doesn't mean drain-safe. Spokane's guide points out that products labeled nontoxic or biodegradable can still harm fish and wildlife if disposed of improperly.

Wastewater: where the dirty water goes

Bin wash water carries food waste, bacteria, detergent and disinfectant. It is not allowed in the storm drain, which in most places flows to creeks and rivers without treatment.

• Federal rules: the EPA's 2023 fact sheet quotes the federal definition of an illicit discharge as "any discharge to an MS4 that is not composed entirely of stormwater", with some exceptions such as firefighting. Cities with storm sewer permits must prohibit these discharges and enforce the ban.
• What cities expect: block storm drains, catch the water, strain solids, and get permission before discharging to a property's sanitary sewer. Spokane's guide also says to keep a written spill plan and spill cleanup supplies on hand.
• Your city decides the details. Some allow sanitary sewer discharge with permission, some require hauling to a disposal site. Call your city's stormwater or public works department and ask what they require for mobile washing before your first job.

Getting this right also helps you sell. HOAs and property managers may ask how you handle wastewater, and a clear answer builds trust.

How often to clean

Bin cleaning is usually sold as a one-time clean or a recurring plan, often monthly. Set prices for both with the price guide and calculator. If you're building a monthly route, Binly handles the booking and groups customers by trash day so each wash day stays in one area.