4 days ago
Stop your rubbish bins from smelling and keep insects away by adding this 1 item
Hot temperatures can cause bins to become foul and attract flies.
When temperatures are high, bins become noticeably smellier. This is because the heat makes them the perfect conditions for mould and bacteria to grow and thrive.
Cleaning your household bins in warmer climates is a job that should never be delayed or overlooked as this is when ants, flies and even maggots may swoop in and once they're in, they can be hard to get rid of.
Keeping your bins fresh and insects away, Josh Morris, an expert from Busy Bins, has recommended using a few simple kitchen ingredients.
He said: 'Place citrus peels, such as lemon or orange peels, at the bottom of your bin before adding a new trash bag. The natural oils in citrus peels help to neutralise odours.'
This may sound strange but citrus peels from lemons and oranges contain oils that slowly release a fresh fragrance that is strong to mark unpleasant odours, reports the Express.
Citrus peels are also mildly antimicrobial and will slow down bacterial and mould growth in bins.
However, one of the best reasons to use citrus peels in bins is that their oil has insect-repellent properties and will keep the ants and flies to keep them away.
This is a simple and very effective method to prevent bins from becoming smelly in the heat, but cleaning them does not need to be difficult either.
There are several cleaning methods to keep a bin fresh but the easiest tends to be using white vinegar.
John said: 'Use equal parts white vinegar and water and place this together in a spray bottle.
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!
If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
'Once in the spray bottle, you can then spray this onto the interior and exterior surface of your rubbish bin. You can then give the bin a good old scrub to remove stains and odours.'
White vinegar contains acetic acid, which can kill bacteria and mould naturally without having to use a harsher chemical cleaner.
It also helps break down food spills or any sticky residues that have leaked from a rubbish bin and makes it very easy to wipe these stains away.
The strong smell will also repel flies and other pests that can creep into your home this time of year, so you do not have to worry about insects if you want to open a window.
There are also many products you can buy to keep your bin clean without much effort if you would prefer such as charcoal odour absorbers, scented rubbish bins and even bin cleaning tablets.
However, the absolute best way to stop smells and pests around your rubbish bin is to simply make sure not to overfill it and take it out every few days to stop leftover food rotting in your kitchen.
