Consumer champions at Which? are urging households to act early, before problems take hold and cause more issues.
In summer, heat can quickly turn wheelie bins into an unpleasant mess, with smells that can linger for days and become overwhelming. Food scraps, warmer temperatures and trapped moisture create ideal conditions for foul odours, leaking residue and swarms of flies, which can quickly lead to maggots.
A thorough clean is often the most effective way to remove stubborn odours and built-up grime. To help consumers, Which? has encouraged people to take a key step: cleaning their bins regularly.
Which? also recommends keeping your bin out of direct sunlight where possible, as heat can intensify smells and speed up bacterial growth. Keeping the lid closed is also advised to contain odours and keep flies out.
Experts also encourage people to use compostable bags for food scraps to help prevent leaks and reduce mess. It adds: “Empty waste regularly during hot weather.
“The sooner you get rid of food scraps, the less chance flies have to settle and lay eggs, reducing the risk of maggots taking up residence in your bin.
In its final task, it suggests people with bins clean it “regularly during summer”. It notes that “giving your wheelie bin a quick rinse or wipe-down every few weeks can help stop smells and residue building up over time.”
If unpleasant odours persist between collections, a dedicated bin freshener may help. These products are designed to absorb moisture and neutralise smells inside wheelie bins, while scented options can also help mask odours during hot weather.
If you don’t, or can’t clean your bin, one member of the Facebook group, Cleaning tips and tricks says that they get a company to clean their wheelie bin every month after they’ve been emptied.
A second wrote: “Paper towels on the bottom and few drops of eucalyptus oil works well and gets rid of smells. Use a good bag inside your bin.”
Another suggested: “I have a bin cleaner, but once a week I use bin buddy and brown dettol.” A third commented: “I use wheelie bin liners just freshen up with disinfectant after emptying, which is 2 weekly here.”