Smelly Wheelie Bin? 7 Causes and How to Fix It

Does opening your wheelie bin make you hold your breath? You're not alone. A smelly bin is one of the most common household complaints, especially during warmer months.

But what actually causes that awful stench – and more importantly, how do you get rid of it? Let's look at the seven main reasons your bin smells and what you can do about each one.

1. Rotting Food Waste

The Problem: This is the number one cause of bin odour. When food waste decomposes, it releases gases like ammonia, hydrogen sulphide (the "rotten egg" smell), and various organic compounds. The warmer it is, the faster this happens.

Meat, fish, and dairy products are the worst offenders – they decompose quickly and produce incredibly strong odours.

The Fix:

• Wrap food waste in newspaper before bagging it (absorbs moisture and contains smell)

• Double-bag meat and fish waste

• Use your food caddy if you have one – it's collected more often

• Freeze smelly food waste until bin day if your collection is far away

2. "Bin Juice" at the Bottom

The Problem: That mysterious brown liquid pooling at the bottom of your bin? It's a cocktail of decomposed food, condensation, and whatever leaked out of your bin bags. This residue builds up over time and is almost impossible to remove with a garden hose.

Even after your bin is emptied, the juice remains – fermenting and getting worse with every collection.

The Fix:

• Line the bottom of your bin with newspaper or cardboard to absorb liquid

• Make sure bags are tied properly with no holes

• The only real solution is a thorough clean with hot water and sanitiser

3. Bacteria Build-Up

The Problem: Your wheelie bin is home to millions of bacteria. Studies have found that the average wheelie bin contains more bacteria than a toilet seat – including harmful types like E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria.

These bacteria produce foul-smelling compounds as they feed on organic matter. Even a bin that looks relatively clean can harbour invisible bacteria causing odours.

The Fix:

• Regular sanitisation with a disinfectant that kills bacteria

• Professional cleaning with hypochlorite solution kills 99% of germs

• Don't just rinse – you need to actually sanitise

4. Nappies and Pet Waste

The Problem: If you have babies or pets, you know this one. Nappies and pet waste contain concentrated organic matter that produces powerful odours – and they often go straight into the bin without being sealed properly.

The Fix:

• Use nappy bags or scented disposal bags

• Double-bag pet waste

• Consider a dedicated nappy bin with better odour control

• Have your bin cleaned more frequently during the nappy years

5. Your Bin Hasn't Been Cleaned... Ever

The Problem: Be honest – when did you last clean your wheelie bin? Many people have never cleaned theirs since they got it. Over months and years, residue builds up layer by layer, creating a permanent source of odour that no amount of air freshener can mask.

The Fix:

• Book a one-off deep clean to reset your bin to a fresh state

• Then maintain with regular cleaning every 4 weeks

• This is exactly what professional bin cleaning is for

6. Hot Weather

The Problem: Everything smells worse in summer. Heat accelerates bacterial growth and decomposition, which is why your bin can go from acceptable to unbearable within a few hot days.

The sun beating down on your bin essentially turns it into an oven, cooking the contents and releasing maximum stench.

The Fix:

• Store your bin in shade if possible

• Put bins out the night before collection to minimise time in the sun

• Consider more frequent cleaning in summer (every 2 weeks instead of 4)

• Empty food waste more frequently

7. Something Died in There

The Problem: This happens more often than you'd think. Small animals – mice, rats, birds, even foxes – can get into wheelie bins looking for food and become trapped. The result is an unmistakable, incredibly strong smell of decay.

You might also have maggots, which are fly larvae feeding on organic matter in your bin.

The Fix:

• Check your bin if the smell is sudden and unusually bad

• Remove any dead animals (wear gloves!)

• Clean and sanitise the bin thoroughly

• Make sure your bin lid closes properly to prevent animals getting in

Why DIY Cleaning Often Doesn't Work

If you've tried cleaning your bin yourself and it still smells, you're not alone. Here's why home cleaning often falls short:

Not hot enough: A garden hose doesn't provide hot water. Bacteria and grease need heat to break down properly.

Not powerful enough: Without high pressure, you can't blast away stuck-on residue, especially in corners and under the rim.

No sanitiser: Water alone doesn't kill bacteria. You need a proper disinfectant solution.

Residue remains: Even if it looks clean, invisible residue can remain, continuing to produce odours.

The Real Solution: Professional Bin Cleaning

Professional wheelie bin cleaning solves all seven of these problems in one go. At JustBinCleaned, our van-mounted system uses:

• High-pressure hot water that blasts away all residue and bin juice

• Hypochlorite sanitiser that kills 99% of bacteria and germs

• Professional deodoriser that leaves your bin smelling genuinely fresh

• 3x filtration system that captures all wastewater responsibly

The whole process takes about 2-3 minutes per bin. We clean the day after your bin collection, so you don't have to do a thing – just leave your empty bin accessible.

Stop Living with the Stink

A smelly wheelie bin isn't just unpleasant – it's a sign of bacteria, potential pests, and poor hygiene right outside your home.

For the price of a coffee every few weeks, you can have bins that smell fresh, look clean, and don't make you dread bin day.

JustBinCleaned serves Basildon, Southend, Chelmsford, Brentwood, Grays, Billericay, Wickford, Rayleigh, and all surrounding Essex areas.

Book online: justbincleaned.co.uk Call: 07518 111 799