On the heels of keeping trash chutes clean and in tip-top shape, let’s take a look at their hardworking partner, dumpsters, and the importance of frequent dumpster cleaning. While garbage chutes are the first point of contact for your unwanted items and household trash, the dumpster does the heavy lifting, or should we say holding?
Hundreds of pounds of garbage and recycling travel down trash chutes each week and drop into the dumpsters at the bottom of the building, or heavy bags are tossed in and the lids slammed open and shut if they reside in an outdoor corral. The bags are susceptible to ripping open or breaking on impact allowing all types of liquids, detergents, and organic waste to leak out. Eventually, this hodgepodge of ingredients from steak bones and old cat food to dishwashing liquid and rotten milk becomes the disgusting and putrid substance pooled at the bottom of the container known as garbage juice and it smells BAD. Here are just a few of the compelling reasons to hire a professional company for routine cleaning and maintenance services for your property’s dumpsters:
1. Prevent Rodent and Pest Infestations
Anyone who has been stuck behind a garbage truck on the road is probably familiar with this stench – it’s unforgettable. Imagine how potent it must be when trapped in a confined area with little to no air circulation? However, the unpleasant odor is the least of your worries. As much as humans despise it, rodents and bugs love it! It attracts them from everywhere, outside and in. Ensuring the dumpster containers are cleaned regularly is one of the first steps in a proactive pest management plan and helps to keep infestations to a minimum.
2. Kill Hazardous Mold and Bacteria
Frequent garbage dumpster cleaning will also help your property avoid mold, mildew, and bacteria infestations. Garbage juice has all the organic matter it needs and sits just at the right temperature for all kinds of disgusting growth. Under the right conditions, these things can flourish in just a few days and it’s a lot harder to treat them once they’ve really had a chance to spread.
3. Buy Fewer New Dumpsters
Keeping the juice at bay isn’t just helpful in the fight against bacteria, smells, and rodents. It’s also a great way to extend the life of your dumpster. Although they are made from galvanized steel to stop rust and painted for another layer of protection, they still suffer a lot of wear and tear. Dumpsters are always being abused. They’re picked up by trucks, slammed on the ground, and pushed all over the place. Eventually, they end up with holes and dents and that’s when the garbage juice can really cause damage.
4. Do Your Part in Controlling Wastewater Pollution
When there are cracks and holes in your trash dumpster garbage juice can seep out, freeze, and expand when it’s cold or speeds up rust when it’s warm. Once the juice is out it can also run into building drains, storm drains, and grass areas. This has to be avoided as much as possible. All those chemicals and bacteria leaking into the water treatment system and the environment are extremely unhealthy.
Dumpster Maintenance Tips That Benefit Your Property
Making sure your dumpster’s lids and wheels are operating correctly will improve your building safety and reduce property liability.
- Keep your trash dumpster lids securely shut and working correctly. Lids are the most common part of the dumpster in disrepair. Because they are constantly left open and slammed shut, they endure extra damage. Whether it’s plastic or metal, the locks and hinges need to be checked regularly. Maintaining the lids and keeping them shut is the easiest and cheapest way to fight trash container problems.
- Stop unwanted dumpster divers. Rodents and animals LOVE trash. Rats and roaches; raccoons, stray cats, even the occasional coyote (based on where you live) will all come to feast on your residents’ dinner remains. Keeping Rocky and Wile E. from setting up shop in your corral is vital to employee and resident safety. Not only do these invaders make a mess they pose a serious danger. Wild animals can have any number of diseases including rabies and the last thing anyone wants is to be bitten or scratched. the locks and hinges need to be checked regularly.
- Fix damaged wheels or casters to protect the concrete pad underneath your garbage dumpster. The wheels on your dumpsters should be checked as part of a standard inspection to be sure they are in good shape and not rusted or cracked. While you are checking the wheels and casters check the concrete pad the trash container rests on. If it’s an indoor corral it will probably last longer. Outdoor setups tend to degrade faster. The elements and the salt residue from the parking lots if you are in an area that gets snow and ice, eat away at the cement.
Making your dumpster cleaning and damage checks should be part of every property manager’s maintenance routine. Hiring a professional for commercial cleaning and odor removal services in trash areas and throughout your multi-tenant building will help you to control pests, mold, and bacteria while keeping your budget down. Contact Fresh Focus for a free estimate and learn how dumpster cleaning can be part of a scheduled service plan.
