What can I spray on my garbage to keep animals away

It’s a regular Tuesday night. You put out your waste bin and recycling for Wednesday morning’s usual curbside pickup. And lo and behold– in the morning your bins are tipped over and there’s an absolute mess. Who’s causing the ruckus? A raccoon? Opossum? A bear, even? Unfortunately, food waste can account for up to 28% of all municipal solid waste, and all kinds of animals sniff out the yummy scraps through your garbage bags and cans. No matter what kind of critter is digging around in your garbage, here are some tips to keep critters out and your bins nice and neat for curbside pickup day.

Shine A Spotlight

Leaving out a bright light or installing a motion-sensor light near your trash cans outside can help deter all but the bravest of backyard animals.

Spray it Down

Some people recommend lightly spraying smelly substances like diluted bleach, Windex, or ammonia on your trash can or in the bags to deter food-seeking animals with their sensitive noses.

Simple Securing

Many people have had success using a simple bungee cord to secure garbage cans’ lids. Though this may not work for strong animals like a black bear, it should suffice for keeping out most raccoons, squirrels, cats, and dogs.

Mothballs — Not Just For Moths

Apparently, raccoons, in particular, dislike the smell of mothballs, so sprinkling some around your trash can could keep them from ever coming close.

Double-Bag

This wastes some bags and plastic, but double-bagging especially strong-smelling bags of garbage can help contain the smell and avoid attracting all the neighborhood scavengers.

Consider a Metal Can

Ask your curbside pickup service if you can buy a metal garbage can instead of plastic. Plastic readily absorbs and holds stinky garbage smells that appeal to animals, and it’s also much easier to chew through than metal.

Alternative Routes For Food Scraps

As food waste is the main draw for trash can capers, eliminating a lot of the food waste helps lessen the appeal of your trash. Try composting or using a municipal compost collection service. You can also just freezing food scraps until trash day, so nothing is sitting and rotting in your cans over the week and attracting bugs and furry food thieves.

It’s frustrating deterring furry trash thieves. Wild animals can get crafty and brave when their meal is on the line! Try some of these tips (hopefully some are new to you) and you shouldn’t have any more issues with trash strewn about your yard and driveway.

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, especially when one of them is less of a man and more of a wild animal. Raccoons and other critters can’t resist the scraps and leftovers most homeowners leave in their garbage bins, evidenced by their determination and the resulting mess of their efforts. The following tips may help prevent critters from turning your trash into a buffet.

Choose the Right Garbage Can

The first step in securing your trash is to choose a garbage bin that will best deter any unwanted entry. If possible, purchase a metal can with a lid that locks in place; plastic cans are built to be sturdy but can be chewed through over time. Of course, the point of buying an interlocking lid is to keep it locked at all times. This step alone should significantly help keep out any creature too small to deal with the combined weight and locking mechanism.

Secure the Lid

If your lid doesn’t lock in place, or you want to add some extra layers of security, consider tying down the trash can lid with a bungee cord. You could also use clamps or a chain and padlock. These would not only add more weight to the lid but also seal the can, keeping the smell of food contained. If you have nothing else available, simply put a heavy brick or cinderblock on top!

Stop the Smells

Raccoons and other animals only come around because of the sweet smell of rotting trash. If they keep getting into your garbage bin, you can try to eliminate what’s attracting them by minimizing the pungent odor. One solution is to double-bag whatever you put outside into the bin; this will hopefully keep the smell in and the critters away.

Another option is to simply mask the scent of trash with something less appealing. Most animals hate the smell of ammonia, raccoons included. Try spraying Windex or other glass cleaner around and in the garbage can. This should help eliminate the garbage smell and discourage anything from going near the can.

Place Your Cans Strategically

Try to place your cans in an area inaccessible to raccoons and other animals. You obviously don’t want to keep the bins inside, but storing them in a garage or shed will prevent anything from getting to them without your permission. A simple door can be the most effective deterrent.

Add Lighting

Raccoons are just like any other burglar: they’re not fans of getting caught. Raccoons and other critters prefer darkness and might be startled by a bright light. Consider installing motion-detecting lighting near where you leave your trash cans. The bright flash can scare an animal into running away from the area.

Use Animal Repellent

There are several types of commercial repellent available specifically for raccoons. If you’d prefer to use something from home, give hot peppers or mothballs a try. Both the scent and taste will make any critter that is curious enough to come by, regret its decision.

If you have any questions or concerns about waste removal or keeping your neighborhood clean, contact us.

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