Every homeowner considers it at least once. Can I just clean my own trash bins? The answer is yes, you can but after you read what is actually involved, most people decide professional cleaning is the better option.
What DIY Bin Cleaning Actually Requires
Doing it properly at home means a pressure washer that can deliver hot water, a degreaser, a disinfectant, somewhere to put the dirty wash water other than the storm drain, and a block of your own time for each cart. A garden hose and dish soap do not get you there.
The Real Cost of DIY
A hot-water pressure washer is a real purchase, not an accessory, and degreaser and disinfectant are a recurring cost on top of it. Then there is your own time, on a Texas afternoon, bent over a 95 gallon cart. Whether that trade is worth it depends on what you already own and what your time is worth to you. Our monthly plan is $20 per completed visit for one bin or $25 for two bins, plus $5 for each additional bin, on an initial 12-month commitment. These are our current launch prices; customers who enroll at a launch price keep that price for their initial 12-month term.
The Wastewater Problem
This is the issue most DIY attempts miss entirely. When you rinse your bin, the dirty water runs down your driveway and into the storm drain. That water can carry grease, food residue, and cleaning agents. Many Texas municipalities have stormwater rules that address discharges of this kind, so check your local requirements. Professional bin cleaning services manage wash water responsibly and follow applicable disposal requirements.
The Verdict
For most Pflugerville homeowners the deciding factor is not the arithmetic, it is that the job gets done without them. You do not need to be home, you do not need to own the equipment, and the wash water is not your problem. Our monthly plan is $20 per completed visit for one bin or $25 for two bins, plus $5 for each additional bin, on an initial 12-month commitment. These are our current launch prices; customers who enroll at a launch price keep that price for their initial 12-month term.