https://www.bin-store.com/blog

I have been doing a fair bit of outdoor DIY work lately around my house. That has drawn my attention to a number of clean-up issues in my yard, garden and shed. Among them was the discovery that a number of my plastic bins for gardening had become quite grimy over the years. They were becoming an eyesore, so something needed to be done about their appearance.

I have written some pieces before about how to clean plastic containers. There are number of different methods that you can try, but I discovered that cleaning plastic bins which have been exposed to dirt and the elements over a period of years is a pretty tough job. At first, I was hoping that my garden hose would be up to the task, but very little of the debris or stains could be washed away through such a simple approach.

That meant I needed to figure out how to clean outdoor plastic storage bins specifically. After some experimentation, here was what ended up doing the trick for me:

• First, there was the matter of mildew and mold. To get rid of these, I needed to scrub using hydrogen peroxide and an old sponge. Allowing the peroxide to soak in first achieved the best effect. For some really tough stains, I ended up going with bleach.

• Then there was the matter of rust. For this, the only thing that worked was going out and buying a commercial rust remover.

• For the rest, I was able to get away with a regular strong detergent and a lot of elbow grease. I finished it off by using a pressure washer.

As a note of warning, you need to be mindful that you are not inadvertently mixing chemicals which should not be used in combination. Some products can react with each other, which can damage your storage bins for outside. These types of reactions can also be dangerous for you as well. If you’re not 100% sure what you are doing, it is best to make sure that you’ve completely rinsed out each chemical before applying the next.

What if you try a variety of different methods and cleaning agents, and still do not achieve the effect that you are after? At that point, if you are still determined to get the bins looking like new, make sure that they are as clean and free of dust as possible. Then, grab a can of spray paint, and simply paint the bins over entirely. This will hide the flaws which you are unable to remove.

Dealing with stains and damage from rust, mud, plants, weather, and other outdoor influences on your plastic bins can be a challenge. But chances are good that if you are willing to invest some time and purchase the right supplies, you can get your bins clean again. Even if you cannot, you can paint them. Either way, you should ultimately be able to restore their appearance. Good luck!