are you recycling everything that is recyclable?

There's no question about it - garbage and recycling containers are the most unsanitary items in a home. Although you may take the bags of garbage out on a daily basis, the plastic or metal containers themselves can still be full of drips, pieces of old food, and other unsavory things. Every once a while, it's important to deep-clean and sanitize your garbage containers. Not only will the receptacles look better, they will smell better and be less likely to attract pests.

Here is the one way to effectively clean and sanitize all of the recycling and garbage containers in your house:

1. Slip on a pair of rubber cleaning gloves to protect yourself from germs and sticky messes. Remove the garbage bag and any debris, such as paper or large crumbs, from the container and throw them away. Check for any signs of pests, such as cockroaches, that you may not have noticed before. One sure sign of roaches is the presence of their feces, which look like small, black pellets. 

2. If you have an outdoor hose, bring the garbage can outside and rinse it out there. If you don't, rinse the container out with hot water in your shower a large utility sink. Make sure to clean the shower or sink after rinsing out the garbage can, which can harbor bacteria.

3. Fill the container halfway with hot water. Place a few drops of bleach in the water and mix the solution with a long-handled scrub brush. If you're inside, open a window to release any fumes.

If you're adverse to using harsh chemicals in your home, you can use distilled white vinegar instead of the bleach. In that case, create a solution of 50-percent vinegar and 50-perfect hot water. Both the bleach and the vinegar will clean, deodorize and disinfect the dirty can.

4. Scrub the inside of the garbage container with the long-handled brush, getting in all of the nooks and crannies. You may need to spend more time scrubbing areas featuring stuck-on food or other sticky substances. When you're done scrubbing, allow the cleaning solution to sit in the container for five minutes. 

5. Dump the cleaning solution down the drain and rinse the can out with clear, hot water. You can either dry the container thoroughly with a clean towel, or leave the lid open and allow it to air-dry outside.  Place a new garbage bag in the can when it's completely dry.