Raccoons Got Into Your Garbage Again. Here's How to Clean Up.

You hear the crash at 2 a.m. By morning, your green bin is on its side, garbage bags are torn open, and chicken bones are scattered across the driveway. Welcome to Toronto, where the raccoons are bold, clever, and not even slightly afraid of you. If you live near the Danforth, Bloor West Village, or anywhere backing onto a ravine, you already know this routine.

This is not a pest problem you are going to solve permanently. But you can clean up properly and make your bins less appealing.

Cleaning up the mess

First, the practical part. Grab rubber gloves, a garbage bag, and some paper towels.

Pick up the big stuff first: Collect food scraps, torn bags, and scattered waste by hand. Use a dustpan for smaller bits. Work from the outside edges in toward the bin so you are not stepping through the mess.

Scrub the driveway or walkway: Raccoons leave behind grease, food residue, and sometimes droppings. Mix hot water with dish soap and scrub the area with a stiff brush. Rinse with a hose. For concrete driveways, this is usually enough. For interlock or flagstone, get into the joints where food residue can settle and attract ants. Leftover food scraps around your property can also draw in mice, ants, and other pests.

Deal with the smell: If the raccoons hit your green bin, the smell lingers. After cleaning up, sprinkle baking soda on the area and let it sit for an hour before sweeping or rinsing it away. In hot weather, the smell will attract them back if you do not clean it properly.

Wash the bins: Hose out your green bin and garbage bin. Spray them with a vinegar and water solution. Let them dry in the sun with the lids open. A clean bin smells less interesting to raccoons than a dirty one.

If they got into your porch, garage, or attic

Outside garbage is one thing. Raccoons that have found their way into a covered porch, garage, or attic are another problem entirely.

Do not try to trap or remove them yourself. Raccoons can carry rabies and roundworm. A mother raccoon with babies in your attic will not leave quietly. Call a licensed wildlife removal company. In Toronto, there are several that do humane removal.

Once the animals are out, the space needs a serious cleaning. Raccoon droppings can contain roundworm eggs that are dangerous to humans and pets. This is not a mop-and-bucket job.

For attic or crawl space cleanup: A professional cleaning is the smart choice. The droppings need to be removed carefully, insulation may need replacing, and the area should be disinfected. We have cleaned homes after wildlife removal many times. It is not glamorous work, but it needs to be done right.

For porches and garages: If the raccoons were only passing through, a thorough scrub with hot soapy water and a disinfectant will do. Wear gloves and a mask. Bag everything and wash your hands well after.

Keeping them out of your bins

You are not going to outsmart Toronto raccoons completely. But you can make things harder for them.

Green bin locks: The City of Toronto sells green bin locks that clip onto the lid. They work well enough. The raccoons have figured out some of the older designs, but the newer ones hold up. You can pick them up at most hardware stores or order from the city.

Bungee cords: Stretch a bungee cord from one handle over the lid to the other handle. It is not foolproof, but it slows them down. Some people use two cords in an X pattern.

Put bins out in the morning: If your collection is in the morning, put your bins out at 6 a.m. instead of the night before. Raccoons do their work overnight. Morning bins miss the window.

Freeze smelly waste: Meat scraps and bones are what they are after. Keep them in a bag in the freezer until collection day. No smell through the bin means less interest from raccoons.

Do not leave pet food outside: A bowl of cat food on the porch is an open invitation. Feed pets inside or bring the bowl in before dark.

The Toronto reality

There are an estimated 100,000 raccoons in Toronto. They have been opening green bins since the city introduced them. They live in every neighbourhood, from the Beaches to Etobicoke, and they are especially bold in areas near ravines like the Don Valley and the Humber River. They are part of the deal.

Cleaning up after them is annoying, but it is manageable. Keep your bins clean, locked, and put them out as late as possible. And when they do make a mess, clean it up properly so the smell does not bring them back the next night.

If you are dealing with a bigger cleanup after raccoons have been living in or under your home, give us a call. We have seen it all.