How to Keep Animals Out of Your Garbage for Next to Free

by chaoscampbell

84K1322

Intro: How to Keep Animals Out of Your Garbage for Next to Free

I live out in the county and have had many problems with animals tearing the garbage apart for food. I was getting so frustrated having to clean up the front yard every morning.

well, I haven't cleaned the yard in over a month now thanks to a few squirts of windex. I just spray windex around the outside of the garbage bag before I put it out and the animals don't go near it. I tried this on the hopes that the strong ammonia smell from windex would make animals think there was a big animal around or maybe cover the smell of the garbage. I have no idea if this is why it works but the animals haven't touched it since I started spraying.

hope this helps other frustrated people.......and I hope it works for you as well as it worked for me.

22 Comments

MD_Willington 16 years ago

Sudsy ammonia from the dollar tree works too... out here in the stix, .22LR and .223 work as well ;P

BeverlyW24 3 years ago

Hi there. Will ammonia odor stay on the trash bags at the curb all night to keep animals out. Please I need help.
Thanks

BelindaB37 6 years ago

Very interesting. Do you know if onions will keep critters out as well? Majority of offenders are dogs, cats and possums.

TammyJ25 7 years ago

Didn't have windex or ammonia but just sprayed white vinegar on my garbage that was being torn apart by ravens, and it worked great. No ravens near my garbage.

BeverlyW24 7 years ago

Hi there. I would love to try the Windex sprayed on my trash bags, when I sit them out so no varmits get into them. But afraid I'm going to be cleaning up my neighbors yard as well. I'm in a senior park. So your sure this Windex idea will work. I just need that rassurance. Don't want bad feelings with my neighbors.My trash goes out twice a week. Friday is pick up again.

Many thanks if this really works.

msmartin22 9 years ago

Stray dogs, cats, and other animals have been tearing out my trash for months. No matter what I try. I have tried ammonia and windex neither works. Literally 5 mins after I put my garbage outside it's torn all over my yard. And I'm getting tired of cleaning it up every single day. Any advice anyone?

bluwolf 11 years ago

i have tried cayenne pepper. it worked for a short time then the bear,dog? came back again. i will try the windex,i sure hope it works!! this garbage strewn all over the place every morning is makin me nuts!

hiddenartist 12 years ago

Do you think it would keep the dogs from pooping on the back deck?They have a large fenced in yard-but oh no...we must use the deck as the bathroom.

bluemoon6 12 years ago

thank you for your posts--just cleaned up the yard agin this AM and will definitly try the amonia or windex tonight!!!

georion 13 years ago

if you spray the ani\mal--harm wears off tho--much worse than pepper sray--on the other some pepper sprays have Killed dogs !!!

Thelonelysandwitch 15 years ago

I use starting fluid on the cover and that keeps them away. just a little spray thats all you need.

kaseyraex3 16 years ago

Nail polish remover works too..i use it to keep my dog outta the garbage...

Nova_Logic 16 years ago

could windex in any way shape or form at all harm any animals i have a dog (he is so fluckin cute) i dont wanna do anything to him that could possibly harm him even for a few seconds

chaoscampbell 16 years ago

I'm not 100% sure on the harm it would do, I can't imagine it would be good for him though. I've got a spray of it in my mouth before (long story) and other then the awful taste it didn't make me sick in any way, but my experience is that they smell it and want nothing to do with it. even if he does taste the outside of the bag with windex on it I can't imagine it doing much harm.... but I wouldn't recommend feeding him half a bottle of it. I'll look around on the internet about harm and post when I find something.... but like I said... my experience, they smell it and walk away from it

chuckr44 16 years ago

Would 100% ammonia work as well?

chaoscampbell 16 years ago

I'd have to guess it would......... is it cheaper then a bottle of windex? I chose windex cause its cheap and easy to use and it works like a charm

chuckr44 16 years ago

You can get a gallon of ammonia from the Dollar Store, but I would guess Windex (lg bottle) is about $3.50 because it's a big brand name.
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