Foxes will stay away from your bins if you place this 1 common item on top

Foxes will stay away from your bins if you place this 1 common item on top If you've ever had a fox or seagull get into your bins and make a mess of your garden, a UK binman shares a simple tip that could help keep foxes out of bins for good With another UK heatwave in full swing, you'll want your garden looking its best for any BBQs or get-togethers you've got planned. But there's nothing quite as frustrating as looking out the window first thing in the morning to find rubbish scattered all over the lawn. When foxes or seagulls manage to raid your bins and tear them apart, it can be an absolute nightmare. Fortunately, a binman on TikTok has revealed a straightforward trick that will keep them at bay. The No1 Binman, a self-proclaimed 'binfluencer', has been dishing out advice and tackling those pressing questions about waste collection. He recently posted a video responding to a question from a viewer, who wanted to know the best methods for keeping foxes and seagulls away from food bins. Given what's inside these bins, it's hardly a shock that animals find them so appealing. But when they're hell-bent on getting in and scavenging for leftover scraps, it can leave your garden in a right state. Thankfully, the binman said there are a 'few ways' to deal with the issue. One of these, and maybe the most straightforward, is ensuring all food waste is sealed in bags before being placed in the bin, as this helps to disguise the smell and makes the bins far less tempting for pests. Another lesser-known tip is to take an empty milk container, fill it with water, and pop it on top of the bin lid. The binman explained: "That will stop the foxes." The reason this trick works is because foxes are predominantly active after dark. When streetlamps illuminate your garden, the light reflects off the water in the milk container, which foxes find off-putting — causing them to give your garden a miss. He also pointed out that most binmen will pop the container back into the bin once it's been emptied, preventing it from being blown away, 'solving two problems'. In the clip, the binman also revealed that where you place your food waste bin can affect how easily pests can get into it. He advised against leaving it in direct sunlight at all times, saying: "When you store it in your house, make sure you put it under a table or a chair." The sun's heat causes food waste to decompose far more quickly, which not only draws in seagulls but also maggots and flies — something nobody wants to deal with. Whether kept indoors or outdoors, bins should be stored in a shaded spot with the lid firmly secured to keep unpleasant smells at bay.