By Gerri Miller
Elmore/Autauga News Staff Writer
Clif Rich was cleaning his garbage can with bleach and a water hose when he got an idea for a new business venture. He never got the can as clean as he wanted, but he didn’t want to crawl inside of it and scrub.
He and fellow firefighter Steven Helton talked about the possibility of providing a service to Elmore and Autauga residents to sanitize their garbage cans with steam and then deodorize them. It was during these talks at their fire station in Montgomery that Clean, Fresh Cans was born.
Rich and Helton opened their new venture on Feb. 28, 2022, and business has been booming ever since.
“We provide an eco-friendly curbside service to clean your trash can,” Rich said. “It involves collecting the nasty water from the inside and spraying a deodorizer to help with the smell until the next cleaning. We also offer pressure washing services.”
Rich said there are different options available for pricing. Monthly service is $9.99, quarterly service is $16.99, and a one-time cleaning is $39.99. All pressure washing jobs are given a free quote, he said. Service can be provided to Prattville, Millbrook, Deatsville and Wetumpka.
The cleaning gets rid of 99.9 percent of the bacteria by using high pressure water at elevated temperatures. It also helps keep pesky pests away.
Rich said he sees the company growing rapidly during the next year. “We’ve had a great start to our business and are flexible to work people in the following month for trash can cleaning or sooner for pressure washing,” he said.
Both men enjoy being full-time firefighters. Rich has lived in Prattville for the past 20 years and Helton was born and raised in Wetumpka.
“I love my community and want to support it,” Rich said. “I’m a full-time husband, father and firefighter committed to serving others the best I can.”
Helton said he is raising his children on the same roads where he grew up. He also said he is “a loving husband, father and firefighter.”
Together the two men bring years of experience in a broad area of expertise. “We are fully committed to the complete satisfaction of everyone when they request our service,” both men said. “We look forward to growing this company and continuing to love and support our community and other small businesses like ourselves.”
The company is getting rave reviews on its Facebook page. “My husband came home and said ‘these cans are cleaner and smell better than when they were given to us. Happy customers here,’” said one customer.
Another customer wrote, “Wow, our trash can was filthy and included dried paint down the inside, which I didn’t even expect him to get off. I was just expecting the grossness to be cleaned. Our trash can looks and smells new! Today was the first time in a long time that I didn’t gag when opening the lid! WORTH EVERY PENNY! Highly recommend the monthly service!”
For more information or to schedule a cleaning service, call (334) 202-2084 or visit the company’s website at www.cleanfreshcans.com
Whether you’re looking to clean up trash bins, soft washing house cleaning, or concrete cleaning, the knowledgeable team has the skills and tools to make sure the job is done right. “Our team is large enough to deliver professional exterior cleaning solutions while offering the personal touches that ensure we meet your goals and exceed your expectations,” they said.
