It starts with a chore that homeowners and small businesses know all too well: having to drag heavy trash cans to the curb for collection. But that’s just for starters. Still worse are those offensive odors emanating from the cans, the flies and bugs attracted to them, not to mention the cats, mice, rats, and animals once seen only in the woods that sometimes search those cans for scraps of food and more. Enter KandooKans, a company that deals with the problem of dirty, smelly trash cans and whose services can prevent these issues altogether.

KandooKans may not have the glamour and glitter of high-tech companies. But, on the other hand, what it does offer is more important: a service that is simple, practical, inexpensive, and provides quick benefits to both homeowners and business owners.

 

A Good Time

KandooKans is headed by Yitzi Einhorn and his son Benny. It was started after Sukkos 2021. The timing was optimal to start such a business because people then were very concerned about COVID, germs, and viruses. Yitzi handles the scheduling, and Benny is involved in the cleaning/sanitizing operation and the truck that does it all.

Although this is not a tech-intensive business, it still requires mechanical knowledge, people knowledge, and learning about the pumps and heaters that are needed. Initially, Benny did all of the truck work himself, but as the business built up, they needed to hire additional help.

“We help make our streets cleaner, nicer, and healthier by eliminating germs and bacteria and the foul odors they create,” says Yitzi Einhorn.

 

Germs Galore

Most people toss their trash, never giving it a second thought, but there’s a lot more to this story than what meets the eye. For example, trash cans are the logical place to dump eggshells, leftover produce, spoiled fish and meat, tissues and napkins, vegetable peels, and the like.

But when homeowners and business owners toss that trash, they never stop to think that all of those leftovers and spoiled foods have created a perfect breeding ground for all sorts of bacteria and germs. Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria are just a few of the potentially dangerous germs that flourish in this environment all day, every day, and this is particularly so when cans “bake” in the hot summer sun for hours.

The exact kinds of germs that proliferate may vary, but they have several things in common: an offensive smell, they are unappealing to handle, and, worst of all, they may present risks to one’s health. In other words, it’s best to avoid contact as much as possible.

Whether or not we see or think about those bacteria and germs, they are there and multiply incredibly fast. And in just one careless moment, a person can easily become infected.

 

Cleaning Up

KandooKans cleans trash cans and bins with a sanitizing truck that is scheduled to arrive soon after trash is picked up.

Pressurized water heated to over 200 degrees Fahrenheit is sprayed on the cans the customer wants cleaned, with particular emphasis on the areas that are touched most often, such as the lids and handles. In some cases, trash bags can rip open from a sharp item or because an animal tears the bag while searching for scraps of food. Their cleaning process kills approximately 99% of all of the germs, bacteria, and even the viruses that build up on them.

According to Einhorn, all of the dirty, germ-saturated water is disposed of in an environmentally safe, self-contained cleaning unit. The homeowner or business owner does not have to do any heavy lifting, nor does he/she need to be involved in any part of the cleaning process.

There are additional benefits to having KandooKans do the cleaning. One of them is that their process is quick. The company is able to clean, disinfect, and deodorize one or two cans in just four minutes. And with its “arsenal” of disinfectants, degreasers, and scents, the company is well prepared to deal with all challenges.

By the time the cleaning is finished, virtually all of the germs will have been eliminated, and the offensive odors they produce will have been replaced with a pleasant scent. KandooKans’ cleaning process can easily accommodate all cans, no matter what their size, regardless of whether they are made of plastic or metal.

 

Early Start

Cleaning cans is a year-round business for KandooKans, and their workday starts as early as 7 a.m. and shortly after the garbage is picked up. Their truck is equipped with a device that can lift two cans at a time, which speeds up the cleaning process while also making the work safer and easier for the crew. Dirty wastewater goes into a hopper and then into a receiving area. They also offer power washing for both commercial and residential customers, removing caked-on grease from floors.

According to Einhorn, the company offers its services in Far Rockaway, the Five Towns, Atlantic Beach, Hempstead, and West Hempstead. And going forward, they hope to expand their services to Great Neck. (Servicing most parts of NYC is difficult because the Department of Sanitation sometimes picks up cans at unpredictable times, day or night.) Currently, KandooKans has one truck and two drivers, but with an increasing number of customers and growing interest in professional can cleaning, the company hopes to add an additional truck.

According to Einhorn, “Residential homeowners can schedule a cleaning for whatever best suits their needs, whether that be one time monthly, one time yearly, or anything in between.” The cost is modest: $13 for one can and $11 for each additional can. And signing up for the service can easily be done online.

Both Einhorn and his son Benny are proud that their cleaning process is 100% environmentally friendly. They are also gratified by the many testimonials they’ve received from customers about how happy they are with KandooKans’ service. A win-win situation for all.

For additional information, contact: KandooKans at 516-464-1KAN.

By Gerald Harris