Pesky Trashing problem

I have computer problem that has been bugging me for over a year. I have several empty older file folders in my trash that I cannot get ride of. I have checked these folders to make sure they are not locked and are read and write. The message I get is that Operation cannot be completed because the item “MEMSTICK.IND” is locked. I was given some information some time ago to go into the Utility folder than using the Terminal file type in a “cd ~/.Trash <hit return> sudo rm –rf, put a space after the f and drag the item you want deleted to the terminal so that its path is automatically entered, then press return than give it your admin password and hit return to remove the files”. I must have been doing something wrong because I could not get ride of these empty folder. It’s not effecting the computer operation, but it bugs me that I can’t get rid of these pesky files. Any experienced Mac persons out there that can help with this minor but aggravating problem?

Is the locked file invisible. If so you'll have to turn it visible. Then unlock it, then trash it. Xray (an app) is a good way of finding files and turning them visible.

Have you tried I believe holding the option key and then empty the trash?

Thanks, rman. What a simple solution to this pesky problem. I only hope that the rest of my worldly problems are this easy to solve in the year >).