How to get rid of maggots in your bin

Published by Leo Clean on August 4, 2022August 4, 2022

Flies are naturally attracted to bins because they provide the perfect environment for them to lay eggs : they offer food, protection and heat. On average, a housefly can lay up to 150 eggs which hatch as maggots whithin only 24 hours. During the hot summer months, flies are more active so you are even more likely to find these pests in your bins.

If you have found maggots in your trash cans, follow these four simple steps which will help you to get rid of maggots.

How to cleanup your bin after a trash bin infestation

1) Remove all trash from the can

If you can, wait until your garbage service picks up the trash. Once you have taken out all of the trash bags, remove any loose items at the bottom of the can.

2) Kill the maggots with boiled water

Pouring hot water over the maggots will kill them immediately. It’s free, quick and eco-friendly !

3) Make an effective and natural solution

Make a cleaning solution of 1 part distilled vinegar and 2 parts warm water to disinfect and deodorize your bin.  You can also add some salt and lime to your solution, there are very effective killers of maggots. No need to use any toxic chemicals !

4) Clean and disinfect

Use a brush or a sponge mop to scrub vigourously the whole infested area (inside of the can AND the lid) with the vinegar solution. Make sure you get into every corner to remove any residue. Then rinse your bin with clean water and put a new garbage bag in it.

That’s it ! But as with most pest issues, prevention is better than a cure. Here are some useful tips to avoid maggots infestation and keep them out of your household waste bins for good.

How to prevent future maggot infestations

• Make sure that you never leave any food (don’t forget your lovely pets’food !) uncovered :  be careful, flies can lay eggs on food before it goes in the bin.
• Rinse food packaging (especially for meat, fish and dairy) before throwing them away to avoid smelly trash and the development of maggots.
• Put your food scraps out every 2-3 days.
• Keep all your bin lids closed and out of direct sunlight : it will slow down the general decomposition of waste in the bin and reduce smells.
• Do not overload your bin so that the lid does not close properly.
• Try to reduce the amount of food waste you produce and/or consider composting it outside.
• Repell flies with citronella near your bin : Whether in plant, oil or in a candle form, it masks any other smells that would attract flies.
• Use heavy-duty bin bags so that the bag doesn’t split and cause food spillage when you try to empty the bin.

And last but not least : clean the food waste bin with hot soapy water. Regular cleaning, good hygiene and vacuuming will definitely help control and prevent !