Get Rid of Maggots and Flies in Your Trash

The unpleasant odor of a can full of trash is something most of us simply tolerate. But if you’ve ever had the misfortune of opening up your outdoor trash can and discovering little crawling white maggots…well, that’s a different story. It takes the word “disgusting” to a whole new level…especially if you have to then transport that bag in your car to a dump.

Maggots are fly larvae. You know how common it is to see flies buzzing around trash? Well, in this case, a fly has gotten into your trash and managed to lay eggs. If you can prevent this from happening, you are likely to get rid of your maggot problem.

Moth balls are known to repel flies and prevent maggots from forming. However, moth balls are toxic and carcinogenic. Here are some simple, non-toxic steps you can take after discovering maggots in your garbage to reduce the likelihood of their coming back.

1. Once trash has been removed, wash your garbage can out with boiling water. This should kill any maggots still in the can. Alternatively, if you have a sealed dumpster, you can remove maggots to a sealed plastic bag then release them into the dumpster so they can do what they do best – decompose garbage.

2. After you’re sure that all maggots are out of your trash can, scrub the interior and exterior of the can well with a solution of one part vinegar, two parts water. This should be done on a weekly basis in order to keep cans clean and free of the odors that attract flies. After scrubbing, rinse well, then allow can to dry thoroughly in sun before putting any new trash in. Maggots love moisture, so maintaining a dry can is essential.

3. Use a trash bag in your garbage can, folding the edge of the bag over the can to allow the circulation of air when the can is opened. After depositing trash, be sure to close your garbage lid tightly.

4. Seal any food waste in smaller plastic bags before dumping into the larger bag to prevent flies from making contact with it.

5. Vinegar, mint oil, eucalyptus and bay leaves have all been noted to repel flies. Experiment with wiping down the exterior of your can with the vinegar or diluted mint oil, or crumble some of the leaves in and near the trash can.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Luara B.

10:22PM PDT on Apr 16, 2013

Not very ecofriendly, sealing each rest of food in a new plastic for disposal...

April 16
send a green star

Nirvana J.

8:43PM PST on Nov 7, 2012

Thanks

November 7
send a green star

Michele W.

8:42AM PDT on Oct 4, 2012

Thank you

October 4
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Kaley E.

11:53AM PDT on Sep 25, 2012

I found them in my inside trash can and just used bleach and water will that work?

September 25
send a green star

Steven D.

7:13PM PDT on Sep 14, 2012

I have recently obtained a pat pend. on a device that deals with this problem with a totally new approach. My SOLAR POWERED BATTERY OPERATED INSECT DISPOSAL UNIT FOR TRASH CAN LIDS is no maintenance around the clock fly control. I hope to sell this patent to a company that can get it to market ASAP. It can be used on dumpters, roll-outs, and other types of lidded containers at school, hospital, park, home, and businesses around the world. It adds an effective layer of protection against the spread of fly-borne germs and disease without the use of chemicals and with easy sanitary disposal.

September 14
send a green star

Sue G.

3:56PM PDT on Sep 12, 2012

Quite right Donna. I agree wholeheartedly. Some people are so lazy they wouldn't shift if their bums were on fire, and as you say probably the ones with all the time in the world. I always say, If you want something done, ask a busy person.

September 12
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Donna H.

11:35AM PDT on Sep 12, 2012

" You can always tell who the lazy buggers are in the neighbourhood. They don't put out recycling stuff, and the big wheelie bins are overflowing," Well said, Sue G - I know just what you mean; there are so many (bone idle, careless) people like this in my neighbourhood. With the ever increasing land fill tax, we are subsidising these people through our council tax - the irony being that these people usually don't pay any council tax because they are invariably unemployed..... and therefore have all the time in the world to sort their rubbish!

11:21AM PDT on Sep 12, 2012

Thanks.

Michaela G.

11:09AM PDT on Aug 24, 2012

Esra A. - in what part of the world do you live? What do you mean "we have lives"? I assure you, in Germany we DO have lives, too, and very intense ones at that, but we have had a system of separating our garbage for many years now. Brown container for compostable waste, green for paper to be recycled, yellow bags for plastic stuff, gray containers for things which don't fall under one of the other categories and are truly garbage (i.e. not recycleable), we have public containers for glass bottles and jars (again, the glass is being recycled) and containers for waste metals. Our garbage is collected on a regular basis, and it is NO trouble at all (and not much of an intellectual challenge) to throw a banana skin into the brown container instead of the gray one. Even small children can do it.

August 24
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Charli s.

10:41AM PDT on Aug 24, 2012

If you get maggots in your inside trash and they migrate to the floor, salt will kill them and make cleanup easy. First pour a circle of salt around the maggots. This keeps them corralled. Make sure to look in dark places, under rugs, and anything on the floor. Then pour salt on top of them. Sweep them up and put them in a plastic bag just in case they aren't all dead. Snakes, rats, mice don't scare me but I'm terrified of maggots, so I don't care if maggots die.