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.

New G.

10:40PM PST on Feb 6, 2012

Thank you.

send a green star

Kristina C.

1:33PM PST on Jan 12, 2012

Thank you - valuable tips for Florida

Cathy N.

1:15PM PDT on Oct 14, 2011

~I have used some of these ideas to help keep our garbage cans free of these gross critters~I believe that we all can be prudent recyclers!~

Sue G.

8:08AM PDT on Oct 9, 2011

Here in the UK our council collects our garbage and recycling every week, some areas every fortnight. We have a small box with biodegradable cornstarch liners for food waste, liners free from the council. We have a box for glass and aluminium cans, Newspapers, paper and magazines go in a clear sack, plastics go in a blue sack and cardboard goes in a separate clear sack, as does clothing. Green waste ie. grass cuttings go into green sacks. We have a big wheelie bin for anything else that is not recyclable. We moved to our present house 5 years ago and have only used the wheelie bin once, the very first week we moved in before we were allocated our recycling stuff. Veggie peelings, banana skins and orange peel go to the local horses, certain scraps we give to the dog. We don't buy offers from the supermarkets such as buy 2 get 1 free unless we can freeze them. So we never have much food waste.The dustbag from the vacuum goes into the compost bin. 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, the lids unable to close tight, and flies buzzing around. Any kitchen waste we might have goes into our compost bin in the garden, so we don't put out food waste. Compost bins can be bought from the council. It's made so easy for us that I don't understand why everyone doesn't just get on with it. I even remove the paper labels from cans and put them in with the papers.

Jo A.

5:49PM PDT on Oct 7, 2011

Thanks for the useful tips.

Chris R.

2:32PM PDT on Aug 16, 2011

Thanks for the tips Terri!~

Abbe A.

1:25AM PDT on Jun 22, 2011

Great ideas. thanks

Masha S.

4:14AM PDT on May 22, 2011

thanks

ed S.

8:07PM PST on Jan 24, 2011

i use pine sol from walmart ; have for years with my house full of cats . got one ole male thats soon to be 12 yrs old . just got to be prudent how you use it . i use in spray bottle to kill roaches and maggotts . full strength or diluted with water 50/50 your choice . if u spray in house dont leave excess laying around for pets to walk in ; or contaminate their food. i mop my hardwood floors every day and my cats have not died from it yet . just c-diff. and feline lucemia.also i have lost some kittens due too fleas sucking the life out of my 2 month olds . i tryed corn oil mixed with garlic extract ; but the mother cats were transferring fresh fleas to their nursing young at night . that was my mistake not spraying the mother cats as well. these fleas are big and black , not the little brown ones . about the size of a large sesamea seed i guess.they even put whelps on me ; round the tops of my socks . i ward them off by sprayin my socks. my cats are indoor and outdoor cats . im forced to once a year to fumigate my trailor and locking my animals outside for a number of hours . i was told to use boric acid and or that earth stuff. dalmacious earth i think ?? food grade ?? orange oil ??