Maggots make many of us squeamish, but the fact is, they’re a common pest that poses a real problem for many households. If you’ve ever gone to put rubbish in your wheelie bin and noticed small creatures crawling around inside, you’ve probably encountered maggots.
These small cream-coloured insects are the larvae of flies, and hatch from eggs that flies lay. Flies are attracted to rotting and decaying matter, so they love nothing more than rooting through your bins for bits of food that you’ve thrown away. Once there, they lay eggs in your rubbish – leading to an infestation of maggots.
Getting rid of these creatures can be a hassle. You don’t really want to touch them, and attempting to kill each one when there are hundreds crawling around your bin can feel like an impossible task.
But according to a cleaning expert on social media, there is something you can do that works to not only kill them, but stop them from wanting to come back.
The Clean Group on TikTok shared a video in which they stated you only need two items to keep maggots away from your bins – and you have them both in your house.
First, the experts said you need boiling water from your kettle. This should be poured into your bin if you already have maggots, as the heat of the water is an “instant knockout” for them, without you having to stick your hands in the bin.
But you only need one item to make sure they don’t come back: salt.
Sprinkling salt at the bottom of your bin can help stop flies from laying eggs, as they’ll be put off by the lack of moisture in your bin. Most of us have table salt at home already, but it can be bought from most supermarkets for around 65p.
The cleaning experts also shared some “bonus tips” to maximise protection from maggots and flies. They suggested always double bagging your rubbish to ensure you don’t get “bin juice” at the bottom of your wheelie bin, as well as regularly washing out your bin with soapy water and disinfectant.
They also recommended sprinkling bicarbinate of soda into the base of your bin to “fight smell and moisture”, and said lining the bottom of your bin with newspaper can help make any cleaning even easier.
How to get rid of maggots
1. Find and Remove the Source
- Locate the Infestation: Maggots are usually found in rotting food, garbage bins, or animal waste. Identify and remove the source.
- Dispose Properly: Seal the infested material in a plastic bag and throw it away in an outdoor trash bin.
2. Clean the Area
- Boiling Water: Pour boiling water directly onto the maggots. This kills them instantly.
- Disinfect: Clean the area with a disinfectant or a mixture of water and bleach (1 part bleach to 10 parts water) to kill any remaining eggs or bacteria.
3. Prevent Reinfestation
- Keep Areas Clean: Regularly clean rubbish bins, floors, and any areas where food is prepared or disposed of.
- Seal Bins: Use bins with tight-fitting lids and take out rubbish regularly.
- Remove Attractants: Don’t leave food scraps, dirty dishes, or pet food exposed.