How To Kill Maggots In Trash Can: 8 Effective Methods
Maggots infestation is dreadful, and during summer, the infestation becomes intolerable.
The most irritating part of larvae is that they are not easy to eliminate, no matter how often you clean your trash. That is because normal washing of garbage cans won’t kill them.
So, how to kill maggots in trash can? You will get your answer right in this article.
It is easy to get rid of maggots if you know the proper methods. Pouring boiling water, using different cleaning solutions and some natural ingredients, helps kill maggots.
Moroever, some precautions like using trash bags, good quality trash bins, essential oils, and more will prevent larvae from growing back.
Are you interested to know about the methods of elimination maggots? If so, continue reading this article.
What Are Maggots In Your Garbage Bin
Many of us know that the small brown worm-like insects spread over a trash can are maggots. But do you know what kind of insects they are? Before you get rid of maggots knowing what they are will help you prevent future maggot infestation before you get rid of maggots.
The initial stage of a fly’s life cycle, which we call larva, is known as a maggot. Basically, the eggs laid by the flies become maggots when they start hatching. Then gradually, after several stages, the larvae finally become flies. Also, you need to know how to kill files in trash can?
You will be surprised to know that a single fly is enough to give birth to several maggots. So, it is not necessary to have many flies around trash cans to see hundreds of maggots.
Why Maggots Thrive In Your Trash Can?
A warm trash can with rotting food waste is the perfect breeding grounds for maggots. Moreover, the maggot infestations become more prominent during the hot summer months.
But why do flies choose outdoor trash cans to lay eggs? The reasons are mainly warmth and rotten food waste from the garbage cans. During summer, when the weather is hot and humid, the food waste odor strengthens and attracts flies.
Moreover, food scraps and decaying organic matter helps to grow the fly larvae. So, the more stinky trash can you have, the more it will attract flies and will become a home for the larvae.
Steps You Should Follow Before You Start Killing Maggots
It is not wise to start the kill maggots without cleaning the trash can. One should know some necessary steps before learning how to kill larvae in a trash can. You must follow these steps to avoid any mess.
The steps are explained below-
Remove The Trash Bag
The first step is to take out all trash bags from the trash cans. It would be easy and hassle-free if you held up to kill all the maggots until your scheduled date of collecting trash.
No Debris Is Left Out
Sometimes small food particles can get leaked out from the trash bags. So, check inside the trash bin carefully and remove all the loose debris you find.
Once you have completed these steps, you can now start killing maggots in your preferred way.
Best 8 Methods To Get Rid Of Maggots From Trash Cans
There are several ways that you could follow to get rid of maggots. One thing to mention is that not all the methods will work for you. So, you have to determine suitable techniques by observing the type and size of the trash can and the density of maggots on your trash can.
Keep reading the below-mentioned methods about how to kill maggots growing in trash cans.
Pour Hot Boiling Water
The easiest method to kill maggots is to pour boiling water on them. All you have to do is boil water and pour the water all over your plastic trash can. Ensure the boiling water hits all the maggots, or they won’t get killed.
However, this method works best if your trash bin is small. It is hard to pour hot water evenly into a larger plastic trash can where the maggots are concentrated in a large area.
You can fill the bin with hot water if you have a small trash bin. This process will ensure that no maggots and eggs remain alive in the trash can. You can also follow this method of filling the water with a larger trash can, but it will require hot water in large quantities.
Bug Sprays Or Insecticides
You can find different bug sprays or insecticides in your nearby store. It is common for every home to have a bug spray to kill other pests like ants, cockroaches, bugs, etc. So, you can use the bug spray bottle to kill the maggots crawling over your trash bin.
Use plenty of spray over your trash can and wait for 30 minutes. Within this time, you will see that all the larvae are gone.
Remember, bug sprays are toxic for humans, also. So remember to wear protective gear like a mask or plastic glass cover before spraying insecticides.
Diatomaceous Earth
If your trash can has maggots and other pests, sprinkling diatomaceous earth all over your trash can will save you. It is sharp matter, which is excellent for killing maggots by cutting them up. Moreover, it is a dry matter, so when you sprinkle them on maggots, it kills them by drying them up.
Once you sprinkle diatomaceous earth all over the trash can, wait a few minutes. After a few minutes, if you still see some grubs and other bugs alive, sprinkle another layer. You can continue the process until you kill all the remaining eggs, adult flies, bugs, and maggots.
Vinegar Solution
Vinegar is a potent maggot killer that helps make your trash can maggot free. Making a vinegar solution is simple. All you have to do is mix hot water with the vinegar in a 2:1 ratio.
Once you prepare the cleaning solution, spray it on the trash can area concentrated with maggots. After that, scrub the inner surface area to kill the larvae inside the trash can. Then let the solution sit for 30 minutes before you rinse the garbage bin with water.
Remember, vinegar does not only kill the existing maggots but also prevents maggots from future infestations. It also falls among the scented cleaners as it deodorizes the trash can from rotting waste.
Use Garbage Guard
Sometimes it becomes tough to reach deep down a big garbage bin and get rid of maggots. If you have large plastic trash and passing a hard time preventing maggots, use a garbage guard.
Garbage guards are mainly used in larger outdoor trash cans. Once you place it underneath the trash can lid, it will release scentless vapor in the enclosed area. The vapor will kill all the hidden maggots inside. Also, it will prevent maggot infestation.
Using Premixed Calcium Oxide Lime
Do not get afraid after hearing this scientific name. It is nothing but a mixture of salt and lime powder. All you have to do is mix equal salt and lime and sprinkle the mixture over the bin.
This mixture suffocates the maggots in your garbage and kills them. Also, lime and salt prevent future infestations of maggots.
Furthermore, you can use a store-bought premixed calcium oxide lime if you have a large garbage bin and do not want to spend all your salt.
Cinnamon Powder Solution
Cinnamon powder is another effective but time-consuming ingredient that kills maggots. It takes almost 6 hours to get the solution to work.
Mix cinnamon powder with water and spray the solution over the maggots. They can’t tolerate the smell of cinnamon, so it also prevents infestations in the future.
Bleach Solution
Bleach is a powerful maggot-repellant ingredient that works best on large garbage cans. You can also use them on small ones. Mix bleach and water equally and pour it inside the trash bin. Keep the solution for 30 minutes to suffocate the larvae and kill them.
Steps To Follow After Killing The Maggots
Your job is not finished yet. After you get rid of maggots, there are some steps that you must follow. These are-
Wash The Trash Can
Killing the maggots does not mean your trash can is thoroughly cleaned. After you get rid of maggots, use dish soap and water to scrub the trash can with a sponge. This step will ensure no residue is left in your garbage bin.
After you are done scrubbing, rinse the bin with fresh water. Make sure no soap is left in the trash bin. You can wash the bin using a garden hose or a pressure washer.
Dry The Trash Can
It is an important step that you must follow. Never use a trash can without drying it. After washing the trash can, leave it outside under the sun to dry the can. However, if you do not have time and need to use the trash can immediately after washing it, use paper towels to soak the water.
Once the trash can is adequately dried, place a garbage bag, and the can is ready to use!
Some Tips To Prevent Maggots From Growing On A Trash Can
The following tips will guide you about how not to make your trash cans a prime environment for maggots and prevent them from growing-
- Use small trash bags to throw kitchen and organic waste in the trash can. Waste like meat and bones tends to attract flies.
- Use a high-quality metal or plastic trash can. It is hard to clean worn-out trash cans. As a result, they are often not cleaned properly, which attracts flies.
- Buy trash cans with lids so that the odor does not come and attract flies. Also, the lids help to prevent the flies from getting inside and laying eggs.
- Cover the trash can with essential oils. Mix a few drops of essential oil with water and pour it into a spray bottle. Spray the solution all over the trash can, which will help keep the flies away.
- You can also use mothballs to prevent maggot infestations.
FAQs
What kills maggots instantly in the trash can?
Boiling water is the instant maggot infestation killer. Maggots cannot live if you pour boiling water on them. Just pour the water evenly to reach all maggots inside and outside.
Does baking soda stop maggots?
Baking soda is a natural maggot killer. To kill maggots, sprinkle baking soda over your garbage bin and wait 30 minutes. Moreover, baking soda and bleach also prevent female flies from laying eggs.
Is it OK to touch a maggot?
Maggots are harmful insects growing in trash cans. You might get an allergic reaction and slight skin irritation if you touch a maggot. Also, maggot infestation causes diarrhea and food poisoning and makes you nauseous.
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Final Words
Discovering maggots on trash cans will disgust you. Maggots infestations ruin the freshness of your house along with spreading diseases. So, knowing how to kill maggots in trash can will save you from major hassles.
You can use any of the abovementioned methods and keep your house maggots free. Moreover, some preventive measures discussed in this article will prevent maggot infestations by keeping the flies away from the bins.
Hopefully, all these methods will benefit and help you have a fresh maggot infestation-free trash bin. Follow any methods suitable for your trash can and make your home environment fresher than ever!