How To Prevent Maggots In Garbage Can? - The Best 6 Methods
It is common for maggots to get in your trash can as it is a common place for flies to lay eggs. Maggot infestation is a serious problem that needs immediate attention. However, there are specific ways to prevent larvae/ maggots from growing in your garbage can. Following these methods will repel the adult flies and keep your garbage free from maggots.
This article will help you learn how to prevent maggots in garbage can.
To prevent maggots in garbage cans, you must seal the garbage can’s lid properly so the trash odor does not come out. Then, always use a good-quality garbage bag.
Next, try to get rid of methane gas and use essential oils. You must also wash food packaging before throwing it away. Also, cleaning your garbage can regularly will prevent maggots.
These are the ways to prevent maggots. However, if you see larvae growing in your garbage can, you must instantly kill them. This article will also guide you through the methods to kill maggots instantly.
How To Prevent Maggots In Garbage Can Home Remedies
There is a saying, “Prevention is better than cure.” So, in case of maggot infestation in your garbage can, it is always to find a way to prevent them before letting them grow. Below are the ways on how you can prevent maggots from garbage cans-
1. Close The Garbage Lids Properly
Generally, the odor from the garbage can attracts the adult flies and makes them lay their eggs there. So, the first thing you should do to prevent maggot infestation is prevent the odor from coming out.
To do so, you need a good-quality garbage can with a firmly sealed lid. If you close the garbage lid properly, the fly will not get any odor and will not lay eggs on your garbage can.
2. Select A Good Quality Garbage Bag
You might wonder how a garbage bag can prevent maggots! Well, garbage bags play a significant role in avoiding maggots from your garbage can. Always choose a good quality bag that is resistant to tears. Because poor-quality garbage bags easily tear up, spread odors, and invite flies to come.
Moreover, you can use a garbage or trash bag with fragrances to eliminate odors. The artificial fragrance from the trash bag prevents odors from spreading out of the trash bag.
3. Get Rid Of Methane Gas
To prevent maggots, you must first prevent house flies from getting attracted to methane gas. So, search for sources where such gases can be produced in your house. Generally, rotten food and rotten houseplants produce the smell of methane gas. So, to get rid of maggots, you must eliminate rotting foodor plants from your house and outdoor trash.
4. Wash Food Packaging And Meat Juice Before Throwing Them In Garbage Cans
Slight residues of food and sweet liquid on the packets attract flies. Also, meat juice or meat helps the maggots to grow. So, if you rinse off the packing, it will not attract flies, and washing the meat juice will make the maggots starve to death.
Moreover, always try to put the rotten meat or fish in small bags and seal them properly before throwing them out.
5. Clean Your Garbage Can Regularly
To get rid of maggots, you must clean your trash can regularly. Cleaning the trash can every 2-3 weeks with dish soap and hot water will prevent the maggots from growing.
6. Use Essential Oils
Essential oils are great ways to get rid of maggots. Peppermint, Clove, Eucalyptus, thyme, and Citrus essential oils work best to prevent flies from your garbage can. They work as a fly repellant. Spray some essential oils around your garbage and kitchen trash can; you can see the magic!
Following these simple methods, you can prevent maggot infestation in your garbage can.
What Kills Maggots Instantly? Try The Best Methods
If your trash is filled with maggots, it is best to kill them instantly before they start major infestation. Below are the ways to kill maggots instantly-
1. Pour Boiling Water
Pouring boiling water all over the garbage can will instantly kill the maggots. Make sure the boiling water hits all the maggots in the trash can. However, ensure your garbage is empty, and no waste residue is there. Or else it will create a huge mess.
2. Use Vinegar
“Does vinegar kill maggots?” is one of the most common questions. Well, killing maggots with vinegar is one of the famous and effective ways. Mix hot water and vinegar in a 2:1 ratio and spray directly to the maggots. Let the vinegar sit for a few hours, then rinse it off. You can also use apple cider vinegar to kill larvae.
3. Salt And Lemon powder Mixture
If you are wondering, “Does salt kill maggots?” the answer is, yes, it does. Mix the lemon powder and salt equally and sprinkle them over the maggots. This solution will dry out the larvae and kill them.
4. Bleach
Using bleach to kill maggots is another effective way. Mix bleach and warm water equally and spray the solution over the maggots. If you are wondering, “How long does it take for bleach to kill maggots?” the answer is 30 minutes. So, let the bleach set for 30 minutes and then rinse it off.
These are the most effective ways to kill maggots instantly. You will get dead maggots after applying any of the above methods.
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FAQs
What Is The Best Repellant For Maggots?
Essential oils and salt are the best repellants for maggots. Strong citric and spicy-flavored essential oils like peppermint, clove, citrus, and thyme work best as maggot repellers. However, salt is more effective in killing them.
Can Maggots Eat Through Plastic Garbage Bags?
The maggots can’t eat through plastic garbage bags. It is impossible for them because of their delicate digestive system. Their digestive system can only accept certain foods like meat/fish juice, rotten food and vegetables, and other easy-to-digest foods. If they intake plastic bags, they will be unable to digest them and eventually die.
Does Maggots Like Sunlight?
Maggots are sensitive to sunlight. They cannot tolerate the wavelengths of the sunlight. Now, a common question is, “Does sunlight kill maggots?” Well, constant exposure to excess sunlight can kill maggots. However, it is not an instant way to kill maggots.
Final Words
That is all about how to prevent maggots in garbage can. Maggots in your garbage can is never good news. If you see maggots in your trash can, you must instantly kill them to prevent maggot infestation. However, it is always best to prevent the maggots from growing in your trash can. Following the methods mentioned in this article will help you prevent maggots from getting in the garbage can.