When it comes to pests and vermin, trash cans are among the most common places that they like to call home. Maybe it’s something about the smell of rotting food, or perhaps it’s just general creepiness that makes these areas so appealing to nasty critters. Regardless, if you have maggots in your trash can, it’s time for extermination. These small yellow-green fly larvae are disgusting and unsafe for humans and pets alike. Keep reading to learn more about how to get rid of maggots in your trash can once and for all.
How To Get Rid Of Maggots In Trash Can?
Bleach
If you have ever had maggots in your trash can, you know the smell is among the worst you will ever experience. Fortunately, you can use bleach to kill the maggots and the odor they create at the same time. All you have to do is pour a small amount of bleach into the bottom of your trash can. Be careful not to overfill the container, as the bleach will evaporate too quickly. The bleach will kill the maggots, and the smell will be neutralized by the bleach, as well. Once you have killed all of the maggots in your can, you’ll need to thoroughly clean the inside of the can. The bleach in the can will kill any remaining maggots that happen to be inside. Simply run the can through a sanitizing cycle with your dishwasher to get the job done.
Dried Out Coffee Grounds
Coffee grounds can be used in so many different ways around the house, and one of those is keeping maggots out of your trash can. You probably don’t want to drink coffee that has been sitting in your trash can, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t useful. Simply pour a few handfuls of coffee grounds into the bottom of your bin. Maggots don’t like to stay in an environment that is too dry; they prefer an environment that is wet and moist. A thin layer of coffee grounds will dry out the bottom of your trash can, essentially killing the maggots and keeping new ones from appearing. In order to retain the effectiveness of this method, make sure to replace the coffee grounds every few weeks.
Dry Rice
As with the coffee grounds, maggots prefer a more moist environment to live in. With the help of a small amount of dry rice, you can create an environment that is too dry for those pesky insects to survive in. Simply pour a small amount of dry rice into the bottom of your trash can. The rice will create a barrier that will trap moisture and prevent it from reaching the bottom of your can. Again, make sure to replace the rice every few weeks so that it stays effective
Baking Soda and Cornflour Mixture
A mixture of baking soda and cornflour is another effective way to kill maggots and other insects that might try to infest your trash can. You can create this concoction at home by mixing the two ingredients together. Once they have been thoroughly combined, pour the mixture into the bottom of your trash can. Since insects like maggots thrive in moist, humid environments, the baking soda and cornflour mixture will dry out the bottom of your can. Maggots don’t like that dry environment and will eventually die. Again, make sure to replace the mixture every few weeks to maintain its effectiveness.
Pro-Quality Deodorizer
A pro-quality deodorizer spray is one of the easiest ways to kill maggots and their accompanying foul odor at the same time. Simply spray the deodorizer directly into the bottom of your trash can. Make sure to coat the entire bottom of the can, as well as the inside walls. You can use a deodorizer spray to kill maggots that are already inside your can, and it will also prevent future infestations. Allow the spray to dry before putting your trash can back into service.
Where do maggots live?
- Traditionally, maggots can be found in places like outside trash cans, compost piles, and even animal carcasses.
- The maggots love the warmth and nutrition of rotting food, so they tend to gravitate toward the places that have a lot of it.
- It’s important to keep your trash can clean and sealed off from other areas of your home to avoid these pests from nesting inside.
Natural Ways To Get Rid Of Maggots In Your Trash Can
- There are a few ways to get rid of maggots in your trash can, some more effective than others.
- A vacuum cleaner will suck up most of the maggots and larvae, but it’s not going to kill them.
- In fact, a vacuum cleaner might actually make it easier for them to spread, since you don’t know where they’ll end up.
- Bleach is an effective way to kill maggots, but it will likely damage the inside of your trash can and may not be worth the effort.
Why Are There Maggots In My Trash Can?
Your trash can is too small.
Your trash can should have a volume of about three times the volume of your household’s daily total trash. This is the best way to keep your trash from becoming a breeding ground for maggots. You should also make sure your trash bag is free from holes, tears, or any other defects that could lead to a maggot infestation. When your trash is in a small can, it is much easier for flies to find it. Then, these flies lay their eggs on the food in your trash can. The maggots feed off of that food, grow, and then fall into your trash can.
You leave your trash out for too long.
One of the biggest mistakes people make is leaving their trash out too long. Ideally, you should keep your trash out of the house until you are ready to put it in your trash can. Sadly, this is not always possible. If your trash collector isn’t ready when you are, you may have to leave the trash out. Even if you can’t get to the trash when you want to, you should make sure it only stays out for a couple of days at most. After that, it could become an easy meal for flies and their maggot offspring. If you have to leave your trash out for longer than a couple of days, you should cover it up. This will keep the flies from laying their eggs in it.
You have too much food in your trash.
Maggots thrive on food and moist environments. If you have too much food in your trash, it makes it very easy for maggots to survive. If there are too many banana peels, wilted lettuce leaves, or other foods that contain a lot of moisture, the maggots will thrive. Simply removing the food that is likely to attract maggots will help keep them out of your trash.
Tips For Keeping Maggots Out Of Your Trash Can
- Keeping your trash can clean and sealed off from other areas of your home is important for many reasons, not just the fact that it keeps out pests.
- Cleaning out your trash can regularly will not only help keep your home smelling nice, but it can also help prolong the life span of the trash can itself.
- It’s also important to make sure the trash can itself is sealed properly.
- If your garbage can has an odor, let the bag sit out in the sun for a few hours to allow the air to deodorize it.
How To Prevent Maggots In The Future?
- Keeping your trash can clean and sealed off from other areas of your home is important for many reasons, not just the fact that it keeps out pests.
- Cleaning out your trash can regularly will not only help keep your home smelling nice, but it can also help prolong the life span of the trash can itself.
- If you do experience a maggot infestation in the future, it’s important to clean out your trash can as soon as possible.
Conclusion
There are few odors worse than that of maggots in your trash can. Thankfully, there are a few easy ways to get rid of the pests and their accompanying stench. The best way to kill maggots in your trash can is to create an environment that is too dry for them to thrive. Simply pour a small amount of dry rice, coffee grounds, or a baking soda and cornflour mixture into the bottom of your can. Once you have done this, you can simply spray a pro-quality deodorizer on the inside of the can to kill any maggots that are currently living inside.
