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Insects are simply part of summer, they are mainly found near people. The reason for this is that there is plenty of food and, above all, large garbage cans. What is disgusting for us humans, flying offers a real firework of pleasure. Our gaze into the bin is all the more horrified when suddenly there are dozens of maggots in it. Now only the best home remedies can help, otherwise the maggots will soon fly.
To fly
The problem with the flies
Many people just think of flies as a nuisance, but they are more than that. In the home, they only disturb you with their buzzing and the constant siege of the groceries. Also, they don't bite or suck blood.
However, their major disadvantage is that they lay their eggs in garbage cans and raise their offspring there as well. This is not just a handful of maggots, but dozens, sometimes hundreds, of small, white fly larvae that feed on the garbage from the bin. It can take several days or even weeks for a maggot to develop into an adult fly. The rubbish bin is the ideal place to live, because maggots find enough food here, can pupate and then become flies. Precautions must be taken to prevent this from happening.
Maggots in the garbage can
Prevent
The most important tips to prevent maggot infestation
Fighting maggots is one thing, preventing infestation is another. If maggots don't appear in the first place, you don't have to worry about getting rid of them. The following tricks and tips will help to prevent an infestation with maggots.
- always close the lid of your rubbish bin thoroughly, specialist shops offer rubber seals for this - this way you prevent flies from being able to lay their eggs in the bin
- position the rubbish bin in a shady spot, because the rubbish does not decompose as quickly here - the lack of sunlight also reduces unpleasant odors
- clean your rubbish bins regularly, the garden hose is ideal for this, you do not need to use harsh cleaning agents, it is sufficient to spray the bin vigorously with water - once the bin has been cleaned, set it upside down to dry
- if you have stubborn flies, you can rinse your garbage can with vinegar, as flies avoid the smell and then do not lay eggs
- always pack your animal waste (fish skin, meat, bones, leftover sausage) thoroughly so that flies have no access in the first place, wrap this waste in newspaper or biodegradable garbage bags - flies cannot penetrate this packaging and so they cannot lay eggs either lay down
- Make sure that your rubbish is not accessible to flies in the apartment - it is advisable to attach fly nets to the windows, as egg laying can take place indoors
- Use every opportunity to put your garbage can out to be emptied, even if it is only half full, you should use the garbage collection service - the longer food leftovers have to remain in the garbage can, the higher the risk of flies laying eggs
- cover the bottom of your garbage can with a layer of cat litter or wood bedding for rodents, this layer not only prevents the formation of odors, but also dries it - it is worthwhile if you occasionally mix cat litter with the residual waste in midsummer
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combat
Fight existing maggots - the seven best home remedies
If it happened and maggots have spread in your garbage can, you don't have to reach for the chemical club right away. There are good home remedies you can use to get the infestation under control again. Most of these remedies are aimed at drying out the larvae. The advantage over chemicals is of course the lack of toxicity on the one hand, but also the easier procurement on the other hand, since the materials can be bought in the supermarket or hardware store. The following home remedies have proven themselves in the fight against maggots.
- lime and quicklime
- salt and pepper
- rock flour
- vinegar essence
- natural predators
- fly traps
quicklime
Quicklime is calcium oxide, which is mainly used on construction sites or as a fertilizer. The aggressive lime is a good and safe method for fighting maggots, as it has a corrosive effect when it comes into contact with moisture. The maggots burn within a few hours, and even a large infestation can be reliably eliminated with this.
Please note the following when using:
- the cost of quicklime is around 10 euros per 10 kilograms
- you need protective clothing including respiratory protection for the application
- always use only a little quicklime, even the smallest amounts are helpful
- only ever use burnt lime in an open environment
- Metal garbage cans must not be treated with quicklime
Since the maggot larvae consist of around 90 percent water, the caustic effect occurs immediately after contact with quicklime. The animals are immediately burned and disappear.
salt and pepper
Also salt dries out maggots, the same effect is also known when fighting snails. To use salt against maggots, all you need is a salt shaker or a packet of household salt. You sprinkle this in the garbage can and just wait until the maggots have been decomposed.
pepper has a similar effect, but must be boiled before use. To do this, boil a liter of water and add a tablespoon of pepper. After the mixture has cooled, it can be placed in a spray bottle and applied.
salt and pepper
rock flour
In addition to quicklime, you can also buy rock flour in the hardware store, which also works against maggots. The meal was originally intended to fertilize the soil, but it is deadly to maggots. The substance draws the moisture out of the body from the pests and they die. Compared to quicklime, rock dust takes longer to work, but you don't need protective clothing and you can't hurt yourself.
vinegar essence
Vinegar and flies don't go well together. Adult flies flee when they smell the vinegar. Vinegar essence is helpful for fighting maggots. Three tablespoons of the essence mixed with one liter of water are enough to effectively fight the maggots. The liquid is simply sprayed onto the insects with a spray bottle and the lid is closed. The acid kills the maggots within 24 hours.
Use vinegar to clean
Natural predators
Depending on where you live, you can rely on natural predators. There are many birds that are only too happy to feed on maggots. It is definitely worth trying to offer the birds a feast at the open dustbin. If you live in the countryside, there is a good chance that the birds will feast on the maggots. However, never leave the garbage can open over midday, as birds usually eat in the morning and the midday sun could increase the build-up of odors in the garbage can.
Make fly traps
If you haven't managed to get rid of the maggots or you still suffer from adult flies, there is an option to create a flytrap. For this you need a container, which you fill with juice, vinegar and water in a ratio of 2:1:3. Now add a few drops of dish soap. The flies pounce on the fruit juice, not smelling the vinegar and drown on the dish soap. A sugar water solution is also suitable, flies stick to it.
Attract fruit flies with vinegar and fruit juice