How to Get Rid of Maggots in Your Trash Can

Opening your trash can and finding maggots is one of the worst surprises a homeowner can get. In South Florida's heat, it happens more often than most people expect. The good news is that maggots are easy to get rid of, and even easier to prevent once you know what attracts them.

Why There Are Maggots in Your Trash Can

Maggots are fly larvae. Flies are drawn to the smell of rotting food, especially meat, fish, and anything wet. When they find an open bag or residue inside a bin, they lay eggs, and in warm weather those eggs can hatch quickly. A trash can with sludge in the bottom is an ideal place for that to happen.

How to Get Rid of Maggots: Step by Step

1. Wait Until the Bin Is Empty

Do this right after trash pickup so you are not handling bags of waste. Wear gloves and old clothes.

2. Kill the Maggots

Pour boiling water into the bin. It kills maggots and eggs on contact and loosens stuck-on residue. Be careful when handling hot water, and check that your bin's plastic can tolerate it.

3. Scrub and Rinse

Use a long-handled brush and a mix of dish soap and water to scrub the walls, bottom, and the underside of the lid. Rinse thoroughly. Avoid letting the dirty water run into the street or storm drain where possible.

4. Disinfect

Apply a household disinfectant according to the label directions, or use a diluted bleach solution. Never mix bleach with other cleaners.

5. Dry It Out

Leave the bin upside down in the sun with the lid open until it is completely dry. Moisture is what keeps residue sticky and attractive to flies.

How to Keep Maggots From Coming Back

• Bag all food waste and tie bags tightly.
• Double-bag meat, poultry, and seafood, or keep them in the freezer until trash day.
• Keep the lid fully closed and replace a cracked or warped lid.
• Rinse spills right away instead of letting them sit.
• Clean the bin regularly, about once a month in South Florida.
• Keep the bin in the shade if you can.

Let Someone Else Handle It

If you would rather never deal with maggots again, a professional bin cleaning service is the simplest fix. Bin There Clean That cleans, sanitizes, and deodorizes trash bins right at the curb, the same day they are emptied, so the mess never sits in your driveway. Schedule a cleaning today.