How to Eliminate Maggots in the Garbage

Maggots feed on food left in garbage cans.

Maggots are fly larvae. Pale brown and less than an inch long, maggots infest places where they can feed. Garbage cans make ideal breeding grounds for maggots. If garbage bags are not sealed properly or if food is dumped directly into a garbage can, maggots can find it. Take precautions to deter maggots by making your garbage can unappealing. If your garbage can is infested with maggots, using the proper products and procedures will eliminate them.

Things You'll Need

• Garbage bags
• Large pot
• Water
• Table salt
• Chlorine bleach
• 1½ cups hydrogen peroxide
• Broom
• Dust pan
• Hot pads
• Rags
• Hairspray

Instructions

1. Remove all trash from the garbage can. If there are garbage bags inside of the can where the maggots are, put the bags inside of a new garbage bag and seal it tightly. Remove any loose food or debris from the garbage can so you can clearly see the maggots.

2. Fill a large pot with 1 gallon of water. Place the pot on the stove and bring the water to a boil. Add a couple pinches of table salt to the water while it is on the stove.

3. Add 1 cup chlorine bleach and 1½ cups hydrogen peroxide to the water. Carefully carry the pot outside to the garbage can.

4. Tip the garbage can on its side. Use a broom and dust pan to sweep out the maggots. Transfer the maggots from the dust pan to an old bucket.

5. Pour the boiling water carefully into the bucket of maggots. Use hot pads to hold the pot and use extreme caution so that the boiling water does not splatter onto your skin.

6. Leave the maggots in the bucket of water for several minutes. They will die relatively quickly. Dump the bucket down a nearby sewer.

7. Clean out your garbage can with 4 parts warm water and 1 part chlorine bleach. Use old rags to thoroughly scrub down the trash can, inside and out, to remove any traces of food. The bleach will also kill maggots that may have been left behind.

8. Use hairspray as an alternative method for eliminating maggots. Douse the maggots with hairspray while they are still inside of the garbage can. When their bodies straighten out, they are dead. Sweep the maggots from the garbage can and place them in a plastic bag. Seal the bag tightly before discarding.

Tips & Warnings

• Clean your garbage can frequently with a bleach and water solution to deter maggots.

• Seal garbage bags tightly before throwing them into the garbage can.

• Wear rubber gloves when cleaning maggots from the garbage can. This will protect your skin from the cleaning agents as well as from coming into direct contact with the maggots.

References

• City of Hamilton Public Works: Maggot Control
• Pest Control RX: How to Get Rid of Maggots Fast
• Maggots: How to Kill Maggots

Resources

• Knowledge Galaxy: How to Kill Maggots