A cleaning expert has shared a simple 80p household item that can banish maggots and flies from bins this summer. As temperatures soar, flies are attracted to rotting food in bins, where they lay eggs that hatch into maggots.
Salt stops breeding
In a video on Instagram, cleaning guru Claire advised sprinkling a good amount of regular table salt over tied-up rubbish bags placed in an outdoor bin. She said: "If you've got food caddies like this, make sure you sprinkle loads of salt in it so that the flies just can't breed."
In her caption, she added: "Stop flies and maggots taking over your outdoor food waste caddy this summer!" She noted that even locking lids do not fully prevent flies from laying eggs.
How salt works
Claire explained that salt kills maggots and dries out fly eggs, while also absorbing bin juice and foul odours that attract flies. She stressed that she only uses this method in council food waste caddies where waste is collected for biofuel, not for composting, as salt can compromise compost quality.
Commenters praised the tip. One said: "I tried it and it's amazing! I can't believe it. Thank you." Another added: "Thank you. Brilliant."
Other natural deterrents
Natural fragrances such as basil, mint, lavender, and marigold can repel flies. Coffee grounds roasted in the oven for 15 minutes also release an aroma that deters flies. Keeping kitchens clean and covering food helps too.
