Wheelie bins attract flies because of the food waste inside, and once flies arrive they can lay eggs that turn into maggots in as little as 24 hours. A commercial cleaning expert behind the Instagram account @thecleangroup has shared a two-step method that, they claim, will “keep those maggots from feasting on your bin juice for good.”
Boiling water kills maggots instantly
The first step is to get rid of any maggots already in the bin. The advice is to boil a kettle and pour the hot water into the bin. According to the cleaning professionals, “boiling water kills maggots instantly.”
After the hot water treatment, the maggots can be disposed of and the bin can be scrubbed gently with washing-up liquid if desired. Alternatively, “a quick blast with the garden hose will do,” the cleaner advises.
Salt stops eggs and larvae from hatching
To keep flies away, the expert recommends sprinkling a generous amount of table salt inside the bin each time it is emptied, because “flies hate salt.”
The expert explained: “It [salt] stops any stray eggs or larvae from hatching, soaks up your bin juice and will kill any flies who eat it.” Household rubbish often contains liquids from food waste that leak through bin bags and pool at the bottom, creating foul smells that attract flies.
Newspaper absorbs drips
Alongside the salt method, the cleaning expert also suggests lining the base of the bin with newspaper, as it “absorbs drips.” The newspaper soaks up excess liquid and helps create a drier environment, reducing the likelihood of pests or bacteria establishing themselves.
Several sheets can be spread flat across the base or scrunched into a bundle and placed inside. The newspaper should be changed once a month to keep the bin smelling fresher for longer.
