Flies and maggots can quickly overrun outdoor bins, drawn by the smell of rotting food, warm weather that speeds up decay, and open or loose lids that let insects lay eggs inside. A simple two-ingredient method using natural household items can help keep them away without harsh chemicals.
Cleaning fan and TikTok creator Lily, known as Clean with Lily, shared her deterrent in a video from September. She said: “I’m sure I’m not the only one which doesn’t appreciate maggots in my bins? So after finding them in mine the other day, this is what I’m gonna do to keep them away.”
How to prevent flies and maggots invading bins
According to Lily, only two natural ingredients are needed: peppermint essential oil and baking soda. Start by dropping a generous amount of peppermint oil onto some kitchen roll or cotton wool balls, then place the kitchen roll inside the bin. Follow by sprinkling a liberal amount of baking soda on top, making sure the bottom of the bin is coated. Lily said: “This will also get rid of any smells as well.”
How to deter flies and maggots naturally
Maggots and flies are very sensitive to the smell and chemical makeup of essential oils, which also include lavender and bay leaf. Peppermint oil contains high levels of menthol and menthone, and this intense aroma overwhelms the sensitive olfactory receptors on a fly's body.
According to essential oil and candle brand Wizard & Grace, peppermint essential oil is one of the most effective fly and maggot repellents. It described the oil’s menthol content as being “deeply unpleasant” to flies, and said research has shown it can provide significant protection against flies and mosquitoes for up to several hours. Wizard & Grace wrote: “The scent is strong enough to overpower the odours that attract flies to a space in the first place. It's particularly effective indoors near windows, bins, and food preparation areas, and outdoors when diffused or applied to a candle.”
Peppermint oil can also be used to deter ants, moths, mosquitoes, spiders, cockroaches, aphids, and wasps. To keep the critters at bay, the kitchen roll or cotton wool balls should be replaced at least once a week. Not only will peppermint oil repel the insects, but it can also help mask the smell of rotting food and rubbish, which would usually attract flies. Without these food sources, flies won’t be able to eat or lay their eggs.
Another natural deterrent
Adding baking soda to the bin helps to neutralise odours and alter the environment that attracts flies and maggots. Flies are strongly attracted to the organic compounds and acidic odours of rotting food, bin residue, and organic waste. As baking soda is alkaline, it neutralises the foul-smelling odours at the source, cutting off the sensory cues that draw flies in to lay eggs.
