With temperatures expected to climb once again this week, flies and maggots may invade your bins, but two common kitchen spices can help prevent them. Cinnamon and cayenne pepper, when sprinkled in your garbage can, can deter flies and stop them from laying eggs, according to a home DIY specialist.
How the Spices Work
Ken Long, a home DIY specialist, said on TikTok: "Sprinkle some cayenne pepper and cinnamon at the bottom of your garbage can. The capsaicin and cayenne pepper irritates the fly's senses and they hate to smell the cinnamon."
"This'll keep flies away from your garbage and keep them from laying eggs so you don't have to deal with maggots."
The potent chemical compounds in these spices overwhelm flies' senses, preventing them from landing, feeding, or depositing eggs that develop into maggots. Cayenne contains capsaicin, which triggers chemical danger sensors on a fly's feet, antennae, and mouthparts. Cinnamon contains cinnamaldehyde and natural oils that disguise the smells of decomposing food that attract flies.
Additional Tips for Bin Care
When using cayenne pepper, handle it with care, as its sharp aroma can be irritating. To avoid creating dust that could irritate refuse collectors' eyes, scatter the spice inside your wheelie bin liner and secure it with a fastening tie on collection days.
Other methods to keep flies away include cleaning bins frequently with hot, soapy water or a diluted bleach solution, using bin liners to contain rubbish, closing lids tightly, reducing moisture by draining liquids and wrapping wet waste, and emptying bins regularly, especially in warm weather.
