Salt can keep wheelie bins free of flies, maggots and bad smells, according to cleaning tips shared on social media. The simple kitchen ingredient is being recommended as a budget-friendly and non-toxic way to tackle pests during warm weather.
Why bins attract flies and maggots
Bins can quickly become unpleasant in summer, as rising temperatures and leftover food turn them into a breeding ground for bacteria and pests. With the UK experiencing many heatwaves this year, household waste has been decomposing more quickly, producing stronger, sour odours.
Those smells attract flies, which lay eggs inside bins and can lead to a maggot infestation. Teresa, who shares home hacks on her Instagram page @withlove_tere, has posted a one-ingredient solution.
The salt method
Teresa described the hack as one of her “favourite low-effort cleaning hacks” and said salt helps “keep flies, maggots, and nasty smells far away” from wheelie bins. She said, “You sprinkle salt on the bottom of your trash can to help keep flies and maggots away and wonder why you didn’t do it sooner.”
She added that the hack is “budget-friendly, non-toxic, and actually works”. Teresa explained that salt absorbs moisture, which “slows down the breakdown of food and makes your trash way less appealing to bugs”.
Expert advice and how to apply
Cleaning experts who run the Instagram page @thecleangroup also support using salt in wheelie bins. They said, “Sprinkle a handful of table salt after every empty. Flies hate salt. It stops any stary eggs or larvae from hatching, soaks up your bin juice and will kill any flies who eat it.”
Like slugs and snails, flies and maggots are not fond of salt. To eliminate them, sprinkle table salt generously over the maggots and the affected area, then leave it in direct sunlight for about an hour. The heat combined with the salt will dehydrate and kill the flies and maggots.
Afterwards, rinse the area and dispose of the maggots in a sealed plastic bag. Once the pests are gone, clean the bin thoroughly before adding more waste, and sprinkle salt at the bottom again.
It is important to wash and refresh the salt layer regularly, especially during warmer weather. Baking soda can also be used to minimise odours and prevent flies, as it absorbs smells and moisture similar to salt.
