Distilled white vinegar, available for as little as 35p a bottle, can help keep flies and maggots out of household bins, according to pest control experts. The kitchen staple works by disrupting a fly's ability to find food, making treated areas less appealing.
Why flies and maggots are more common this summer
Flies are most active in Britain between May and September, as temperatures climb. This summer, record-breaking temperatures, back-to-back heatwaves, and an official drought declared across two-thirds of England and the whole of Wales have made the problem more widespread.
Leftover sugars, fruit and meat in bins decompose faster in hot weather, providing an ideal feeding ground for female flies to lay eggs. Each female housefly can lay up to 500 eggs in her lifetime, so the situation can quickly escalate.
How to apply vinegar to bins
James Copley, chief executive officer at Copley Pest Solutions, told Good Housekeeping: "Distilled white vinegar has a strong smell that disrupts a fly's ability to find food, so using it to clean residue left behind by food will make the area less appealing to flies."
A 568ml bottle of white distilled vinegar costs as little as 35p at Tesco. To apply it, spritz a solution of equal parts vinegar and water around the rim and lid of the bin, then wipe down the treated surfaces with a microfibre cloth.
Copley warned that not all vinegars work: "It's important for homeowners to know that some vinegars actually have the opposite effect. Sweet and fermented smells attract flies and a lot of other pests, so if you use apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar, you'll find yourself with more flies."
Alternative method and extra tips
Food Recycling expert Mill suggested combining one part white vinegar with three parts hot water, pouring it into the bin, and letting it sit for 30 minutes with the lid closed. After disposing of the liquid, rinse the bin and spray it again with the solution to disinfect.
Water needs a minimum temperature of 140°F to kill maggots, and adding vinegar helps deodorise the bin and deter their return. The vinegar's strong odour overwhelms other smells, and it eliminates maggots on contact through dehydration.
Copley recommended giving the entire bin a thorough deep clean with vinegar, scrubbing both the exterior and interior, and paying attention to the lid and underside. Spillages and food residue should be dealt with immediately, and the solution should be reapplied regularly.
Good Housekeeping advises spraying the vinegar solution every couple of days, or daily during hot weather, and more often on rainy days for outdoor bins. Regularly emptying rubbish bins throughout the summer can further reduce the likelihood of attracting flies and maggots.
