Maggots can be killed instantly with boiling water and kept away with a 65p kitchen staple, according to cleaning experts on social media. The method, shared by The Clean Group on TikTok, uses two everyday household items to banish maggots from bins and stop them coming back.
How to kill maggots instantly
The experts recommend pouring boiling water from your kettle directly into your bin if maggots are already present. The intense heat delivers an "instant knockout" without needing to touch the pests. This simple step eliminates the current infestation quickly.
Once the maggots are gone, a light dusting of salt at the base of the bin discourages flies from laying eggs. The dryness created by the salt deters flies, preventing new eggs and therefore new maggots. The video explained: "Salt to keep flies away. No flies, no eggs, equals no new maggots."
Why salt works and additional tips
Most households already have table salt, which is widely available in supermarkets for around 65p, making it an inexpensive solution. The cleaning experts also shared extra advice to strengthen defences against maggots and flies.
They recommend double-bagging rubbish to stop "bin juice" collecting at the bottom of the wheelie bin, and cleaning it regularly with soapy water and disinfectant. Scattering bicarbonate of soda into the bin base tackles odours and moisture, while lining the bottom with newspaper makes future clean-ups easier.
What people are saying
Commenters on the video thanked the experts for their advice, with some reassuring others that finding maggots in a bin is "normal" and not a sign of poor hygiene. One person said: "Baking soda, salt, peppermint and lavender, thank me later." Another added: "It's very normal to get maggots in your bin, it just means a fly got trapped in your bin and laid its eggs, or your bin was open for it to lay eggs." A third wrote: "I needed to see this today!"
