Flies and maggots can be kept out of wheelie bins by sprinkling two common kitchen spices near the rim, according to a home DIY expert. The trick uses cayenne pepper and cinnamon, both of which are likely already in your cupboard, and avoids the need for expensive or chemical products.
In hot weather, leftover food and bin bags break down faster, smells intensify, and lids get lifted more often, which attracts flies. Once drawn in by the odour, flies can quickly lay eggs, leading to a maggot problem when the lid is next opened.
How the spice trick works
Home DIY expert Ken Long shared the tip on TikTok. He said: "Keep flies and maggots out of your garbage can. Sprinkle some cayenne pepper and cinnamon at the bottom of your garbage can."
Explaining how it works, Ken continued: "The capsaicin [chilli pepper extract] and cayenne pepper irritate the fly's senses, and they hate the smell of cinnamon. This will keep flies away from your garbage and keep them from laying eggs, so you don't have to deal with maggots."
Precautions and extra tips
Care should be taken when using cayenne pepper, particularly indoors or outdoors, as its strong scent can cause sneezing or eye irritation in some people. When adding it to the bin, avoid creating dust clouds that might affect bin collectors. It may be worth placing the spice in the wheelie bin liner and tying it securely on collection day to prevent mess or spillage.
Other tips to keep flies and maggots out of bins include keeping the lid fully shut and not overfilling, as flies can enter if the lid is slightly ajar. Checking for gaps or cracks around the rim and replacing a poorly sealing lid or bin can also help. Reducing smells by double-bagging food waste, tying bags tightly, and sealing smelly waste in a small bag or container first is recommended.
Keeping the bin dry is important, as maggots love warmth and moisture. Lining the bottom with absorbent material such as old newspaper, cardboard, kitchen roll, cat litter, or bicarbonate of soda can help, as can draining wet food before binning and storing the bin in shade in hot weather. Freezing food scraps, especially meat and fish, until bin day and using a sealed kitchen caddy that is emptied frequently can break the fly cycle. Cleaning the bin little and often, rather than only when it is too far gone, is also advised: after emptying, rinse and scrub the base and sides with hot water and washing-up liquid or a mild bleach solution, then let it dry fully before adding a new liner.
