Putting the bins out is one of those household jobs that never gets any easier — no matter how many times you do it. It’s inconvenient, it’s grim, and it always seems to land on the worst possible moment: when it’s raining, when you’re rushing, or when the bin is already overflowing.
If you’ve ever lifted the lid to find flies swarming — or, worse, spotted maggots in the bottom — it turns a basic chore into something people genuinely dread. But thankfully, there's a way to stop this issue from recurring.
Natural remedy from the kitchen cupboard
One method uses two everyday kitchen cupboard ingredients, removing the need to buy expensive and potentially toxic chemical products. Home DIY specialist Ken Long revealed the ingenious tip on TikTok.
He advised: "Keep flies and maggots out of your garbage can. Sprinkle some cayenne pepper and cinnamon at the bottom of your garbage can."
Explaining the science behind it, Ken added: "The capsaicin [chili pepper extract] and cayenne pepper irritates 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."
Why the spices work
As Ken says, the combination of spices works wonders for keeping pests away. Cinnamon contains strong aromatic oils that can mask odours from food waste, reducing how attractive the bin is to flies.
Meanwhile, cayenne (chilli) pepper contains capsaicin and has an irritant effect that can make areas less attractive to insects.
How to deter flies and maggots with spices
Sprinkle a light layer of cinnamon (and/or cayenne) in the bottom of the bin liner or directly on the bin base (when empty). Dust around the rim and lid edge (where flies tend to gather) after cleaning and drying the bin. And be sure to reapply after rain/bin cleaning or whenever smells return.
Be mindful that the spices won’t kill maggots or solve an existing infestation on their own – they're more of a deterrent. You should also be careful when using cayenne, which can irritate eyes/skin and isn’t ideal if you have pets that might go sniffing around the bin area.
If the bin is wet or leaky, powders can clump and get messy. For that reason, the life hack works best on a clean, dry bin.
