If you’ve found your way here, chances are you’ve got a maggot problem. Sure, it’s unpleasant, but the good news is it’s solvable and also very common. Maggots, unfortunately, are part of life. 

Maggots are fly larvae, meaning they’re actually flies in the second stage of their life cycle— right after eggs and just a bit before becoming a full-fledged fly. Generally, flies look for decomposing organic material like food waste and feces to lay their eggs on, which is why trash cans and compost bins are ideal environments for them. 

Of course, they don’t just show up overnight — although sometimes it seems that way. For maggots to thrive, flies have to arrive and lay eggs. Then, the eggs have to hatch, revealing a crop of maggots. All in all, it takes a few days for the process to take place. To avoid it, it’s best not to let food waste turn your trash can into a hatching ground. Still, maggots happen. And when they do, we’ve got six non-toxic ways to handle them.

6 natural ways to get rid of maggots in your trash can

There are plenty of ways to get rid of maggots in your outdoor garbage receptacle, and you can choose the method that works best for your specific needs. But before you try any of these methods, empty your trash can to the best of your ability. That might mean waiting for your weekly trash pick up or emptying it into trash bags and making a trip to the dump yourself. These methods can also be suitable for indoor trash cans, but the same rules apply. 

1. Boiling water

Boiling water kills maggots instantaneously. To kill maggots via this method, you need to boil water and then carefully pour it on top of the maggots, making sure each maggot is hit with the piping hot liquid. After the water cools, clean the infested area and dispose of the dead maggots in a sealed plastic bag. Disinfect the trash can with a sanitizer of your choice, and then you can go back to your pre-maggot life. 

2. Vinegar and hot water

Water doesn’t have to be boiling (212°F) to kill maggots — it just needs to have a minimum temperature of 140°F. If you’d rather not pour boiling water in your trash can, you can still get the desired effect with less risk of burning yourself. Adding vinegar to the mix has the added benefit of deodorizing your trash, making it less likely for the maggots to return. 

For this method, combine one part white vinegar with three parts hot water, pour the mixture into your trash can, and let it sit for 30 minutes with the lid closed. Once the maggots are dead, dispose of the liquid, rinse the trash can, then spray or rinse it again with the water and vinegar solution to disinfect and freshen. 

3. Freeze 

If you’re a little squeamish and don’t feel like killing maggots directly, some entomologists assert that freezing them is a more humane alternative, as insects enter a deep sleep when they’re too cold. However, this method does require you to: (1) Put maggots in your freezer and (2) Have a freezer large enough to accommodate your trash bin. To proceed, place your trash receptacle in your freezer for a couple of hours making sure it’s completely covered so nothing can squirm out, and then rinse it out and dispose of the dead frozen maggots. 

Alternatively, if you live in a place where it gets very cold and you find yourself with maggots during the winter, this might just be the simplest option of all. All you need to do is place your entire trash can outside and let Mother Nature do the rest. 

4. Salt

Similar to snails, maggots don’t like salt — at all. To kill maggots with salt, simply cover the maggots and the entire infested area with a generous layer of table salt and then let it sit in direct sunlight for an hour or so. The combination of heat and salt will dehydrate and kill the maggots. Afterward, rinse off the area and dispose of the maggots in a sealed plastic bag. 

5. Diatomaceous earth

Diatomaceous earth is a naturally-occurring substance with a texture like talcum powder. It’s made from the crushed-up fossilized remains of diatoms (aka hard-shelled algae). Diatomaceous earth has many uses but is particularly good at killing maggots because the fine dust cuts through the maggots' outer layer and, much like salt, dries them out. It can be found at most hardware stores.

To use diatomaceous earth, make sure the area where the maggots are is as dry as possible, and then cover the maggots and surrounding area with an even layer of the powder. After several hours, sweep up the dead maggots and diatomaceous earth and dispose of them in a sealed plastic bag, then clean your bin with a vinegar and water solution or disinfecting cleaner. 

6. Lime (the powder)

Lime, not the fruit but the powder,  also known as calcium hydroxide, can be mixed with salt to get rid of maggots by drying them out. Sure, it may sound like you’re a shot of tequila away from making a maggot margarita, but mixing lime and salt in equal parts is actually a powerful maggot killer. Just sprinkle the mixture evenly over the maggots, wait a couple of hours, and boom — dehydrated and dead maggots. Lime can be found at most hardware stores.

What about using bleach or insecticides to get rid of maggots?

All of the above methods are natural and environmentally friendly methods for treating a maggot infestation. Of course, there are other avenues you can take, like using bleach, bug sprays, or insecticides. However, these methods have the potential to harm other plants and animals that may come into contact with them. 

For that reason, we recommend opting for a nontoxic option. That way, you can ensure the only thing you’re getting rid of is the maggots. 

How to prevent maggots in your trash can

Of course, the best way to deal with maggots is to not have to deal with them in the first place. With just a bit of preparation, you can set yourself up for success and prevent maggots from showing up at all. 

Preventing maggots in your indoor trash can

• Separate food scraps and recycle them. Because maggots are typically found in decomposing organic matter, keeping food scraps out of your trash can is a great way to prevent the insects. Instead of tossing them into the garbage — which goes to a landfill — divert your uneaten food to a better use. The Mill food recycler dries and grinds all of your food scraps into odorless dry grounds that won’t attract pests like maggots. 

• Take out your trash regularly. This might seem obvious, but it can be easier said than done. This tip is especially helpful after dinner parties or big meal prep days; if there are times you know your indoor trash can has lots of food waste in it, get it out ASAP. 

• Make sure your trash can seals. Whether your can is overfilled or just old, an open trash can is an open invitation for flies to lay their eggs. 

• Rinse food containers before tossing them. Rinsing take-out containers and jars of jelly will keep flies and maggots out of your garbage and recycling by stopping maggots before they have a chance to hatch. 

• Keep your trash can clean. Even the most careful among us end up with trash juice every once in a while. Cleaning your trash can every now and then will keep it smelling fresh, which helps avoid attracting flies looking for a place to lay their eggs. Use an eco-friendly spray or homemade sanitizing solution and wipe out your can every few weeks to keep it in tip-top shape.

Preventing maggots in your outdoor trash can

All the indoor tips still apply to your outdoor garbage bin, but once things move outside there are a few additional steps you can take, too. 

• Make sure trash bags are sealed. If your bags don’t come with a drawstring, double or triple-knot them. By preventing flies from getting into the bags, you can prevent them from laying eggs there. 

• Keep outdoor trash cans out of the heat. Heat increases decomposition, which increases the rotting garbage smell that flies love so much. To the best of your ability, keep trash cans out of direct sunlight and in cool, shaded spots. This is an important step in preventing maggots from having a place to grow. 

A surefire way to prevent maggots is to keep food scraps out of your garbage entirely. Toss whatever uneaten food you have directly into a Mill food recycler. Mill will recycle your food scraps and turn them into dry grounds that can be used in your garden. Plus, the charcoal filtration system blocks all those odors that maggots find so irresistible.

Sources:

1. CPBC Imaging: “Euthanizing Insects.” August 6, 2012. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Wr6E44nBlU&t=145s

2. Native Pest Management: “Does Diatomaceous Earth Work for Pest Control?” December 24, 2023. https://www.nativepestmanagement.com/blog/2023/december/does-diatomaceous-earth-work-for-pest-control/