Get Rid of a Maggot Infestation

Maggots are small white insects that look similar to inchworms but are actually fly larvae. Maggot infestations occur when a fly gets into a certain area and lays eggs. Because the smell of rotting food, particularly rotting meat, attracts flies, maggot infestations often occur in trash cans and around the kitchen. Try the methods below to get rid of a nasty maggot infestation for good.

Steps

Using Boiling Water

  1. Fill a large cooking pot with water and turn on the stove to boil the water.
  2. Put on rubber gloves or wrap a garbage bag around each arm to manually remove all garbage from the garbage can, placing any leftover debris at the bottom of the can into new bags.
    • You may also want to clean out your garbage disposal if you suspect that you may have maggots living in there as well. Pour boiling hot water and vinegar down the sink after you clean out the garbage disposal tank.
    • Dispose of the garbage in your outdoor garbage can or a nearby dumpster.
  3. Place your garbage can outside and hose it down, being sure to thoroughly rinse each side. Force all visible maggots to the bottom of the garbage can.
  4. Retrieve your pot of boiling water and add in about half as much vinegar as there is boiling water. Pour the solution into and around the sides of the garbage can. Make sure to hit every inch of the garbage can with boiling water in order to prevent any maggots from escaping.
    • Vinegar, mint oil, eucalyptus, and bay leaves may all be effective natural solutions for repelling flies. Try using different combinations of these repellants to see which solutions work the best in your home.[1]
  5. Dispose of the water responsibly.
    • Do not pour into a storm drain as they usually flow directly into local lakes, streams or other clean water sources.
  6. Repeat steps 3 through 5 to ensure that no maggots were left unscathed by the boiling water.
  7. Dry your garbage can thoroughly using rag towels and return it to your kitchen. Be sure to repeat this process every week or two in order to keep the maggots from returning.

Using an Insecticide

  1. Purchase an insecticide that contains permethrin, cypermethrin, or a carbamate. A safe and non-toxic (to humans and dogs) product that can be used to get rid of maggots is pet shampoo containing one of these insecticides. Make sure to read the ingredient label to ensure that the shampoo contains an insecticide. WARNING: these chemicals are HIGHLY TOXIC TO CATS.
    • Some ant killers, hairsprays, lice shampoos, and cleaning products like Formula 409 and Drano also contain insecticides that will exterminate maggots.
  2. Mix the pet shampoo with warm water in a spray bottle to dilute the solution and make it easier to work with. Use about two parts water for every one part insecticide.
  3. Spray the solution on the infested area. Allow it to sit for several minutes and soak the area.
  4. Wipe the dead maggots away with paper towels and place in a sealed container such as a ziplock bag. Dispose of the used towels in an outdoor garbage can or dumpster.
  5. Sanitize the surface your just sprayed with an anti-bacterial product and follow by wiping with warm water. Make sure that you dry the surface thoroughly after disinfecting in order to prevent moisture from building up and attracting flies.[2]

Getting Rid of Maggots in Your Carpet

  1. Purchase or rent a carpet steam cleaner from your local hardware or drugstore. Renting is usually relatively cheap and is an invaluable tool for getting rid of maggots that have invaded your carpet.
  2. Purchase an insecticide solution specially formulated for steam cleaning. You can even use pet shampoo that contains an insecticide. Make sure that the insecticide you choose is safe for your carpets and non-toxic to humans and animals.
  3. Mix the insecticide with hot water and add it to the steam cleaner water reservoir. Follow the directions for operating the carpet steam cleaner that you are using.
  4. Run the steam cleaner over all of the carpeted areas of your house at least twice to draw out the maggots and exterminate them.
  5. Dispose of the used water outdoors in a sealed container if possible.[2]

Preventing a Maggot Infestation

  1. Use self-sealing trash cans inside your home. Make sure to seal extremely potent leftover foodstuffs in sealable bags before placing them in your trash can to avoid attracting flies.
    • Don't let your trash cans overflow with garbage. Be sure to take out the trash as often as possible to prevent your trash cans from spilling over.
  2. Set up fly strips throughout your home. Fly strips are intensely sticky strips that catch and trap flies in your home. Place these strips near your trash can and around areas that the flies in your home tend to congregate.
  3. Put screens on all of your windows and doors. If you already have screens installed, make sure that there are no tears or holes in the screens that flies might be using as highways to your home.
  4. Pour a mixture of bleach and water down your drains regularly. Doing so will eliminate any bacteria that may be acting as a breeding site for flies.
    • Wash your trash cans out with the same solution every few weeks even if you don't have a maggot infestation to keep your trash cans clean.
  5. Keep unwanted meat products in the refrigerator or freezer until trash day. Wrap meat products in newspaper and throw them out just before trash day to prevent the meat from rotting in your trash can.
  6. Wash all of the food out of food containers before throwing them away. This helps prevent leftover scraps from rotting in the trash can and attracting flies.
  7. Bring pet food indoors. Leaving the food outside will attract flies that will hang around the site of your pet's food and potentially find their way into your home. By bringing the food indoors, you can reduce the possibility of flies laying maggot eggs on or near your pet's food.[3]

Warnings

  • Do not use toxic insecticides in your home, as these can be harmful to humans and pets.
  • Never mix bleach with other products, especially anything containing ammonia.
  • Do not pour toxic chemicals into storm drains or sewers. Ammonia is extremely harmful to sea life.

Tips

  • Maggots thrive in moist climates. Be sure to dry your trash cans and household surfaces thoroughly.
  • Meat, fruit, and vegetable products are particularly attractive to maggots. Be sure to empty your trash frequently, especially if you throw away these items often.
  • Keep your trash can tightly covered at all times.
  • To prevent maggots in the future, make sure to empty your trash can often and use sturdy trash bags.
  • Seal any particularly dank food waste in smaller plastic bags before dumping it into your trash can.

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Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.care2.com/greenliving/get-rid-of-maggots-and-flies-in-your-trash.html
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://voices.yahoo.com/how-rid-maggots-house-6639396.html?cat=6
  3. ↑ http://www.maggots.co.za/a-definitive-guide-to-getting-rid-of-maggots/

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