Maggots are fly larvae that generally eat for 3-5 days in the early stages of development. At this stage, the maggots can be recognized by their small size and white body. Despite their size, maggots are difficult to get rid of without the right equipment. Fortunately, a combination of chemical, natural, and preventative techniques can help you get rid of maggots.
Home Solution
Disturbance or attack by maggots is one thing that is annoying or troublesome. However, it's possible that you already have the tools or equipment you need to get rid of maggots in your home:
- If you have dog shampoo products, you can make a permethrin solution to kill maggots.
- If available bleach At home, you can use it as an inexpensive and effective maggot-killing mixture.
- If you have carburetor cleaning products, you can use it to make a strong chemical cleaning mixture.
- If you have diatomaceous earth, you can sprinkle it on the maggots to get rid of them.
- If available vinegar At home, you can kill swarms of maggots and prevent them from returning.
- If you have essential oil, you can protect the trash can from attacks or maggots.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Using Chemical Steps
Step 1. Spray a water-based permethrin mixture on a moderate swarm of maggots
Permethrin is a synthetic chemical used as an insecticide, insect repellent, or acaricide. Permethrin sprays are usually formulated to kill scabies and head lice, but 2-3 sprays are usually enough to kill maggots. Liquid products (eg shampoo) and creams also sometimes contain permethrin. Mix boiling water with dog shampoo containing permethrin in a 4:1 ratio, then pour the mixture directly on the maggots.
- Spray or apply a permethrin mixture within 1.5 to 7.5 meters of the maggots. By spraying at this distance, you can hit all problem areas and prevent the maggots from returning to them.
- While it is safe to use on human hair and scalp, be careful not to get the permethrin mixture in the eyes, ears, nose, or mouth. Immediately clean and rinse the limb if exposed to permethrin.
- Permethrin and synthetic pyrethroids are very harmful to cats and fish. Keep both ingredients away from your pets!
Step 2. Mix the bleach and water in a bowl, then pour it over the large swarm of maggots
Put 250 ml of bleach and 250 ml of water in a plastic or metal bowl. If you want to apply the mixture directly to the ground or floor, pour the mixture over the swarm of maggots and try to hit the entire flock. If you are using the mixture in a trash can, put the lid on the trash can after pouring the mixture and let the bleach steam kill the maggots.
Let the mixture sit for about 30 minutes before you open the trash can and clean it. After treating the problem area, pour back the bowl of the bleach mixture to prevent the maggot swarms from returning to the area
Step 3. Spray a regular insect repellent on the maggots
Although not as effective as permethrin, insecticide sprays can kill maggots. Spray the problem area 2-3 times and hold the button for 2 seconds for each spray. The effects start to show after 30 minutes or so. In general, you can use a spray product that acts as a fumigator, wasp and wasp repellent, and an ant and cockroach killer.
Insect repellent spray can be purchased from supermarkets or large stores. Choose a product that contains permethrin if possible
Step 4. Use a homemade chemical mix instead of an insecticide
Hair spray products are effective at killing maggots if you spray them 5-6 times for 2 seconds for each spray. You can also mix all-purpose cleaning products or furniture surfaces with water in a 1:4 ratio. After that, pour the mixture directly on the maggots.
Try using a hair spray, furniture surface cleaner, or an all-purpose cleaning product
Step 5. Mix the water with a household chemical and apply it to a large swarm of maggots
Chemical products such as oil, brake fluid, and motor vehicle carburetor cleaner can be effective options. Mix 240 ml of carburetor cleaner with 3.5-7.5 liters of hot water. Gently pour the mixture directly into the trash after the contents are removed. Put the lid on the trash can, then let the toxic vapors and hot water work for 1 hour. After that, throw the carcass of the dead maggots in the trash in the kitchen or outside the house.
- Carburetor cleaners are highly toxic. Use this product as a last resort only. Always wear protective clothing and gloves.
- Do not mix carburetor cleaner with other solvents. Carburetor cleaners containing chlorine can react with other solvents and form a toxic gas mixture that is harmful if inhaled or in contact with skin.
Method 2 of 3: Using Natural Methods
Step 1. Pour hot water directly on the maggots as an easy solution
Boil a large pot of hot water for five minutes. Pour slowly and carefully on problem areas. This method is especially useful if you have "quarantined" a swarm of maggots in a special place such as a trash can or basement. After that, you can throw away the garbage that the maggots have eaten.
- Put a lid on the trash can to retain heat.
- Do not use this method to get rid of maggots on walls or carpets as moisture can cause structural damage or mold development.
Step 2. Sprinkle diatomaceous earth on the maggots to absorb body fluids and slowly die from dehydration
Diatomaceous earth is a sedimentary rock that can be used as a cleaning agent and insecticide. Sprinkle enough diatomaceous earth on the maggots until the whole body is buried. This soil will stick to the outer skull, causing dehydration, and causing the maggots to die from a lack of water pressure.
You can buy diatomaceous earth from major grocery stores, supermarkets, and hardware stores
Step 3. Submerge the maggots in a mixture of water and cinnamon as a quick solution
Combine the cinnamon and water in a 1:5 ratio in a bowl and slowly pour the mixture over the maggot swarm. This mixture takes about 6 hours to kill the larvae. In addition, the mixture of water and cinnamon is not favored by maggots so it can prevent maggot swarms from disturbing the problem area in the future.
You can also use apple cider vinegar and water in a 1:5 ratio. However, this mixture takes about 18 hours to kill the larvae
Step 4. Sprinkle salt and lime on problem areas to dehydrate the maggots
Lime and salt can "dry" the body of the maggot and make it die from lack of water pressure. Mix 60 grams of lime powder (calcium hydroxide) with 60 grams of salt. After that, sprinkle the mixture on the maggot breeding area.
- Keep an eye on the swarm of maggots that have been handled. If it's not dead, sprinkle more lime and salt.
- You can also use calcium-oxide lime, which can be purchased from a hardware store or large supermarket.
Step 5. Place the beer in an open container to attract attention and drown out the small swarm of maggots
Pour a can of beer into a container and place it near the maggot swarm. Sometimes, swarms of maggots will be attracted and move into the container, then drown in the beer. However, this measure is not a long-term solution to large-scale maggot disturbances.
- Make sure the container containing the beer is easily accessible to the maggots.
- Although some people place lights near beer to attract maggots, research shows that maggots steer clear of light sources.
Step 6. Freeze the maggots at -20°C for at least 60 minutes as a final step
Take a small swarm of maggots using a dustpan, put it in a sealed bag, and place the bag in the freezer. After about an hour, usually the swarm of maggots will die.
If it's not dead yet, let the bag sit a little longer. Check every hour and after the maggot swarm is dead, throw the bag in the trash
Method 3 of 3: Taking Prevention Techniques
Step 1. Do not throw meat and fish in the trash
Flies (which produce and incubate maggot eggs) usually lay their eggs on rotting meat or fish. Do not leave leftover meat or fish in the trash to prevent maggot infestation. There are several solutions that can be taken to deal with the source of the problem:
- Make a meat broth from the remaining bones and meat. Put the leftover bones in boiling water, add a few bay leaves and spices, then simmer over low heat for about an hour.
- Store leftover meat or bones in a separate refrigerator (or freezer) until the day of the collective garbage collection. After that, throw it all away at once. Meat will not spoil easily if refrigerated or frozen.
- If you need to throw leftover meat or fish in the trash, wrap them in a paper towel first. Flies will have difficulty laying eggs if they can't land on the surface of meat or fish.
Step 2. Coat the problem area with essential oils like peppermint, bay leaf, and eucalyptus oil
Essential oils can repel flies. Dissolve 4-5 drops of essential oil in a spray bottle filled with water, then spray the mixture on problem areas. You can also spray the diluted oil on a washcloth, then use the cloth to wipe the area you want to clean.
Step 3. Clean the trash can with vinegar and water once a week
Mix vinegar and water in a bowl in a 1:2 ratio. After that, dip a washcloth in the mixture and scrub the inside and outside of the trash can. When you're done, dry with a dry cloth and place in the sun or a tumble dryer before placing the new trash bag in the trash can.
- Empty the bin as soon as it is full and clean it at least once a week. Protect the inside of the trash can with a trash bag to prevent bits or leftovers from sticking to the walls in the bin.
- Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the detergent mixture when cleaning the trash can.
Step 4. Clean the drain if maggots start to nest or roam in the drain
Push the button that controls the drain and use a large barrel or tongs to scoop up any stuck-on food debris. After that, dissolve 15 ml of bleach with 3.8 liters of water, then slowly pour the mixture down the drain.
- Run the channel for a longer time when in use. With this step, all food waste can be removed completely.
- Do not throw oil into the sink drain.
Step 5. Make sure the areas frequented by maggot swarms are kept dry
Maggots love moisture so much that you need to reduce it. Make sure your trash bag doesn't leak and remove any moisture trapped at the bottom of the trash can as soon as possible. As much as possible, keep food preparation areas (eg kitchens) and other areas where maggots may be nesting as dry as possible.
Place a few bags of silica gel (which usually come in new shoe boxes) in the bottom of the trash can. Silica is a natural absorbent, so it can attract moisture effectively
Step 6. Place the camphor on the problem areas as a final step
Camphor is a chemical ball filled with insecticide. A camphor or two placed around problem areas (eg the bottom of a trash can) can effectively repel and kill maggots.
- Camphor is carcinogenic and toxic so you should only use it if all the methods described above have failed to kill the maggots.
- Never place camphor near food.
Tips
- Discard any expired or rotten meat.
- Always close the trash can and clean it with bleach regularly.
- Keep the protective screen on the window.
- Rinse soda cans before throwing them away or putting them in the trash.
- Remove fruit that falls from trees in your yard.
- Never store pet food outdoors.
