Think of repugnant bugs and worms, the first creature that comes to our minds is maggots! They not only look creepy but may also lead to health issues for you and your pets.
Maggots are the larvae stage of a fly. To put it precisely, flies belonging to the Brachycera family, (which includes houseflies, blowflies, cheese flies, etc.) lay eggs that hatch into maggots.
A single fly may lay dozens of eggs at a time. These take around 8–20 hours to hatch. This means it wouldn’t take long for a maggot infestation to get out of control! The flies generally choose a suitable place with ample food to lay their eggs. Some of the hot spots where these creepy creatures can grow unhindered are rotting meat, food products that have gone bad, rotten fruits, animal carcasses, pet food, trash cans, etc.
A regular check on susceptible places where maggots may thrive is important to keep them away.
No matter how much we hate them, these creatures play a very important role in nature. They help in breaking down organic matter, along with bacteria and other organisms. Some species of maggots are used for wound debridement. They thrive on rotting flesh and aid in removing dead bacteria infested tissues in wounds. This accelerates the growth of healthy tissues and allows the wound to close. Apart from this, maggots also help in creating rich compost.
Of course, this does not mean you should let them thrive in your house. Maggots are not exactly dangerous, but there are several reasons why it is best to keep them away. For example, these creatures may cause Myiasis (parasitic infestation) in people and pets.
Getting rid of maggots is not that hard. However, you need to act fast before the condition gets worse. For invasion in your house, here are a few household remedies that will help you kill those maggots and get rid of them forever.
Contents
Method 1: Bleach
This very common household product is meant for removing color, whitening, and disinfecting. But there is a lot more you can do with bleach. It can also help you get rid of insect infestations. Other than killing these uninvited guests, bleach will also destroy their eggs and disrupt chemical trails left by insects, such as ants.
You can also use bleach and water solution to clean your trash cans and keep away flies and maggots.
Things you’ll need:
- Bleach - 1 part
- Warm water - 10 parts
Single-Step Method: Mix bleach & warm water and use it to clean drains
- Add 1 part of bleach to 10 parts of warm water and mix well.
- Pour the solution over the drains.
- Wait for a few hours before flushing the pipes with cold water.
This method will help you get rid of maggots breeding in drains. Using this remedy regularly will keep pipes clean and insect-free.
Method 2: Boiling water
If you do not trust chemical-laden commercial insecticides or couldn’t find anything of use to make your very own DIY bug spray, here is an effective remedy for which you need no special ingredient. All you have to do is boil some water and pour it onto the maggot-infested areas. The water will kill them instantly. This method is inexpensive, chemical-free, and highly effective. It works for garbage bins, trash cans, crawl spaces, drains, etc.
Single-Step Method: Pour boiling water over the infested area
- Put boiling water over the drain, garbage bins, trash cans, and other places where you spot maggots.
It is not advisable to use this remedy on carpets or walls as the moisture may lead to mold or may cause other damages.
Method 3: Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is commonly used in home remedies for skin care, healthcare, and more. Here is another reason why vinegar is a must-have product for every house. It is an easy and chemical-free method that will keep away flies and maggots. This trap works because flies are attracted to the sharp smell of vinegar.
Things you’ll need:
- Apple cider vinegar—1/4 cup
- Plastic wrap
Step 1. Pour apple cider vinegar in a glass and cover it with plastic wrap
- Pour apple cider vinegar in a glass.
- Cover the glass tightly with the plastic wrap.
Step 2. Poke holes and place trap near the infested areas
- Poke holes into the plastic wrap.
- Keep this trap near drains or other susceptible areas.
Apple cider vinegar used in the trap acts as a bait for maggots. They crawl into this trap and drown.
Method 4: Salt
A bunch of withering maggots is a horrible site. Luckily, you do not need chemicals and commercial insecticides to get rid of this problem. Simply sprinkle some salt over the infested areas, and the maggots will be gone for good in no time.
How does this remedy work? Salt absorbs water, and when sprinkled on insects like maggots, it kills them instantly by removing the water from their bodies.
Single-Step Method: Sprinkle salt to kill maggots
- Sprinkle salt over places infested by maggots.
- This will kill the maggots.
- In case you continue to see movement, sprinkle another layer of salt.
Regular sprinkling of salt over and around susceptible areas, such as garbage bins will help in preventing flies from laying eggs there. This way salt can help you prevent future infestations.
Method 5: Ammonia
This chemical is widely used for industrial applications. It is also effective in killing insects and bugs. Ammonia and water solution can help you kill maggots and get rid of them forever. Never use ammonia and bleach together, as the combination produces toxic vapors.
Things you'll need:
- Ammonia - 1 part
- Water - 3 parts
Single-Step Method: Pour ammonia and water over their breeding ground
- Mix one part of ammonia with three parts of water to form a solution.
- Pour this solution over vulnerable areas, such as drains.
Rotting food products, such as meat and fruits, and damp places are a few favorable places for maggots. Cleanliness is of utmost importance if you want your house to be free from flies and their larvae.
Tips
- You can also use alcohol (beer) to get rid of maggots by preparing a trap in a similar fashion as the apple cider vinegar trap. Use beer instead of apple cider vinegar. The maggots will crawl into the dish and drown.
- Make a solution using pure hydrogen peroxide and water. Pour this solution over the maggots. It will kill them in a minute or two. Keep pouring the solution until all the maggots stop moving.
- Boric acid is a great way to get rid of maggots from carpets. Sprinkle it over the carpet. Wipe the powder into its fibers with the help of a carpet brush. It also helps to get rid of silverfish and a number of other infestations.
- Putting screens on doors and windows will help keep the flies and ladybugs from entering your house.
- Process and dispose of organic waste on a regular basis, keep your countertop clean to keep away roaches and fruit flies too.
- Do not leave garbage cans open.
- You may also use fly traps to get rid of gnats, flies and fruit flies.
Gasoline killed 95% but left the entire house smelling like gas, an aerosol can and lighter killed them but more came back. Bleach killed most but not all. Coarse salt killed a bunch but not all of them.
Hi there
I am so sorry for your condition. Gasoline may have given good results but it leaves the smell along with the dangerous fumes in the house. What needs to be done, is to work on all different areas all at once to remove them completely.
Also, do keep your surroundings clean and do not let stagnated water in the nearby areas as it acts as a breeding ground for maggots.
Hope this helps !
-FabHow
After using a number of methods the most important element to fix this situation was to immobilize the flies as they just continued to lay more eggs. We have been experiencing a ridiculous amount of rain in Texas lately and maggots and carpenter w caterpillars/moths have become a major problem. By purchasing 4 tacky fly tubes I was able to trap about 30 flies. When the sun came out briefly we had several fire ant piles that popped up. I took two large shovels full of them and dumped them on the maggots which killed the remaining bugs.
Hey Homeowner
It is so nice to hear that you worked on the root cause of the problem i.e stopping the flies from laying more eggs. Rains must have added to your problem, I totally understand. But its great that something out worked for you.
-FabHow