If you already hate taking out the trash, battling a swarm of flies and maggots only makes the chore more grueling. Fortunately, the power of scent can repel just as easily as it attracts. Essential oils — highly concentrated liquids extracted from plants — are more than just aromatic additions to cosmetics and cleaning products. They can…
A Minty Fresh Solution
To keep flies and their larvae away from your trash cans, you need two items that you might already have on hand: cotton balls and peppermint essential oil.
On your next collection day, deep-clean your empty trash can by hosing it out and using a long-handled brush to scrub the interior with boiling water and dish soap. Dump the sudsy water, give the can a final rinse, and leave the lid open to air-dry. After that, place several peppermint oil-soaked cotton balls at the bottom of the can before closing the lid. (You can use this trick for both outdoor cans and your kitchen trash.)
Why does this work? Peppermint oil is rich in menthol and menthone. While many people find the scent refreshing, it overwhelms a fly’s olfactory system. By masking the scent of the trash and disrupting the flies’ sensory receptors, the oil makes it difficult for these winged pests to find their way to the bin. Beyond flies and maggots, peppermint oil also deters ants, moths, mosquitoes, spiders, cockroaches, aphids, and wasps. For best results, replace these “peppermint bombs” once a week.
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Other Fixes for a Bug-Free Bin
No peppermint oil? No problem. Storing your bins in the shade is one of the easiest ways to slow down the decomposition that attracts pests in the first place. Flies are drawn to the gases and acids produced by decaying organic matter, which they can detect from up to 4 miles away. Eliminate that odor, and the flies will find somewhere else to land.
If you’re dealing with existing flies and maggots, there are alternatives to peppermint oil that you might already have on hand. Diatomaceous earth, which kills crawling bugs by dehydrating them from the inside out, is a popular choice. While less effective for adult flies, sprinkling diatomaceous earth in and around your bins will stop maggots from maturing. Pouring a generous layer of table salt into the bottom of your cans can also dry out and kill larvae.
Additionally, washing your cans with a mixture of warm water, dish soap, and vinegar helps remove the sticky residue that attracts flies. A diluted bleach solution is an even stronger sanitizing method, but never mix it with vinegar or ammonia, as this creates toxic fumes. For a more fragrant deterrent, toss in some citrus rinds like lemon or grapefruit — just be sure to remove them before they start to decompose. Fresh bay leaves have also been known to discourage infestations.
