Nothing’s worse than lifting the lid of your garbage can and finding a writhing mass of maggots squirming around. If you’ve ever had this happen, you know how disgusting and hard to forget it can be.
But where do they come from, and how can you stop them?
Let’s break it down.
What Are Maggots and Why Are They in Your Trash?
Maggots are the larvae of flies, usually houseflies or blowflies. They appear when flies lay eggs on rotting organic matter like old food, meat scraps, or dirty diapers especially in warm, moist conditions.
Flies are attracted to:
Food residue on packaging
Rotting fruits and vegetables
Meat and dairy waste
Soiled napkins, paper towels, or diapers
Once eggs are laid, they hatch into maggots within 24 hours meaning even just one day of neglect can lead to an infestation.
How to Prevent Maggots in the Trash Bin