If you’re delving into what kills maggots, it is likely that you’ve had a sickly sighting of the pests in your home. You will inevitably want to get rid of the pest as quickly and efficiently as possible, but might not know where to start.
You may be relieved to hear from our pest pros that the best solutions are simple ones easily executed, but if maggots have shown up in your home, it's essential to act right now.
You probably know how to identify indoor pests and deal with the most common ones, but maggots can lead to pets in you home falling ill and they post a significant problem if they get into food destined for human consumption.
What kills maggots? Expert-approved tips for dealing with maggot infestations
Maggots can survive for 8-10 days before turning into flies, but they can cause a lot of damage during that time. Here's are some solutions you can use, and what you need to know when contending with the pest, if you've been wondering how to get rid of maggots, or why there are maggots in your house.
1. Boiling water
As simple as it sounds, boiling water is the most impactful way to kill maggots quickly. ’Maggots are actually highly vulnerable to many things. They consist mostly of protein, which makes them most vulnerable to boiling water,’ emphasizes pest control expert Nicholas Martin.
Martin explains that boiling water causes protein coagulation and kills maggots instantly – and naturally. ‘Don’t forget that maggots can live in cool and warm water, so it must be boiling to kill them,’ he says.
And Martin isn’t the only person who practices this technique. Pest expert Ray Brosnan similarly recommends pouring boiling water over the area where the maggots are gathering to remove them quickly.
‘All you need to do is rinse away the remains afterward; a sprinkling of baking soda over the area is recommended after the scalding to eliminate any bad smells that may linger,’ Ray adds.
After cleaning with baking soda, all residue of these maggots should disappear completely. Use an anti-bacterial cleaner to wipe the surfaces they were on for added peace of mind.
2. Vinegar
There are so many things you can clean with vinegar around your home, and you can use it to kill mold and maggots too - instantly - when mixed with boiling water.
'Commonly, vinegar is suggested as a maggot killer but it rarely works alone; however, when mixed with boiling water its efficacy increases significantly,' says Matthew Wilson, pest solutions expert and CEO of Handy Gardeners.
'Once boiled, the water kills maggots on contact while vinegar helps to stabilize the environment by making it less hospitable for any future infestations. To do this you will need one-part vinegar mixed with two parts boiling water. Pour directly onto them or into places like garbage cans, under sinks, or outdoor containers where they are found most often, alongside other affected areas. The mixture kills instantly and also breaks down smells that attract flies, thus preventing re-infestation.'
We recommend using the #1 bestselling 365 by Whole Foods Market Organic White Distilled Vinegar available at Amazon for this, as it is diluted to a 5% acidity, strong enough to kill maggots on contact.
3. Salt
Cleaning with salt is a great natural, eco-friendly way to keep your home sparkling and bacteria-free, and this pantry staple is also a tried and tested solution for killing maggots.
'Salt is an old remedy which works wonders when thrown onto maggots; this is because salt dries up water from the bodies of these disgusting pests hence killing them instantly,' says Daniel Anderson, pest control and cleaning expert, and CEO of Gorubbishgo.
'You can use ordinary table salt or mix one cupful of salt with one gallon of tap water and flush down places such as drains or trash bins where they might have infested. This doesn't just kill them, it also prevents them hatching new eggs again.'
As salt is an affordable commodity, Anderson recommends using as much as you can to increase efficacy. 'Use lots of salts especially if dealing with heavy infestation because it is cheap,' he says.
This salt features an easy-pour spout, for measuring amounts and keeping the salt airtight in between uses as humidity can make it clump. If you find moisture has shown up in yours, drop some dry rice in their to help soak up any lingering humidity.
4. Lime powder
For an equally organic solution, Anderson recommends using another pantry staple, lime powder, to tackle maggot infestations.
'Lime powder, also known as calcium hydroxide, can act as a good maggot killer due to its ability to dehydrate them; all one needs do is sprinkle lime over affected areas then leave it like that for some time,' he says.
'As moisture gets absorbed by the lime, it becomes unsuitable for survival by larvae hence causing their death eventually – very useful especially in open spaces like gardens where these organisms might be found living within soil or under mulch materials.'
Anderson recommends the Hi-Yield Horticultural Hydrated Lime available at Walmart. 'It works well and doesn't cost too much,' he says. 'Other gardening stores may have similar products available.'
5. Bleach and water mixture
You've probably heard of using bleach to kill mold, but it can also be used to kill maggots. This method is not as natural as the others, but Martin explains that it’s equally as powerful.
‘You can mix bleach 50/50 with water and pour it onto maggots to kill them quickly,’ he says. ‘If the maggots are in your trash can, you can also close it after pouring bleach inside to kill those maggots that are not covered with the liquid with toxic bleach fumes.’
You can use any traditional cleaning bleach– we recommend the Great-Value Low Splash Bleach available at Walmart, as it's popular with shoppers, and kills 99.9% of germs.
6. Freezing
'Freezing ranks among the least known yet highly effective methods for killing maggots, especially during small scale outbreaks or objects infested by these larvae like garbage bags, small receptacles, and even organic waste bins,' says Wilson.
'This is because once exposed to below zero degrees Celsius temperature range, which could last up until 24 hours plus; every single worm present there dies completely without exception, since they cannot survive such freezing conditions. This is mostly recommended when boiling may be inappropriate, as it's around food materials, but is still very safe due to the lack of chemicals involved.'
Brett Bennett, director of operations at PURCOR Pest Solutions also recommends this method.
'If you have maggots in your trash, then I'd recommend bagging it tight and putting it in a freezer,' he says. 'A chest freezer is ideal for this, but if you need to, bagging smaller portions of trash and putting it in your regular freezer can work as well. This might seem gross, but it's really the best way to kill maggots instead of risking them infesting your outdoor garbage receptacles. Freezing can also work for other things around the house maggots might be feeding on.' Make sure you are careful to organize your chest freezer, to keep maggots and any dirty bags away from food as much as possible.
We recommend double-bagging your trash bag to ensure the infestation is kept secure, using sturdy sacks such as the Hefty Strong Large Trash Bags available at Amazon.
7. Use insecticides
If you're dealing with a particularly bad invasion, it might be time to turn to insecticides.
'Specifically designed insecticides and pesticides to kill larvae work well against maggots,' says Georgios Liakopoulos, expert exterminator at Fantastic Pest Control, who specifically recommends using Permethrin for the job.
'Permethrin is an insecticide that works on a variety of pests, including maggots. It's a synthetic chemical that mimics chrysanthemum flowers' insecticidal properties. It works by paralysing and killing insects by hitting their nervous systems. When using, make sure the area is well-ventilated and always read the instructions. Commercial maggot killers come in sprays and powders. It's easy and effective to get rid of maggots and other pests with these products.
'As permethrin is usually concentrated, you'll have to dilute it according to the manufacturer's instructions. A common dilution ratio is 1% permethrin in water, but make sure you follow the product label's directions. Alternatively, permethrin dog shampoo can be mixed with boiling water in a ratio of one part permethrin to four parts boiling water.'
We recommend the Durvet Permethrin 10% available at Amazon, which is highly rated by shoppers.
'The best choice is a product containing either permethrin or pyrethrin as active ingredients since both attack the nervous system of maggots thereby killing them instantly upon contact,' says Wilson.
Wilson recommends using the Hot Shot Bed Bug Killer available at Amazon, to apply directly onto maggots in abundance, found within refuse sacks, around infested zones and along stitch lines where they hide most frequently. 'It acts fast, and has prolonged effects that will eventually lead to complete elimination, even if any fly should survive after being sprayed with this chemical compound,' he says. 'Make sure you follow instructions closely, especially within food areas, lest there occurs contamination through misuse.'
8. Diatomaceous earth
You can use diatomaceous earth as a natural alternative to killing maggots.
'I have found diatomaceous earth (DE) to be one of the most effective ingredients for getting rid of maggots, whether they are inside your house or outside on your property somewhere,' says Jeremy Yamaguchi, CEO of Lawn Love. 'DE is a powder made of the ground-up fossils of tiny aquatic creatures. Some products contain a certain percentage of other minerals or substances, but I recommend using the Harris Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth (available at Walmart) because it is 100% pure DE.'
Diatomaceous earth lacks toxicity properties, so it's safe to use anywhere throughout the home. 'This substance made from ancient algae works by absorbing fats contained on their outer skin thus leading them into dehydration then death,' says Wilson. 'It takes approximately 24-48 hours depending on how many are present before all die off due to this action taking place over every individual’s body surface area exposed externally towards the surrounding environment. Food grade DE is safe to use around pets and children, so one can comfortably apply it even in places where kids might come across it, like carpet seams or outdoor bins used for storing waste materials. To achieve better outcome leave DE undisturbed for some days prior cleaning up.'
This diatomaceous earth is pure and undiluted, without any additives or fillers, to ensure maximum efficacy. It's also non-toxic, but be careful not to inhale any dust during application.
FAQs
Can dish soap kill maggots?
As you probably have a bottle of dish soap at home, you're probably wondering if that can also be used to tackle maggots. The short answer is yes, particularly if it contains borax.
It's a less harsh solution than using bleach, and will also leave all surfaces clean and bacteria-free. Just make sure you never use it on these things you shouldn't clean with soap.
Can I vacuum maggots?
If you notice maggots on your upholstery or soft furnishings, you can vacuum them up, but you must empty the vacuum bag immediately afterwards.
You should then follow up by using one of the methods above, or a spray larvicide, before cleaning the upholstery.
Now you know how to kill maggots; the only thing left is to decide which method you use to regain control over your space. Does a pest invasion mean you have a dirty home? Learn whether clean homes get pests.
