When I lived with my parents (middle Georgia) we’d get maggots in the trash bag at least a couple of times each summer. They can appear seemingly overnight when it’s hot. It was always a treat to find them when I went to put the inside trash into the outside can … ugh.
Of course, since I emptied the trash, it was my job to clean the cans. This obviously involved getting rid of the maggots (I wasn’t paid NEARLY enough for that). I’ve used ammonia and it worked well. When we were out of ammonia once, I tried bleach. It did a dandy job as well.
An ounce or two of ammonia INSIDE the trash bag will not only kill the bugs, but it will keep the furry critters out as well. My neighborhood is on the edge of town, and my garbage is never raided by raccoons, opossums, coyotes, or dogs.
Ever hear of Dursban? Works so well they are taking it off the market. Your local hardware or CO-OP should still have it until some time next year. This stuff will kill just about anything and has a residual effect of up to 3 weeks.
Bleach sounds cheaper and if it works , hey what the heck. Nothing that I have sprayed with Dursban has survived. Probably why they are taking it off the market!
Once again, I’m provided with more proof that I will NEVER, EVER live in the south. NEVER EVER EVER. Maggots in the garbage, giant cockroaches, fire ants. Yuk! Never seen ANY of these things in the north.
:: repeats to self “Stay north of the 40th parallel, stay north of the 40th parallel.” ::
Have you tried boiling water? I’ve never tried it on maggots, but it works wonders on ants, and it’s more environmentally friendly than ammonia or bleach.
Oh, one other thing… Use ammonia, or use bleach, but don’t use both at once, unless you have a deathwish.