How to Get Rid of Maggots

Maggots thrive in rotting organic matter, so they can often be found near garbage cans, pet food bowls, and compost piles.

While they may seem like a small nuisance, maggots can cause serious health problems if they are not dealt with quickly and effectively. This guide will discuss how to get rid of maggots safely and efficiently.

What Are Maggots?

Maggots are the larval stage of flies. They are small, white worm-like insects that can be found in decaying organic matter such as animal carcasses and rotten food.

There are many different types of maggots, but all have one thing in common; they feed on dead flesh or decomposing material. Maggots can cause a lot of damage and are often difficult to get rid of.

What Are the Signs of Maggot Infestation?

Here are some common signs of maggot infestation:

Skin Rash

You may notice a rash on your skin where the maggots have been feeding. This is a common symptom of maggot infestation.

Smell

When you smell the scent of decaying material or trash, it could be a sign that there are maggots in your home or yard.

Maggot Eggs

If you find eggs near where the smell is coming from, then this could also indicate an infestation. You need to get rid of all eggs immediately before they hatch into larvae.

If you notice any of these signs, it is important to take action right away.

What Type Of Maggots are in My Home?

There are two types of maggots: Fly and Cheese.

Fly Maggots

Fly maggots are the most common type, and they can be found near garbage cans, pet food, compost piles, and other places where rotting food is present.

Cheese Maggots

Cheese maggots are less common but can be found in dairy products or meat that has been left out for too long without refrigeration. You should always keep food items in your fridge or freezer whenever possible.

How Do I Get Rid of Maggots in My House Safe and Effective Way?

There are ten methods you can use to get rid of maggots in your home.

Use Vinegar

Pour vinegar into a spray bottle and spritz the maggots. This should kill them.

Bleach

Fill a spray bottle with bleach and spritz the maggots. The bleach will kill them. You may need to do this several times before all of them die.

Boiling Water

Pour boiling water into a bucket and add some soap. Stir it well to create bubbles before pouring over the maggots in your house. The hot liquid will kill them immediately, while the soap prevents any remaining eggs from hatching.

Use a Heat Gun

Use a heat gun to kill the maggots. Point the gun at the maggots and hold for about 30 seconds to kill them.

Vacuum

A vacuum cleaner to suck up the maggots. This is probably the easiest way to get rid of them, but it may not be as effective if there are a lot of maggots.

Pesticides for Maggots

Spraying pesticides on your home can be an effective way to get rid of maggots. However, it’s important to read the label carefully and follow all safety instructions. Also, keep in mind these can be harmful to pets and children.

Diatomaceous Earth

As an insecticide, diatomaceous earth works in two ways by damaging the waxy layer, thereby injuring the pest and causing it to lose moisture. By drawing out their internal fluid, which eventually dries them out and kills them.

Insecticides

Those containing Bifenthrin or Permethrin will kill maggots and their eggs.

Cinnamon Powder

Sprinkle cinnamon powder on the areas where maggots are present. The spice will kill them and deter future infestations.

Call a professional

The above methods work; however, they may not eliminate your problem completely. Call pest removal experts to get rid of the maggots in your home quickly and effectively. They can help with other bugs and pests in your basement as well.

How Can I Prevent a Maggot Infestation?

When a fly enters a particular location and lays eggs, it’s now an infestation. The stench of decaying food frequently attracts flies and maggots. A maggot infestation might be difficult to get rid of, but it is well worth the effort.

You can do several things to prevent a maggot infestation from happening.

Get rid of rotting food: Maggots are attracted to the smell of rotting food, so make sure you get rid of all traces of it if you see any.
Do not leave dirty dishes out: If a plate or bowl is left unwashed in your home, flies will be drawn to the smell and deposit their eggs on them.
Store food properly: You should store food properly in tightly-sealed containers to prevent flies and maggots from getting into it.
Keep garbage cans closed: Make sure all trash cans have lids on them and do not leave them out when full for more than a few days at most. The longer it stays open, the more likely flies will be able to get inside of them and lay eggs.
Clean up any dead animals: If you see an animal that has died in your yard, then dispose of its body immediately so that maggots do not have time to develop or spread throughout other areas of the house.
Steam clean your carpet and other areas of your home: If you have a maggot infestation, one of the best ways to get rid of them is by steam cleaning your carpets and other areas. This will kill any maggots that are present as well as the eggs.
Empty and clean your trash can: Clean out your trash can regularly, so there isn’t organic matter sitting at the bottom for long periods of time.

Prevention is always better than cure, so keep your home and garden clean and free of any rotting organic matter. If you do have maggots, take action quickly to get rid of them before they cause any more damage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Maggots Eat You Alive?

No, they won’t eat you alive because it takes a lot of time and effort to get through skin tissue. The fact is, there isn’t much for them to feed on if you’re healthy and well-fed, so this shouldn’t be an issue anyway.

Maggots will only eat at wounds or open sores where there is flesh available, but these are not common unless you’re living under conditions with poor hygiene. If your home has many flies around then, we recommend checking out our page on how to get rid of flies in the house.

How Long Can Maggots Live Without Food?

Maggots can survive up to two weeks without food, but all they need is something organic like meat or cheese that has been left out at room temperature to satisfy them for that long period.

Can Maggots Climb on Walls?

No, maggots cannot climb walls. They can crawl up vertical surfaces if the surface is sticky or moist enough, but they will not scale a wall as a different type of insect would.

What to Do If I Find Maggots in My Home?

If you find maggots in your home, then you should remove them immediately and clean the area where they were found with soap or bleach.

You can also vacuum up any dead flies you find on walls or floors to prevent new generations from coming back again.

Do Maggots Eat Fleas?

Fleas are not a common food source for maggots, but they will eat them if needed.

Can Maggots Infest My Food?

Maggots cannot infest your food as long as you keep it in the fridge or freezer. However, if you leave food out at room temperature, then cheese maggots can infest it in a few days. Fly maggots need at least a week to infest food.

Can Maggots Breed in My Houseplants?

No, maggots cannot breed in your houseplants because they require rotting flesh to live, and plants don’t have that kind of tissue. However, you may find some maggots in the soil of your houseplants if they were infested with fly eggs while outside.

Do Maggots Eat Each Other?

Yes, maggots will eat each other if they have nothing else available for food. This is one reason why it’s important not to leave rotting meat or cheese out on counters or in the fridge.

Keeping your home maggot-free does not need to be an excruciating process. If at-home remedies are not doing the trick, call a team of pest professionals to take care of the job for you.