Why You Should Pour Boiling Water in Your Bin
Households across the UK are being urged to pour boiling water in their wheelie bins this week to guard against a maggot invasion. The hot weather returning from Monday, with temperatures peaking at 34C in London on Thursday, creates ideal conditions for fly larvae. Mark Hall, from BusinessWaste.co.uk, warns that bins become breeding grounds for maggots when household waste is not managed properly in the summer heat.
How to Prevent and Remove Maggots
Hall recommends cleaning bins with hot water and a strong disinfectant or bleach solution (one part bleach to 10 parts water) before the weather warms up. Scrub the interior and lid thoroughly, focusing on corners and crevices. Rinse well and let the bin dry completely. If maggots are already present, pour boiling water over them to kill them instantly. Then sanitise the bin as described above.
Maggots are attracted to food waste, which rots quickly in heat. To prevent infestation, compost food waste in a sealed bin or seal food bags tightly. Moving the bin to the shade can also help. Hall adds: “Maggots are quite prevalent in the summer due to the heat, but there are a lot of easy ways to prevent and remove them. Just applying a couple of these tips should be enough to prevent these pests from becoming a problem.”
Weather Forecast
The Met Office says the heat will gradually return from Monday, with a peak of 34C in London on Thursday, July 9. The north of England and Scotland should be spared the worst of the hot weather this time.
