The Household Cleaner That'll Wipe Out Unwanted Maggots

Though not as common as other household pests, maggots can be found in kitchens, garbage cans, and any other area with rotting food. As you can imagine, these creatures are extremely unsettling to spot hanging around your home. Fortunately, a do-it-yourself hack is available and uses only one item that you likely already own. Just a quick spray of Pine-Sol all-purpose cleaner is all you need to permanently get rid of maggots thanks to the insecticidal benefits of pine oil.

Maggots are newly hatched fly larvae, and spend three to six days searching for food before forming into pupas and eventually becoming adult flies. While only in the larvae stage for less than a week, the light-colored cylindrical pests can wreak havoc on a home and its residents. These larvae are attracted to food and, if accidentally ingested, can spread serious diseases like Salmonella and Escherichia coli, more commonly known as E. coli. The potential of contracting a life-threatening disease from maggots makes it crucial to exterminate them from the home as soon as possible.

To execute this Pine-Sol hack, first and foremost, figure out exactly where the maggots are hanging out, whether it's your refrigerator or a garbage bag with scraps from last night's chicken dinner. Once you know where they are, it's time to suit up. Maggots can carry serious diseases and bacteria and Pine-Sol can irritate the skin, making it important to wear gloves.

If there are maggots in an area, there's a chance that there are also fly eggs that have yet to hatch into maggots close by. Spray the cleaner directly onto the maggots, but also spray the surrounding area to cover all of your bases. Leave the heavy coating to sit for about ten minutes, allowing the pine oil to exterminate the maggots. Finally, while still wearing your gloves, simply wipe the area with a damp cloth or paper towel and dispose of everything in the trash.