Scotland recorded its hottest day on record, with temperatures in some regions reaching above 34C on Tuesday. With this heat, Scots are doing all they can to stay cool, including keeping windows open at all times.
But keeping windows open comes with a price, as doing so is a gateway for a fly infestation within your home. Unfortunately, flies will do their best to find spots in your house with the right conditions to lay eggs - and one of the most popular places is the kitchen bin.
As bins are purely for rubbish, many of us like to bypass cleaning the actual vessel, as they are rarely a pleasant site. But experts at Tap Warehouse are warning people to pay extra attention to cleaning their kitchen bins to prevent maggots.
The say food waste will rot much quicker than usual in the heatwave which could result in an infestation of maggots, not to mention a foul smell. However, hacks from Tap Warehouse will help to prevent this from happening, with one costing as little as 29p.
Here are the best tips to keep your bin maggot-free, as reported by Wales Online.
How to keep maggots out of your bin during heatwave
1. Keep your bin out of direct sunlight
The first and most simple tip is to ensure your kitchen bin is kept out of direct sunlight as this will help to slow down the process of decomposition.
2. Banish maggots with white vinegar for 29p
Not only will white vinegar make your kitchen bin shine it will also prevent maggots. Mix a solution of equal parts water and white vinegar in a spray bottle, spray the bin, and use a dish sponge to scrub the inside and outside of the bin.
Polly Shearer, kitchen cleaning expert at Tap Warehouse said: “If you have already found maggots in your kitchen bin you should act straight away to stop them from multiplying.
“Simply mix one part white vinegar with two parts boiling water and pour this into your bin. This should get rid of the maggots and any fly eggs too.”
3. Wipe away any food spillages with coffee grounds for £1.69
Any splashes of grease on the outside of your bin will immediately attract flies which will result in maggots. To prevent this coffee grounds work wonders on grease, place two teaspoons of coffee grounds onto a wet cloth and scrub away any grease or food particles. Coffee grounds can also banish odours by sprinkling them in the bottom of your bin before putting in a bin bag.
4. Keep your bin fresh and dry with bicarbonate of soda for 55p
An easy way to keep bin odours at bay and prevent maggots is to sprinkle bicarbonate of soda in the bottom of your bin and leave it there as you fill your bin. When you empty the bin, don’t forget to sprinkle the bicarbonate of soda on the bottom again.
5. Use half a lemon after bicarbonate of soda for a citrus smell for 30p
Another way to leave your bin smelling fresh is by following the bicarbonate of soda steps above but instead of leaving it until you next change your bin, only leave it for 10 minutes. Then rub the inside of the bin with half a lemon before putting in a bin bag.
6. Destroy germs with washing up liquid for 34p
Washing up liquid is an effective way to kill germs and therefore prevent a maggot infestation. Either grab a soapy dish sponge and use it to scrub the bin or fill the bin with hot water and washing up liquid. Leave it to sit for 10 minutes before pouring the water out and drying it with a cloth.
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