How to get rid of maggots in RV toilet? For many RVers, the biggest nightmare is a maggot infestation in their RV toilet.
RV toilets are notoriously hard to keep clean, and many RVs are not equipped with an RV toilet seat cover. When you don’t have toilet seat covers in your RV, it makes it easier for maggots or RV toilet flies to hatch from the egg stage into live bugs.
However, there are ways to keep maggots out of your RV toilet. This article will cover five of those tips, including some tried and true methods for killing larvae and others that may seem less common.
What are maggots?
Maggots are flies that feed on decaying organic matter. They are generally harmless, but certain species of maggots may carry diseases that pose risks to humans.
Maggots resemble white caterpillars but are much smaller, usually measuring only 1-3 mm (less than a tenth of an inch) in length. Larvae live in rotting food, including meats, vegetables, and spoiled fruits.
Maggots feed primarily on decaying food, not living tissue. Their feeding habits mean that they usually do not cause any pain or discomfort to humans, but some species may be harmful to human health.
Are maggots dangerous?
Yes, it can be dangerous. Some maggot species may carry diseases that pose risks to humans. These include:
Black fly maggots may carry bacteria that cause a disease called “black fly fever.” Black fly fever is characterized by flu-like symptoms, including headaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever.
White-head fly maggots may carry bacteria that cause a disease called “white-head fever.” Flu-like symptoms and excruciating headaches are both hallmarks of white-head fever.
Flesh fly maggots may carry bacteria that cause a disease called “flesh fly fever.” Symptoms of flesh fly fever include flu-like symptoms and fever.
Green bottle fly maggots may carry bacteria that cause a disease called “green bottle fly fever.” Symptoms of green bottle fly fever include flu-like symptoms and fever.
How to get rid of maggots in RV toilet?
RVs have no way to contain human waste, so the Toilet must be cleaned out every day. However, even if you have a septic tank, you may still need to clean out your bathroom maggots to remove the remnants of previous users.
RVs usually have only one working flush system, meaning water is only flushed once when you press the flushing handle. This means that a sewage drain can take several hours to empty.
During this time, the sewage in the drain may attract unwanted guests. A few strategies to prevent maggots in an RV toilet are as follows:
Add Bleach to the Toilet
It is the easiest process to erase maggots from an RV toilet. Bleach kills the maggots by killing the eggs in the Toilet and killing the larvae and adult flies. It is available from any hardware store.
To clean your RV toilet, pour the required bleach into the toilet bowl. Then add some drops of dishwashing liquid and some drops of dishwashing detergent to the bleach.
Mix the solution thoroughly, and then cover the toilet seat and lid. Leave the bleach solution on the Toilet for at least 12 hours.
Then, rinse the toilet bowl and fill it with fresh water. The toilet bowl should be completely emptied and filled with water three times before using it again.
Apply Borax
Borax is a natural insecticide that kills grubs and larvae, but it also helps prevent future infestations by killing the eggs.
Mix 2 cups of Borax and 1 gallon of water in a big bowl. Pour this mixture into the toilet bowl. Leave the mixture on the Toilet for 24 hours. Rinse the toilet bowl with warm water. If necessary, repeat the process to kill any remaining larvae.
Use a Boiling Method
Boiling is a quick and simple method to kill grubs. Make a big pot of boiling water for yourself. After that, one cup of regular home bleach should be added. Stir the mixture well to dissolve the bleach. At a minimum, leave the bleach in the rv toilet for 15 minutes. Then, rinse the toilet bowl with warm water.
If you are still getting maggots in your RV toilet, then the next step is to seal them off the drain.
Seal Off the Toilet
The easiest and quickest way to seal off your RV drain is to place a bucket over the drain and then fill it with gravel. Make sure that the gravel is large enough to cover the opening, and then pour more gravel down on top of the bucket.
Be careful that the bucket does not block the drain. Make sure the gravel isn’t too dry as well. Moisture makes it easier for maggots to burrow in, so ensure that the bucket is sealed with some plastic.
Clean the Drain
If you have found that you are still getting maggots in your RV toilet, then you may need to clean the drain.
Scrub the drain with a stiff wire or a wire brush after removing the lid. Using a stiff brush and plenty of water, thoroughly clean the area. Drain cleaning can be accomplished with a pipe cleaner as well.
FAQ
How do I get rid of worms in my RV toilet?
Worms can be pretty annoying, especially when they get into your RV toilet. You need to remove them from the Toilet and clean the entire unit. Toilet worms can be easily removed by flushing them down the drain. You can soak the area in a bowl of bleach or hot water for stubborn ones. You can also use a commercial deodorizing product to kill the smell.
Can maggots live in the Toilet?
Larvae can live inside the Toilet and cause a nasty smell. If the drain pipe becomes blocked or you leave the Toilet sitting for days without flushing, they can grow in large numbers and cause an awful stink. To avoid this, you should regularly check the Toilet for blockage signs, flush it whenever necessary, and ensure that it gets cleaned frequently.
How long do maggots last?
Maggots can typically live for about a week. However, they are vulnerable to dehydration and infections, so they should be treated cautiously.
Conclusion
We need to keep in mind that maggots are a natural part of the process, and they will not go away. So while it’s possible to kill them, it’s important to know that they’ll always be present.
So, how to get rid of maggots in RV toilets? Here’s hoping they’re useful to you.