Summer can make gardens beautiful, but a dirty wheelie bin can spoil the experience, but luckily there is a low-effort way to keep it clean and also help keep flies away09:42, 31 May 2026There's nothing quite as unpleasant as stepping outside to bask in the sunshine, only to be hit by a foul stench wafting from your wheelie bin, but there is a straightforward, low-effort solution to keep them fresh. Wheelie bins begin to reek as the warmer months arrive as rising temperatures cause food waste to decompose more rapidly.‌This generates a significant amount of moisture that trickles down to the base of the bin. The resulting odour attracts flies, which require a damp environment packed with organic waste in order to lay their eggs. Most households opt to hose down their wheelie bins, yet this only tackles visible grime and does little to eliminate the sugar, grease and food residue that draws flies in.‌However, Sam Nolan from Wheelie Bin Storage Direct has revealed a simple trick to banish maggots and foul smells — and all you need is newspaper.‌Sam said: "Flies tend to be attracted to food and lay eggs on it which then develop into maggots or larvae. Simply wrapping up food waste in newspaper before putting it in the bin can help prevent this."How can newspaper keep flies away from wheelie bins?When scraps from vegetable peelings, cooked food, or teabags settle at the bottom of the bin, they create the perfect breeding ground for the bacteria that attract flies.‌Over time, this food waste liquifies in the heat, forming a sticky layer known as biofilm, which is notoriously difficult to shift — and flies will happily feed off it.Once flies discover this food source, they become extremely difficult to eliminate, and maggots are likely to follow. This will create an even more pungent rotting smell throughout the summer months.‌Lining your bin with newspaper, however, will trap food waste and soak up any liquid produced before biofilm has a chance to form, making your bins far less appealing to flies.It will stop foul odours and food stains from accumulating inside your wheelie bin, keeping it fresher and saving you the hassle of repeatedly hosing it down during the warmer months.How to keep a wheelie bin clean in summerSimply save any old newspapers or magazines and use them to wrap food waste before placing it in the bin. Be sure to double-wrap meat scraps in particular, as these are the biggest culprits when it comes to attracting flies.‌It also helps to line the base of the bin with newspaper or cardboard after it has been emptied, as this prevents food waste from sticking to the plastic.Many people also sprinkle cat litter into the bottom of their bin — which may sound odd, but it is specially designed to absorb liquid and odours, making it surprisingly effective at deterring flies.Article continues belowAlways position your wheelie bin in a shaded spot, as direct sunlight heats up the plastic, accelerating decomposition inside and intensifying the smell.Should your bin start to whiff, there's no need to worry. A thorough clean using soapy water mixed with disinfectant will do the trick — just be sure to dry it out completely afterwards, as any lingering moisture will draw flies straight back in.