The Surprisingly Simple DIY Hack That Saved My Summer (and My Nose)

How I declared my bin a no-fly zone

Rejoice Denhere

Jun 20, 2025

There are a few smells that stay with you forever.

The perfume your first crush wore.

Freshly baked bread on a rainy day.

And then that unforgettable whiff of hot bin juice fermenting in the summer sun.

If you’ve ever opened your wheelie bin during a heatwave - like we’re having right now - and been slapped in the face by what can only be described as the scent of pure doom, then this newsletter is for you.

How I Declared My Bin a No-Fly Zone

I love summer. The long days, BBQs, and cold drinks. But there’s a dark side. A buzzing, wriggling, six-legged problem that seems to appear out of nowhere as soon as the temperature climbs above 20°C.

One year, I lifted the lid of the garden bin and saw something move.

Several somethings.

A horror movie was playing out in real time right in front of my nose. I’d unknowingly created a luxury fly resort. Maggots sunbathing. Flies popping out babies. And the smell? Let’s just say if I could bottle it and send it to my enemies, I would.

But I’m a woman on a journey of self-improvement. That includes not gagging every time I take the rubbish out.

So I did what any self-respecting problem solver would do. I researched, I experimented, and I emerged victorious.

The DIY Trick That Outsmarted the Flies

It’s simple, cheap, effective, and weirdly satisfying.

Step 1: Clean Your Bin

Empty and hose the bin down. Use your favourite disinfectant—pine, lemon, lavender—go wild. You want it smelling like something you wouldn’t mind sticking your head into.

Step 2: The Vinegar Bread Hack

Grab two slices of bread and properly soak them in white vinegar. This is not a drizzle-and-go situation.

Then, drop the soggy slices into the bottom of the bin.

And that’s it.

The acidity and pungency of the vinegar seem to work like fly repellent. It masks odours, makes the environment hostile to breeding, and keeps those buzzing pests far, far away.

I can confirm this hack works. It’s just that some things are too sacred to share with every person I meet. Fortunately they’re not too sacred to put in a newsletter.

Why This Works (And Why It Matters)

Flies are drawn to bins for the same reason some of us are drawn to online sales—we smell opportunity. But vinegar is a natural deodoriser and insect deterrent. Bread acts like a sponge, slowly releasing the scent over time.

No harsh chemicals. No need for fancy sprays or pricey bin powders. Just good old-fashioned kitchen cupboard genius.

It’s one of those small wins in life that gives disproportionate joy. Like a perfectly brewed cup of tea. Or finding a tenner in your winter coat.

More Than Just a Bin Hack

Sometimes self-improvement isn’t just the dramatic transformations or the big announcements. It’s also the small, behind-the-scenes tweaks that make life smoother and a bit more pleasant.

A clean, fresh-smelling bin doesn’t change the world, but it might make your day 3% better. And if you can stack up enough of those 3% moments, you’re winning at life.

Growth Isn’t Always Glamorous

Some people hire others to do this sort of thing. They’re the untouchables of the domestic world who summon help with a single phone call.

There’s an anecdote often attributed to Elvis Presley. When his daughter reportedly asked him to fix a broken toy, he replied: “Daddy hires people to do things like that.”

I can’t verify the exact quote (could have been from a movie), but it says a lot.

I’m not Elvis. I don’t have an entourage on speed dial. I do the scrubbing, the soaking, the vinegar science experiments. And honestly, there’s a strange kind of satisfaction in that.

Final Thoughts

There’s power in solving a problem before it spirals into a crisis. And nothing screams crisis like a bin full of maggots on a Monday morning.

So this week, take five minutes and vinegar-soak a couple of bread slices. Drop them in the bin. Then go pour yourself an iced drink and bask in your small but mighty victory.

You deserve it.

Rejoice

✅ Know someone fighting the summer fly invasion? Forward this!

📘 Craving more practical brilliance? Check out The Busy Vegan’s Guide to Eating Brilliantly—real food for real life.