Cleaning expert Polly Shearer recommends two houseplants to keep flies from entering your home
Conditions over the coming weeks are looking promising for al fresco BBQs and the occasional sunbath, but the hot weather can also have its downsides.
Register to our NationalWorld Today Newsletter
Working from home during the heat can be difficult, and sleeping at night after a muggy day is even worse. Hence, opening the windows for some much-needed fresh air is a necessity.
But while the cool breeze is welcome, it can attract pesky flies into your home.
Flies hate the strong scent of basil and mint (Photo: Adobe)
Flies hate the strong scent of basil and mint (Photo: Adobe)How do I keep flies out of the house?
If you’re tired of chasing flies out of your house during the summer months, a little-known tip might help solve the problem.
Flies hate the strong scents of basil and mint, so placing a pot of one of these plants on your windowsill will help ward off uninvited visitors.
Polly Shearer, cleaning expert, said: “The heat is causing an increase in flies and means houseflies are more likely to breed in hot weather!
“This could result in tens of thousands of flies buzzing around grills and kitchens this summer.
“We recommend taking preventive measures this summer to stop the proliferation of flies and insects in your kitchen.”
What other methods can I use?
Use citrus oils, candles and incense sticks
Other natural solutions to keep flies away are placement Citronella candles and incense near open doors and windows.
Putt dried cloves, mint, lavender or Cinammon in pots or bowls with open windows should also work as flies don’t like the strong smell.
You could also try spraying essential oils around your home, particularly strong scents such as lemongrass, peppermint and eucalyptus.
Strong scents like lemongrass, peppermint, eucalyptus, and lavender can help keep flies away (Photo: Adobe)
Strong scents like lemongrass, peppermint, eucalyptus, and lavender can help keep flies away (Photo: Adobe)Create a flytrap with apple cider vinegar
If you don’t have any essential oils or herbs on hand, another easy solution is to use apple cider vinegar to make a flytrap.
Mix the vinegar with dish soap and place it in a bowl near windows and doors in your home.
The aroma will attract the flies to the concoction, but the dish soap reduces the surface tension of the liquid, causing them to submerge and become trapped in the solution.
Alternatively, you can fill a bowl with apple cider vinegar, cover with cling film, and poke a few holes in the top of the plastic.
The vinegar will attract the flies to the mixture, but once they venture inside, there’s no escaping the plastic seal.
Continue reading
Put coins in water by the window
It is believed that the light reflected off the coins discourages the flies from entering, causing them to become confused and overwhelmed, causing them to quickly fly away.
Store fizzy drinks in the refrigerator and wipe up spills
Fruit flies are attracted to the carbon dioxide in carbonated drinks. If these drinks are left out, fruit flies can congregate in the area.
Make sure spills are cleaned up immediately, rinse all empty bottles to prevent flies from being attracted to them and keep all open fizzy drinks in the fridge.
Wash dirty dishes
Make sure dirty dishes are washed and put away instead of leaving them by the sink as this could attract flies.
Washing dishes as soon as possible helps prevent flies from contaminating your dishes with bacteria and even laying eggs on them.
Use baking soda to keep your kitchen trash can dry
Food rots much faster in your trash can in summer due to hot weather, which can attract flies, insects, and maggots.
Putting baking soda in the trash can can help absorb odors and liquids that come out, but be sure to empty it regularly.
Store leftovers in sealed containers
Flies are attracted to leftover food left uncovered, so make sure you keep the items in a sealed container or bag to keep them out.
Comments are closed.