When the heat arrives, it’s often accompanied by the arrival of flies in the home. With over 1 million species of flies worldwide, this flying insect is not about to disappear.
Flies invade every room in the house and leave no respite for their inhabitants. But don’t panic, there are plenty of tricks you can use to get rid of them and restore serenity to your home.
A little bonus: in this article, you’ll find some completely natural anti-fly tips that are good for the environment and your health.
The most effective anti-fly tips
At first glance, flies seem harmless, but this is far from the case. True, flies don’t have stingers like wasps and bees, and are unlikely to sting, but their hairy bodies are veritable breeding grounds for bacteria.
In this sense, flies are particularly harmful to the home. Their attraction to dirty places, feces and rotten food means you can just about imagine the kind of germs and bacteria a fly can carry with it…
That’s why it’s essential to prevent them from wandering around your home, especially on your worktops, fruit baskets, furniture and dining table.
We don’t say it enough, but flies are capable of contaminating food, which can cause illnesses of varying degrees of seriousness, such as diarrhoea and much worse.
To prevent this from happening, here’s a look at some of the best tips for preventing flies in the home.
Cloves
Cloves are very effective at keeping flies away, as they don’t like the smell of them. A simple trick is to stick cloves into a lemon or orange, and use them as a fly repellent.
White vinegar
White vinegar also has an odor that flies don’t like. In fact, it’s a natural remedy that can’t be beaten for all your home maintenance needs. It can be used to clean windows and act as a natural barrier against flies. It can also be used as a multi-surface cleaner and disinfectant for worktops, counters and dining tables. Flies won’t dare land on them!
Garlic and onion
Garlic and onion are excellent for fighting flying insects, especially flies. To use them, simply make a decoction from these two ingredients and place containers filled with the liquid in strategic places around the house, terrace and garden.
Halved onions placed in the four corners of the house will act in the same way, but the main problem with this solution is that the smell will not only bother the flies.
Anti-fly aromatic plants
Many aromatic plants are renowned for their effect on flies and other flying insects. What’s more, these plants will pleasantly perfume your home. They include :
- Citronella : a well-known mosquito repellent, citronella also has a positive effect on keeping flies out of the house.
- Lavender : fresh or dried lavender is also an excellent fly repellent.
- Basil : like lemongrass, basil keeps mosquitoes away, but not only that: flies won’t go near windows containing this aromatic plant, which is widely used in cooking.
Mosquito nets
Mosquito nets are not only effective against mosquitoes, they also prevent the hordes of flies from entering your home.
Darkness
Like many other insects, flies are attracted to light. That’s why a simple trick to keep them out is to plunge your rooms into darkness during the day, as you would during a heatwave.
Water bombs
Filling transparent bags with water and hanging them at various points of entry to the house is a tried-and-tested solution for chasing away flies. A rather strange method, but effective nonetheless.
Fly boxes
It’s easy to make your own fly box. To do so, proceed as follows:
- Soak a cloth in lavender essential oil.
- Place the cloth in a closed metal box.
- Wait 24 hours.
- Open the tin and place it in the most fly-infested room in the house.
This highly effective solution quickly eliminates all flies in the house. Be sure to soak the cloth again as soon as the effects have worn off.
Note: it’s best to remember to close the box during the night, as well as when you’re away for long periods, so as not to waste the benefits of the fly repellent.
Fly repellent essential oils
Essential oils are highly concentrated substances which must be handled with care and full knowledge of the facts.
Many essential oils are highly effective at repelling flies, and can be used as diffusers in particular. These include
- Eucalyptus essential oil
- Citronella essential oil
- Peppermint essential oil
- Poulliot mint essential oil
They can be diffused using a capillary diffuser or an ultrasonic diffuser. Flies smelling the scent will no longer dare to enter the house.
Fly repellent for capillary diffusers is simply made from 70° alcohol and essential oils. It’s not only highly effective, but also economical.
Please note, however, that essential oils are not suitable for use on babies.
And that’s how to keep flies out of your home!
