‘Genius’ 10p hack gets rid of annoying house flies instantly – all you need is 3 ingredients already in your cupboards
WE ALL love summer – but one aspect we all hate is bugs and flies swarming the home.
Thankfully, a home expert has revealed some easy ways to keep flies out of the home using items you probably already have at home.
House flies are more active during the day – but can also be a pest at nighttime as well when they’re looking for someplace to sleep.
The typical housefly lives between 15 to 25 days.
Indoors, houseflies live on floors, walls, and ceilings. It is also common to see house flies near windows.
Chris Hutton, a storage expert and owner of Adams Selfstore, explained how to deal with a house fly infestation and get rid of them for good.
To start, Chris revealed it was vital to identify where the house flies were breeding.
House flies like to breed in damp, organic material such as decaying food, animal waste and even overwatered houseplants.
Once you have identified the source you can then work on exterminating the flies for good using a number of ways.
TRAP IN
Fly traps are a common method but if you don’t want to buy them you can make your own using ingredients from the kitchen.
You can make your own DIY trap using a jar and mixing sugar, water and washing up liquid together.
The flies will be enticed by the sweet scent of the sugar but won’t be able to get out again.
This easy trap will cost as little as 10p to make too.
IT’S OIL GOOD
Natural repellents can also work to get rid of flies and prevent them from coming into the home in the first place.
The home expert said essential oils can play a key part in keeping the pesky critters at bay.
“Eucalyptus, lavender, or peppermint work well when it comes to fending off flies, and all you need to do is soak cotton balls in these oils and place them strategically around your house,” he told the Express.
Essential oils are priced at £6 from Holland & Barrett.
DRESSING ON THE SIDE?
While you might be used to putting vinegar in your salad dressing – it’s also a nifty product to have on hand to get rid of flies.
In fact the home expert said you can make your own fly trips with a dash of vinegar mixed with water.
He said: “One of the more obscure methods you can use to get rid of an unwanted fly infestation is to fill a bowl with apple cider vinegar and cover it with cling film.
“Then, you simply need to poke small holes in the film, and the flies will be attracted to the vinegar and get trapped inside.”
You will need to replace the bowl and cling film every couple of days.
SNAP SNAP
Not only do certain plants add interest and appeal to a room, they can also help decrease the flies swirling around your lights.
Venus flytrap are a surprisingly low-maintenance houseplant.
They love bright, humid spaces like a sunny bathroom or kitchen windowsill, and they’re great at trapping pests.
Venus flytraps and other predator plants may not completely solve your housefly problem, but they’ll help you keep flies in check.
10 Cleaning Tips to help get rid of flies
Alongside laying down traps, or using certain smells as repellents, you should also keep on top of cleaning your house - a clean house is the first line of attack to keep houseflies out of your home.
- Take you kitchen bins out often
- Clean inside and around the kitchen bin regularly
- Cover all food and drinks
- Wipe up any spills and crumbs from the table or countertop
- Make sure there are tight lids on outdoor bins
- Fix any broken seals, vents, or torn screens inside your house
- Rinse out all bottles and cans before placing them in your recycling container
- Clean up your garden too, including any dog waste
- Dispose of any food lying around
- Scrub your outdoor grill or BBQ and remove any bits of food that are in the grill