Living near woodlands means that I’m constantly battling insects from my home. Today I’m sharing these non-toxic tips to prevent flies entering your home, and ways to catch the few who still make it in…
In the early days of our renovation money was tight, so taking any kind of trip felt like a real treat. Coming home from a holiday is never easy, especially not when the thought of the endless DIY tasks starts to return to the front of your mind.
But this was even worse than I could have imagined…
As I opened my front door, wheelie suitcase dragging behind me, I saw them. Hundreds and hundreds of flies. We had only been gone five days but my house was swarming with them.
I still don’t know how, but we had been absolutely infested with flies.
My fear of pretty much all insects is very real.
So in that moment, I knew I’d have to step my game up to prevent this from ever happening again.
Here are the natural ways I’ve been keeping the most unwanted of house guests out ever since, without harming them:
Coins in Water…
This one reminds me of the goldfish you could win at fairgrounds back in the day. Instead of a goldfish though, drop a few coins in a transparent bag of water and tie it to a curtain rail or somewhere else near doors and windows which flies could enter through.
The reflections, movement and dancing light patterns created by the bag ward off flies and stop them entering in the first place. Prevention is the best cure
Use a good quality bag to prevent drippage and soggy patches on your floor, and make sure you tie it properly.
Herbs by the window…
I had my doubts about this one before I tried it, as I was certain flies would come towards food smells
However, there’s something about the smell of certain herbs that will keep flies away. Flies hate strong, fresh scents and get confused by them – so they try to avoid them.
Basil releases natural oils with a juicy, earthy aroma that flies just can’t stand. Keeping herbs near open windows to ward off the unwanted guests is a sure fire way to reduce the air traffic of insects into your home.
It’s tricky to keep herbs fresh in the house for long so some people turn to outdoor planters, or leave herb plants on external window sills to have the same impact.
Spraying the room with essential oils or using a diffuser…
This works in much the same way as the herbs, with the oil scents confusing the flies.
That’s because essential oils contain highly concentrated plant extracts that preserve the natural scent of the source plant. Eucalyptol from Eucalyptus, or Cintronella in lemongrass, are examples of how the oils can act in the same way as herbs which use scents as their natural defense mechanism against insects.
A simple spray bottle will do a great job of spreading the scent to act as a deterrent. If you really like the smell you can use a plug-in room vapouriser. They are very affordable (Typically £15 – £25/$25 – $40) and help your house smell great for longer. I use this one from Amazon which was a very affordable £18.99.
Sprinkle Bicarbonate of Soda in the bottom of your bin to prevent bad smells…
As you can tell from the previous two strategies, flies either love or hate odours. If there is one smell they absolutely love; it is the smell of your full, stinky bin.
Reducing attracting odours is key to keeping flies away in the first place. One solution to bin stink, is to sprinkle a good amount of Bicarb across the bottom of your bin. If you know me you know I use Bicarb all the time but this is one of my favourite usages.
The bicarb soaks up odour and moisture making the bin area way less appealing for our winged friends. It also means you don’t have to pinch your nose every single time you throw away your rubbish!
Using a jar of Apple Cider Vinegar to trap flies…
Despite all the deterrents, you will still ocassionally have one or two flies that get past your defensive despite your best efforts.
Time and time again, this gets recommended to me. I like to imagine the flies get drunk off the cider element of the vinegar and have a good old time – but it doesn’t seem to work like that!
It does work though, because flies find the apple cider vinegar to smell irresistibly sweet. Just put a little bit in the bottom of a jam jar, wrap the top in cling film and pierce a few small holes in. You should also add a few drops of washing up liquid to the jar. This breaks the surface of the vinegar meaning the flies sink.
I don’t use too much of the vinegar because I don’t want the flies to drown, but other people are a bit more ruthless! That’s up to you but I’d encourage you to use just enough that the flies stick and then you can tip them back into the wild away from your home.
Turn your lights down low…
This one seems simple, but it is easy to fall out of the habit. When it gets dark outside, ensure minimal light is visible outside your home to prevent flies, moths, and all manner of creepie crawlies from being attracted to the light.
If you need to pop outside, or you have a window open, try and get in the habit of turning lights off and closing the door behind you.
You might need a couple of these strategies to really make a difference but follow these steps and you’ll soon find the problem eliminated from your life! You can see more information in the reel below.
