The two-ingredient fly catcher you can make at home to keep them away & you probably already have them in your cupboard
AS much as we all love the weather finally warming up, the sunshine brings with it something slightly annoying – flies.
The insects appear in homes during the warm summer months and can be a real pain to get rid of if you don’t know how.
Although they’re harmless for the most part they can also be somewhat unhygienic, not to mention costly to remove.
Luckily you don’t have to fork out on pricey products though, Chris Hutton, storage expert and owner of Adams Selfstore, has shared a simple trick homeowners can use to deal with a fruit fly infestation quickly and cheaply.
The expert suggested avoiding store brought products and instead making use of some items you probably already have in your kitchen cupboards.
If you already have apple cider vinegar and washing up liquid at home, you’re in luck.
“You can make a homemade fruit-fly trap with apple cider vinegar and washing-up liquid, as the cider attracts the fruit flies, while the washing-up liquid keeps them stuck,” he told Express.co.uk.
Simply mix around a shot glass worth of apple cider vinegar with a dash of washing up liquid.
You can then leave it in a container, ideally one with a wide base and small opening.
Flies will then fall right into the container and won’t be able to get back out.
Set it aside near a window where flies might come into your home and it will do all the hard work for you.
Just change the liquid regularly and your home will stay fly-free all summer long.
If you don’t have apple cinder vinegar at home already, fear not – you can buy a bottle in most supermarkets starting at £2.50.
Other ways to banish flies from your home
While house flies have a short lifespan, they can reproduce quickly and in large numbers.
There are some easy and practical steps you can take to help deter flies from your home.
It’s important to keep doors and windows closed when possible, cover food, clear away food debris, and keep trash in tightly sealed lids.
Be sure to clean up after your pets, as faeces is the perfect breeding place for flies
You can try a sticky strip of paper that you can easily string up from the ceiling – when flies check it out, they will get stuck to the paper
For a natural remedy, try leaving out a scent that is known to repel flies.
According to Natran Green Pest Control, they are known to dislike scents like cayenne pepper, lavender, bay leaves, rosemary, cloves, and lemongrass.
You can buy scented candles, or add plants to your windowsills for added protection.
What causes a lot of flies in the house?
House flies are highly attracted to manure, and can often be found around farms.
This includes:
- rotting material, including food waste and other garbage
- animal faeces
- manure
House flies got their name by being the most common household fly.
With their hairy black bodies and translucent wings, these insects can be found worldwide.
They generally live between 15 and 25 days and can survive without food or water for two to three days.