The sun is shining, the doors and windows are wide open, and everybody is having a lovely summer’s day. Suddenly, one fly enters the room, followed by another, followed by another. How do you put an end to this frustrating process? Here are some organic ideas for keeping flies away!
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Add a Fan
Not somebody who will cheer your name, but an electric fan to keep flies away. Especially when outside, this simple tip should keep flies from entering a particular area. When hosting a BBQ or another gathering outside, the electric fan serves a double purpose – it keeps guests cool and deters flies.
Light Citronella Candles
When it comes to keeping flies away, it’s all about making the environment unattractive for the pests. For example, they don’t like citronella or smoke which is why citronella candles are a fantastic idea. Light them outdoors to keep flies away or near the door to prevent them from coming inside.
Plastic Bag and Water
Interestingly, scientists have also confirmed (after much interrogation and suspicion) that the classic plastic bag with water trick does actually work. If you haven’t heard it, hang a plastic bag in a doorway and fill it to around the half-way mark with water. With around 8,000 lenses in each eye, flies struggle with the reflected light and want to stay as far away from your home as possible (great news for you!).
Try Basil
You asked for organic ideas, and this is one that some people swear by in their annual fly battle. With some basil plants in the kitchen, flies dislike the smell and should stay away (or quickly leave after entering!). Not only this, but basil is also delicious when added to bolognese and other dishes.
While on this note, flies also dislike the following:
- Marigold
- Mint
- Cloves
- Lavender
- Peppermint
- Cinnamon
- Eucalyptus
- Lemongrass
Above, you should find something that you like so that you aren’t keeping yourself away from particular rooms just as much as the flies.
Invest in a Fly Screen
To save lots of time, you could also just invest in a high-quality fly screen. These days, the models are advanced, so it’s easy to enjoy the summer breeze without also letting flies inside. With retractable screens by Clearshield, you can even choose the level of coverage you need on a given day. You get the fresh air and cool breeze but without the frustration that comes with it.
Remove Trash and Food Waste from the Kitchen
As before, most people actually attract flies to their home and make it an attractive environment through their habits and actions. Unfortunately, some people leave food waste and other trash in the kitchen, and this is like Christmas coming early for not only fruit flies but also gnats. With fruit items and fermented foods, flies will just keep coming into your home. Most of the tips above are wasted if you’re attracting flies at the same time.
Take all trash and food waste out as soon as you’re finished with it.
Open the Windows at Night
Finally, if you’re trying to get cool on a hot summer’s day, you need to start opening the windows at night and keeping them closed during the day. Although it sounds counter-intuitive at first, your house will cool down overnight before you close the windows in the morning to prevent heat from coming in. Remember, the heat is outside, so you’re better off not letting it in.
With these tips, you can keep flies away and enjoy your home (and the company of your friends) without pesky flies getting in the way!
