Attracted by the smell of food or household waste, flies are insects that are particularly fond of interiors. And during the summer, they proliferate even more. Bothersome but also dirty and sometimes dangerous for humans, flies just like gnats must be eliminated. But how to do it without abusing chemicals in your home? Discover all the solutions to repel flies and get rid of them. Natural repellent, essential oil, infusion, plant, simple trick… Discover all the easy and economical ways to eliminate flies in a house.
Summary
Why do you need to get rid of flies in a house?
Flies can be very disturbing or even completely annoying, especially when they circle around your head. But beyond this binding aspect, there is also the health side that should not be neglected.
Indeed, flies remain insects that carry many bacteria, which can contaminate the interior as well as food by soiling them.
Generally, flies are found in abundance during the summer. With the heat, we then witness an acceleration of the proliferation. A female fly can lay up to 600 eggs in her lifetime.
Also read: How to get rid of ants in a house?
How to avoid attracting flies to your home?
Before looking for a solution to get rid of them, you should apply a few simple rules to avoid attracting insects:
- do not leave food within their reach. Remember to put the bread away in a box provided for this purpose;
- do the dishes as you go, without piling up. If you have a dishwasher, put away your plates and cutlery right away to prevent leftover food from attracting flies;
- after preparing the meal, meticulously clean your work surface as well as your utensils;
- finally, always close your garbage cans and throw them away quickly if they contain leftover food, especially meat.
Curtain and mosquito net to prevent the arrival of flies in a house
This is a very simple solution to avoid the invasion of flies and gnats in your home. Start by investing in insect curtains, especially if you live in the south of France.
This system, made up of threads or fringes, hangs at the level of the door. Thus, the insects are blocked at the threshold. Although this is a fairly effective method, it is however unattractive.
On the other hand, if you are regularly confronted with the problem of flies in your home, you will have to buy mosquito nets for the windows. This is an ideal solution, especially in summer, and will also repel mosquitoes and other insects.
Repelling flies naturally: essential oils as a repellent
Before using chemicals in your home, you should look into natural solutions to repel flies.
You can use essential oil of rose geranium, basil, lemongrass, peppermint, lavender or even eucalyptus. You are spoiled for choice when it comes to HE. It’s up to you to select the perfume you like the most. For flies, it is then a repellent.
To diffuse essential oils in your home, follow these steps:
- pour a few drops into a diffuser and then place it near an opening or the kitchen worktop (strategic places);
- you can also pour a few drops in cups and place them where the flies like to go;
- Finally, the other solution is to mix a few drops with water and spray the mixture all over the house or on tea towels to put near the windows.
Advice : even if it is a natural trick, it is better to be careful with HE. Ask a specialist for advice before using in your home.
Using plants to repel flies
There are essential oils, but also plants that act as fly repellents. You can opt for basil, mint, eucalyptus or geranium (lemony, preferably). These plants give off pleasant scents for humans, but flies hate them.
Then place the flower pots on the windowsill to prevent flies from entering your interior.
To know : eucalyptus can also be used as an infusion. Then infuse leaves in boiling water, let cool, then spray in your house or on tea towels near openings.
Homemade natural products to get rid of flies
There are versatile products in a home that serve as much for the household as for getting rid of harmful insects.
Baking soda
This natural product acts against flies by repelling them. Just mix one tablespoon of baking soda in three large cups of hot water. Then, spray the mixture around the openings (doors, windows).
white vinegar
This household product has a strong odor that repels flies. Spray a mixture of white vinegar and a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil on the outside of your house, around doors and windows.
You can also place a few cups filled with the product around the house, making sure that they are out of reach of young children.
Be careful, use white vinegar and not cider vinegar. This last product does not repel flies but on the contrary attracts them!
Cloves
This grandmother’s trick helps repel flies. Cut an onion or orange in half and stick cloves into each half, flesh side down. Then place them in strategic places in the house. Every three days, remember to renew the operation.
garlic
The smell of garlic acts as a repellent against many insects, including flies. Make a garlic decoction and place it on your windowsill.
To make a decoction, roughly chop 5 cloves of garlic, place them in a saucepan and add 2.5 liters of water. Then, bring to a boil before simmering for about twenty minutes, covered. For an hour, then leave to cool without stirring. And finally, filter the decoction using a sieve to remove the residue.
Also read: How to eliminate fleas in a house?
