I'm sure I'm not the only one that has noticed there's a lot more flies this year. Or, at least it feels like it when they buzz directly into my home as soon as I seem to open a door or window.
Not only are they seriously annoying, but they're also disease spreaders, can multiple very fast, and some of them even bite (depending on the species).
So, when I realized that the fly situation in my home was getting a little out of hand, I wanted to make sure I did something about it. Fortunately, my social media algorithm must've heard me talking about the flies because it started popping up with solutions.
And there was one TikTok in particular that caught my eye. Here's the hack I've been using to keep flies away from my home – and it's a real treat to hear no more incessant buzzing.
How it works
Influencer @mrsclarehoops has over 250k followers on her TikTok account where she posts a variety of easy, thrifty and helpful crafts and DIY tips and tricks.
And she posted a video titled: "Today yrs old when you found this natural fruit fly repellent," where she holds up a little bundle of helpful, natural and eco-friendly kitchen staples.
Using mint, lavender, and rosemary, she creates a small bouquet to place around the home, especially in areas where you'd find food sources like the kitchen.
Flies hate all three of these items because they produce strong-scented oils and aromas that these particular insects don't like. Even better? It's also a great deterrent for mosquitoes, ants, moths, and spiders!
You may well have these in your home already, but if not, it's a great excuse to go foraging, ask friends or family, or head to the nearest grocery shop.
Other ways to get rid of flies
Using this TikTok hack is certainly not the only thing you can do to get rid of flies in your home though. Most importantly, you'll want to make sure that all your food is covered, your bins and any trash are sealed properly, and cleaning up any crumbs is kept on top of.
If you let organic waste litter your home, flies will come to feed on it. Take away their food, reduce the chance of them coming in looking for it.
Removing all of these things should do the trick, but there's always the little bundles of mint, rosemary and lavender to use as an extra layer of defense. And there's other kitchen staples to deter flies that you can try, too.
If you notice the natural route isn't quite working for you, there's always specific fly sprays and pesticides that you can turn to, if you want.
Ultimately, if you put in preventative measures in the first place, the flies won't come. It's only if you allow them into your home and don't do anything about it that you'll begin to notice them spreading fast. And I for one certainly don't want that.
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