Say goodbye to kitchen trash flies — the one kitchen staple that stops them in their tracks

Black fly on trash can — (Image credit: Shutterstock)

Flies have been driving me crazy this summer, and whatever I do, they plague me in my kitchen. Swooping around my countertop after food scraps and diving towards my trash can.

Pesky flies are a constant nuisance in the summer months. The warmer temperatures speed up their life cycles, multiplying their numbers quickly. What’s more, food waste decays faster, providing the enticing stench they adore.

Our habits also change. To cool down our homes, we leave our doors and windows open more often, giving them easy access indoors.

Outsmart flies with a fragrant culinary staple

Cinnamon on wooden board — (Image credit: Shutterstock)

Cleaning enthusiast and social content creator Anna Louisa, known as Anna Louisa at Home, shares her clever hack on TikTok.

I can’t wait to try it, as it uses one of my favorite culinary kitchen staples that I use to add a punch to my bakes and a fresh scent to my home. It turns out flies love the smell of garbage, but they detest the scent of cinnamon.

@anna_louisa_at_home
♬ original sound - echoarchive

Anna Louise’s cinnamon hack is simple to follow and involves scattering ground cinnamon into your bin and onto its lid. It’s a strong scent that comes from the natural compounds cinnamaldehyde and eugenol, which overwhelm a fly’s senses and irritate their taste and smell receptors.

3 more DIY repellent hacks to banish flies

Mint leaves in a bowl — (Image credit: Shutterstock)

Apart from cinnamon, Anna Louisa suggests three other anti-fly hacks to try at home.

1. Get zesty with a touch of spice
Place cloves in half a cut lemon and pop in your fruit bowl to keep fruit flies away.

2. Create a simmer pot
Fill a saucepan halfway with water, add 1 sliced lemon, 1-2 sprigs of rosemary, 10-20 cloves and 10 drops of lemongrass essential oil. Bring to the boil and simmer.

3. Get minty
Place mint near an open window to help discourage flies from coming in, better still, place this culinary plant in containers near your entryways. You will also find that crushed mint or concentrated peppermint oil is more efficient that the whole plant.

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Camilla is the Homes Staff Writer and covers everything to do with homes and gardens. She has a wealth of editorial experience, mounting over 30 years, and covers news and features, tests products for reviews and compiles buying guides.

Her work has appeared in business and consumer titles, including Ideal Home, Real Homes, House Beautiful, Homebuilding & Renovation, and Kitchen & Bathroom Business. She’s even appeared on the cover of Your Home, writing about her own house renovation.

Although she’s obsessed with decorating her home, she also enjoys baking and trying out the latest kitchen appliances. But when she’s not inside, you’ll find her pottering about in her yard, tending to her vegetable patch or taking in her prized hydrangeas.