At certain times of the year, we find ourselves with a greater presence of flies and other insects than at others, but in summer, after the spring months when it tends to rain more frequently, it's common to have to deal with them.
Flies are insects that contaminate the food they settle on with their saliva, as well as defecating in the places where they perch. As if that weren't enough, they perch with their feet on all sorts of surfaces, carrying all manner of bacteria, viruses, germs and diseases from one place to another. For this reason, it's essential to get rid of these types of insects and keep them out of our homes. Here are a few tips to help you do just that.
1. How to keep flies out of your home
To keep flies out of our home, there are various home remedies that can be used to drive them away and prevent them from becoming a nuisance. Some of the best remedies are as follows:
Bags of water
One of the most classic home remedies for scaring away flies is to use water bags. To do this, you need to fill clear plastic bags with water and tie them with string, then hang them from doorframes, ceilings, shelves or columns, which is a very effective method. Although there is no scientific evidence to support it, it is thought that the light reflected in the water when the sun's rays pass through it creates a visual effect that has a great impact on the eyes of flies, making them flee. The same phenomenon occurs with hanging CDs, commonly used to scare away insects and birds.
Lemons and cloves
This method is as simple as cutting several lemons in half and sticking a few cloves on the sides. Next, the lemon halves should be placed near windows, shelves, tables and counters, preventing flies from entering the house.
Apple vinegar
Flies love strong smells and vinegar is very effective at killing them. This product can be used to create a flycatcher. To do this, you'll need to take a plastic bottle cut in half, to which you'll add a little vinegar. It will then be placed in such a way that flies come to it and get trapped. If you're one of those people who can't stand the smell of vinegar, you have the option of turning to sugar water, which is also effective when it comes to fighting these insects. Recommended for use on terraces, patios and gardens.
Vodka
Another remedy is to put a little vodka in a container, as its strong smell helps to scare off flies, being a much more effective method than it seems.
2. Use aromatic plants
One of the best ways to keep flies out of the house is to place aromatic plants that repel flies and other insects around our home, a trick that works and, what's more, in some cases can refresh the environment and can even be used for cooking.
Some of the best plants for keeping these and other insects out of our home are: lemongrass, sage, calendula, bay leaf, basil, mint, lavender, rosemary, wormwood and mint.
3. Other ways to get rid of flies
In addition to the home remedies mentioned above, there are other methods for getting rid of flies:
Flypaper
Among the remedies we can use to get rid of flies in our home is flypaper. To do this, you'll need to cut not-too-narrow strips of bread paper or a paper bag, in which you'll need to make a small hole in each strip, then thread a string through it and hang it up. Now you'll need to use a saucepan to heat a glass of water, another of sugar and three tablespoons of honey over medium heat, stirring until you get a sticky mixture. Then pour the mixture onto a plate and impregnate the strips with the concoction you've created. Finally, hang the strips and see how the flies fall into the trap, to which they'll remain stuck.
Vinegar spray
Attacking flies with a vinegar spray is an excellent option for dealing with these insects, which can be so annoying. Although in this case it won't eliminate them, it will slow down their movements, which can be a great help in their subsequent extermination. It's an ecological and economical alternative to conventional insecticides.
Milk, sugar and pepper bait
Another easy-to-prepare and highly effective trap is a milk, sugar and pepper bait. To do this, simply heat around 500 ml of milk with four tablespoons of sugar and three tablespoons of pepper over a low heat for 15 minutes, stirring from time to time so that the various ingredients blend perfectly together. Once this time has elapsed, it's time to add the mixture to various dishes, which should be strategically distributed around the house. In no time at all, you'll be able to appreciate how flies are trapped in the liquid, making it an effective method of killing these insects inside your home.
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