Flies are an absolute nuisance in summer, but I have found an easy yet effective way to keep them out of my home permanently. I have recently been plagued by lots of little flies in the evening. Even if I leave my window closed all day, they seem to always find a way to infiltrate my kitchen.
They are attracted to rotting food, so I cleaned out my fruit bowl and bin. After doing a deep clean, I realised it was actually my sink that was attracting them. It might seem strange, but sink drains are the ideal environment for flies, as they are warm and damp and often contain lots of food scraps for them to feast on.
If flies make their way into your drain, then it is easy for them to remain hidden, and they can quickly become an infestation as they will begin laying eggs.
I am very lucky that I quickly spotted my own fly infestation within a day, and after doing a little research I discovered it is easy to keep flies away as all you need is boiling water.
Pouring hot water from the kettle down a sink plughole helps kill concealed flies or larvae and gets rid of leftover food sticking to the pipes.
Flies have a very sensitive sense of smell and will enter homes if they detect rotten food, so keeping your drain clean is a simple way to make your home less attractive to them.
I do not like using insect repellent sprays in my home as I worry about inhaling the toxic fumes and the health implications of touching the chemicals lingering on surfaces.
How to get rid of flies and stop them from coming into your kitchen
All I did was fill the kettle up completely, and then I poured it down my sink before I went to bed at night.
Sometimes, I also sprinkle a few soda crystals into the plughole, as they are highly alkaline and one of the best natural ways to dissolve greasy food leftovers.
I also keep a simple apple vinegar trap near my kitchen window and fruit bowl, which has helped kill any other flies that do not make their way into the drain.
In my experience, an apple cider vinegar trap is the best deterrent when my windows are open, and once they are shut, cleaning the drain helps get rid of any remaining flies in my home.
Taking a few seconds each day to pour water down my drain has kept the flies away this whole summer without requiring me to spend money on chemical sprays.