Flies can be a menace in summer as they can quickly swarm your home, but I have discovered there is a quick but very effective way to keep them away for good. I have been dealing with a lot of flies this summer so have had to keep my windows shut at night, but I noticed these pesky insects are still somehow managing to get into my kitchen.
It may seem obvious to keep your fruit bowl and rubbish bin clean, as flies are attracted to food, but I did not realise it was actually my sink I should be keeping an eye on instead. Sink drains are the perfect habitat for flies, as they are warm and wet and sometimes contain food scraps. They are also tucked out of sight, which makes it very easy for an infestation to go unnoticed.
If you do not notice these hidden flies, they can quickly become a bigger problem. They will begin laying eggs, making getting rid of them much more difficult.
I am thankful I caught my own fly infestation within the first day, and I discovered that a really simple way to stop them from coming into my kitchen was to take a few seconds to pour boiling water down the drain.
Boiling water will kill any flies or larvae hiding in your drain, but it also helps dislodge any grease sticking to your pipes that attracts these pests.
Flies have an extremely sensitive sense of smell and are attracted to the scent of decaying food, but keeping drains clean will eliminate these odours to stop flies from entering your home.
I really hate using insect sprays in my home. I do not want to breathe in poisonous fumes, and I worry about the health risks of these chemicals lingering on my floors and worktops.
However, since I spend 10 seconds each morning cleaning my drain, I have not dealt with any flies, and I can now keep my windows open without any fear of these really annoying insects.
How to get rid of flies and stop them from coming into your home
All you need to do is fill up a kettle, let it boil, and then very slowly pour it down your drain. It is best to take your time to make sure you are getting rid of all the food build-up.
I also sometimes pour soda crystals down the drain before pouring water down it, as this can naturally break down grease and is one of the best ingredients for preventing clogs.
I poured boiling water down the drain once at night before going to bed, just to be certain I had gotten rid of any flies that could be creeping into my kitchen.
Then, I made sure there was no grease, food scraps, or anything else in my sink overnight to ensure there was nothing to attract the flies.
I have also been placing a simple apple vinegar trap next to my fruit bowl and on my windowsill, which has been really successful at keeping flies away.
For me, it tends to be best to use the apple vinegar trap when my window is open, and then pour boiling water down the drain each day when my windows are closed.
However, flies often come into kitchens because they love the smell of food, so I have also been temporarily keeping all my fruit in the fridge and making sure to change out the bin bag each day.
July is the worst time for flies, but I am happy to report that I have not had insects in my home since I started using the boiling water trick, vinegar trap, and keeping my food out of sight.
It has now been over a week, roughly 10 days, since I spotted a fly buzzing around my kitchen. Now, I can enjoy having my windows open without worrying about pesky flies annoying me this summer.
