Three heatwaves have been declared in the UK so far this summer, and the temperatures have started to cool. However, while most of the UK are enjoying some relief from the heat, some places could still see warmer conditions as the summer continues.
The Met Office has also warned spells of extreme weather are becoming increasingly frequent. And while the heat brings many challenges, including flies entering our homes. As soon as you open your garden door or window to let some fresh air in, it seems to invite a load of critters inside to cause havoc.
While it can feel like you’re facing a losing battle when it comes to keeping house flies out of your home, there are some methods you can try. The key is prevention, and one content creator has shared a method which really works for them.
The Ideal Home Home, the UK’s Biggest Home Event, took to TikTok to share what they call the “ideal hack for a fly-free summer” – and it couldn’t be more simple. According to the social media account, the “easy 30p fly hack” will ensure flies stay out of your kitchen this summer.
All you’ll need is a lemon and some cloves. A voice-over explained: “Cut the lemons in half, add the clove around the edge and then place by your back door or a kitchen worktop, and watch the flies stay out of the kitchen all summer long.”
A single lemon will cost you about 30p in supermarkets such as Tesco, and if you don’t already have cloves in your pantry, you can pick them up for about £2.
Speaking to Ideal Home UK, interior designer at JD Elite interiors, Keely Smith, exlained why she thinks it works: “Flies are incredibly sensitive to scent. Lemons release limonene, which is a strong citrus compound that interferes with the way flies find food. When you stick cloves into the lemon, you’re adding eugenol, which has a sharp, almost spicy scent that flies dislike even more.
“The combination of lemon and cloves throws off their senses and makes the area smell too intense and confusing for them to stick around.”
In the comment section, some claimed the hack hadn’t worked for them, but others said it worked wonders. “It don’t work, the flies in my house too clever,” said one person. However, someone else said: “It works for the first day maybe then back to business as usual. The amount of lemons I’ve used now.”
One person said it “worked for me”, while another added: “It kinda works, you don’t get as many in the house, which is good.”