6 ways to scare away flies

With high temperatures, reaching 40 degrees, and increasing humidity, it is common to have a significant growth in the number of house flies. Considered one of the most common insects, the fly can contaminate food and spread a series of diseases in humans, such as conjunctivitis, typhoid fever, tuberculosis, diarrhea, among others.

But how to keep the house free of these undesirable hosts? The answer lies, first, in cleaning the environment.

Keeping the house properly clean, without food residues, with countertops, sinks and floors always dry helps to reduce the number of flies. Added to this is the frequent removal of trash and washing the trash can.

In addition to cleaning, there are other ways, natural and artificial, to keep the environment free from unwanted flies. Check out some of them:

1. Insecticide

According to Karlla Patrícia, PhD in Zoology, products containing DEET (acronym in English for the compound N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) and citronella oil are proven effective, and have been used since the time of the 2nd World War.

Scientists tested electrophysiological responses of olfactory sensory neurons that are located in the antennae of flies and found that the insecticide makes them not realize that there is food nearby.

2. Vinegar

After cleaning the environment, try passing a wet cloth with a little vinegar all over the house, yard, balconies, countertops.

3. Clove and lemon

According to Margarete Camargo, PhD in Phytopathology and professor at the Department of Plant Health at UNESP, cloves stuck in lemons repel flies and mosquitoes, including those carrying dengue. She might try burying some cloves in the lemon and scattering them around the house. The combination also works to ward off bad odors from the fridge.

4. Water, alcohol and rue

Separate 1 liter of water, 1 glass of 250 ml of common alcohol and 100 g of fresh rue. Blend them in a blender for about a minute, strain the mixture and store in a spray bottle. Spread the product around the house, especially in the early evening. Natural insecticide can also be used on the floor and in the sink to keep ants away.

5. Bay, eucalyptus and basil

Another good tip is to mix bay leaves, eucalyptus and basil putting them in bags that can be spread around the environment.

6. Homemade trap

For homes with a large number of flies, it is recommended to prepare a homemade trap. Take a PET bottle, cut it in half and paint it black. Mix 1 cup of water with 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and bring to a boil. Wait for it to cool and add 1 gram of fresh yeast. Put this liquid inside the PET vase and hang. The flies will be attracted and will be trapped there. The lack of light in the vase prevents the fly from leaving when it is attracted to the trap. It is important to change this container every 3 months.