17 Simple steps to rid your home of flies this summer, Clean home tips, Melbourne homeowner insect advice
Steps to Rid Your Home of Flies this Summer
3 Nov 2021
Photo by Tobias Roth on Unsplash
In the world of insects, cockroaches have the courtesy to wait for you to leave the kitchen before they start scurrying across your counters. Flies, on the other hand, spend the whole day buzzing around and being quite annoying!
Flies are dirty, pesky little household pests that seem to stream into homes at the beginning of summer. Many homeowners use the services of pest control Melbourne contractors provide, to deal with these household pests.
Why Are Flies a Problem?
A sudden increase in flies swarming around your home can be alarming. Common house flies can be harmful to your health because they carry several different diseases and pathogens that they’ve collected along the way.
Flies land on surfaces all across your property and get all kinds of germs and potential bacteria on their feet. They could then potentially transfer this bacteria to the food and surfaces they land on in your home.
Scientists have revealed that flies could carry more than 600 different diseases! Some of the more common of these include:
- Salmonella
- Cholera
- Tuberculosis
- Typhoid
What Simple Precautions Can You Take to Rid Your Home of Flies?
The potential spread of so many diseases mean people are eager to get rid of them and keep their homes fly free. Some of the more common steps to rid your property of flies is to follow the precautions listed below:
- Protective screens: Use protective screens on your doors and windows. Mesh screens will allow you to keep your doors and windows open during the hot summer months.
- Clean your yard: Keep your yard clean of debris and clutter. This includes leaves and decaying plant foliage. Keep your grass mowed to avoid creating nesting places for these horrid little pests.
- Garbage cans: Ensure your garbage cans are emptied regularly. The cans should also have lids covering them.
- Compost: Keep compost areas away from your home. Where possible, keep your compost heaps covered.
- Drains: Keep your outdoor drains clean and covered if possible. Clean drains regularly using a citrus-based cleaning agent.
- Paving: Rinse your paving areas to ensure there’s no build-up of bacteria for flies to be attracted to. This is especially important if you have pets on the property.
- Pets: If you have pets living on your property, make sure their food bowls and areas are cleaned regularly.
- Kitchen: Keep your kitchen clean. Clean up a food spill or crumbs from breakfast immediately.
- Food: Cover any prepared food so that flies can’t sit on it before it’s consumed. Bear in mind they only require a few seconds to lay eggs and spread the bacteria from their feet. Their eggs are small enough for you to be missed and food could be consumed without you realising that a fly had been on it!
- Fruit: Flies love fruit. While the flies that adore fruit are sometimes smaller than regular houseflies, they’re just as dirty and disease-ridden. It’s important to keep your fruit covered and stored away from areas where flies can reach them.
- Plants: Some plants naturally repel flies. Fill your garden and areas surrounding the exterior of your home with bay leaf, mint, basil, and lavender. Place a few pots of these herbs and plants in your kitchen and any other areas where food is prepared.
- Windowsills: If your home is prone to flies, you can also place pots of mint in your windowsills.
- Essential oils: Another common way to deal with flies is by using essential oils. The most common is eucalyptus oil. Spray it around your home using a spray bottle. Spray around doorways and all over the kitchen area. You can also soak eucalyptus oil in cloth strips and place them in the windows.
- Citrus: Place lemon halves with cloves in your windowsills. A combination of citrus and cloves is a popular repellent.
- Vodka spray: If you have some cheap vodka standing around, you can add it to your spray bottle and spray it around fly infected areas. Apparently, the odour is an immediate fly repellent!
- Non-chemical fly traps: These types of fly traps are typically made from long strips covered in a sticky type of glue. Flies land on them and remain stuck until they die. They can easily be purchased from most supermarkets. It should be noted though that these types of traps aren’t for everyone, as they can be quite unsightly.
- Enlist professionals: If you’ve done all the cleaning and you still find your home filled with flies, call in the professionals. Pest control contractors will easily be able to provide you with the right types of products to use.
Rid Your Home of Flies This Summer – Final Thought
Flies are one of the most hated household pests. The main reason for this is that they’re just dirty little creatures who can spread disease from one place to another in a matter of seconds. Seeing a fly on your food always has you wondering where it was seconds ago, right?
With our tips, it might be easier to get rid of the flies buzzing around your home than you think. Additionally, your home and yard will be smelling fresh and clean!
Comments on this Simple Steps to Rid Your Home of Flies this Summer article are welcome.
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