The warmer days are finally here, and many of us will be looking forward to getting out and about in nature.
As much as you may love the great outdoors, however, there are certain elements that most of us hope to keep firmly outside our homes – pesky flies and ants.
Everything blooms in springtime, and this unfortunately also includes hungry insects hell-bent on nibbling away at your BBQ leftovers.
Thankfully, there is a way to banish cheeky flies and ants from your home this summer, and you’ll likely already have all you need lurking at the back of your fridge.
It’s all too easy to roll out the welcome mat for these tiny unwelcome guests. Sweet-toothed ants may be lured by the slightest spill of a fizzy drink or a stray drop of honey.
They will also leave a scent trail which serves two purposes – allowing them to find their way back to their nest, and guiding their fellow hungry ants in the direction of the tempting food source. All too quickly, you may find your kitchen becoming the go-to dinner spot for a minuscule army.
Flies have slightly different palates, but ultimately, their quest for food will also result in the same tiresome issue. Overripe or decaying fruit – and especially bananas – will send fruit flies buzzing straight in the direction of your kitchen counter, as will wine, beer and spoiled milk. Fruit flies specifically seek out fermenting organic matter, which provides both a food source and a place to lay their eggs.
Meanwhile, houseflies, the other type of fly commonly found in domestic spaces, love nothing more than decay and rot, and will likely find the contents of your bin positively delectable if it’s been out for a few days in the heat. Fortunately, there is a natural solution that will put off ants and flies alike – a good old-fashioned lemon.
As previously reported by the Daily Express, experts from Fantastic Pest Control have revealed: “While the lemon method will not kill the ants or flies, it is a powerful deterrent and can force them to relocate for good.”
All you need to do is figure out the places where the ants and flies are getting in, and place half a lemon there, replacing it before any decay can set in. And if this doesn’t do the trick, you can take things a step further.
According to the experts: “Dilute the juice from four lemons in one litre of water and use a baster to squirt this concoction into the nest entrances. You can also use this mixture to clean your floor and kitchen counters to remove any scent trails used by the ants.”
Meanwhile, pest control gurus at Abell claim adding cloves to a lemon could well work like a charm, suggesting: “Lemons and cloves are two natural scents that can help keep the common ants and flies away. Using lemons and cloves to keep these pests away is an easy and fast remedy, as flies and ants can’t stand the smell of either.
“Use two lemons and cut them into halves. Then insert between six and 12 cloves directly into the lemon halves. Place the lemons, which almost look like a decoration, on a plate near your meal. No flies or ants will bother you as you dig in.”
Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.
Do you have a story to share? Email me at julia.banim@reachplc.com
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