Cleaning experts have revealed a savvy tip to keep pesky flies out of your home while still enjoying a summer breeze through your windows.

The helping hand comes from nature, with the smell from one simple houseplant enough to ensure the nuisance neighbours leave you alone.

Basil repels flies as they hate the strong scent so by putting a pot of basil on your windowsill, flies are less likely to enter your home, The Mirror reports.

Mint is also said to keep flies at bay, which is also available in supermarkets for less than £2. You can pick up a pot of basil in Aldi for just 67p while Tesco charge £1.30 for a medium-size basil or mint pot.

The cleaning experts at Tap Warehouse have revealed how to prevent flies from lingering around your kitchen this summer. Polly Shearer, cleaning expert, states: “The heat causes an increase in flies and means that house flies are more likely to multiply in hot weather!

“This could see tens of thousands of flies buzzing around BBQs and kitchens this summer. “We recommend using preventative measures to stop flies and insects breeding in your kitchen this summer.”

Here are more tips on how to keep flies outside of your home:

1. Make your own natural fly deterrent spray

Flies hate the smell of essential oils such as lemongrass, lavender and mint. You can make your own natural fly deterrent spray but simply adding a few drops of these oils in water in a spray bottle. Lavender is the perfect choice as it leaves a fresh smell in the room.

Simply spray the natural remedy around your kitchen throughout the day and it should deter flies from entering.

2. Store fizzy drinks in your fridge and wipe any spills immediately

Fruit flies are attracted to the carbon dioxide in fizzy drinks, so if these drinks are left out, your kitchen fruit flies may begin to gather around the area, especially if there are any spillages.

Be sure to wipe any spillages and clean the bottles to prevent fruit flies from being attracted to them. You can also store your fizzy drinks in the fridge to keep fruit flies away from them.

3. Don’t leave dirty dishes by the sink

In the busy summer months, especially the school holidays, it can be hard to find the time to wash dirty dishes. However, leaving dishes by the sink to be washed will attract flies.

We recommend washing your dishes in the summer as soon as possible in order to prevent flies from contaminating your dishes with bacteria and even laying eggs on them.

4. Use apple cider vinegar to deter fruit flies

Fruit flies in the summer can cause havoc in your kitchen, often resulting in food waste due to people not wanting to eat the fruit touched by flies. If your kitchen has fruit flies, you should half fill a glass with apple cider vinegar and cover it with cling film and poke small holes into the cling film.

This should attract the fruit flies to enter the glass and you can then let them free outside of your home. It’s also important to store your fruit in the fridge to prevent flies from returning. You an pick up a bottle of apple cider vinegar in Tesco for less than a fiver.

5. Keep your kitchen bin dry with baking soda

Whatever you put in your bin will rot, however, this process speeds up during the summer months due to warmer weather. This will attract flies, insects and maggots, so it’s important to clean and empty your bin more frequently during summer.

One great hack is to sprinkle baking soda at the bottom of your bin before putting in a new bin bag. The baking soda should absorb any smells and liquids that leak out of the bag.

6. Keep leftovers fully sealed in storage bags and tubs

Flies like to lay eggs in places with warmer temperatures, which is why you should not leave leftovers uncovered when leaving them to cool down.

Instead, place the leftovers in a bag or tub that can be fully sealed to prevent flies from touching the food.

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