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Flies are insects that annoy especially in the summer months during afternoon or evening barbecues or when you want to enjoy an undisturbed evening with a book on the terrace or balcony. They are mainly attracted to sweet drinks, desserts, and also to artificial light. How do you get rid of flies when you don’t want to restrict yourself in any way?
Window screens can help, but only if you are at home
If annoying flies or even wasps are bothering you, you can get window screens. They are effective if you want to ventilate all night and at the same time keep the lights on. They won’t get into the house or apartment and won’t bother you with their buzzing. Stinging insects don’t like the scent of rhubarb – you can grow it in the garden or even at home in pots. Rhubarb leaves are an excellent remedy against flies and wasps.
Just pour water over a few leaves (you can tear the leaves) and let them steep for a while. For 14 leaves two liters of water should be enough. Pour the infusion into a spray bottle and you can use it whenever you need. If you get small bottles, you can have rhubarb spray on hand anywhere – one in your handbag, another on the terrace. You can also use rhubarb in various cakes, but only if you harvest it before the end of June.
Use common tansy for flies
For small fruit flies, houseflies or large blowflies you can use common tansy, which is a well-known weed. It is a plant you can find in ditches, meadows and gardens. For one room you need to protect from flies, 2–3 plants will be enough. This daisy has a very specific scent; if you don’t like it, you can place it on the windowsill or out of reach of people.
Flies hate their scent and will avoid them from a distance. You can also dry the plant and put the flowers into a cloth bag and hang it in the window. Against flies or even mosquitoes you can also use other household ingredients that you only need to sprinkle on the places where they may appear. If you want to protect food outside on the table, you can use mesh covers, which are commonly available today.
