I’m a pest control expert – this cheap hack will get rid of flies

A pest control expert has revealed an easy hack for getting rid of pesky flies in your house this summer – and it won’t set you back more than £5. 

Jordan Foster from Fantastic Pest Control, based in London, said repelling these bothersome insects is easy with some strong essential oils.

Speaking to Express.co.uk, the pro recommended peppermint, eucalyptus, lavender, and citronella as the best options.

He added that soaking cotton balls in the oils and placing them where you want to ward the insects away is a quick and thrifty trick.

‘Using vinegar as a repellent for flies can be effective,’ Jordan told the outlet.

A pest control expert has revealed an easy hack for getting rid of pesky flies in your house this summer – and it won’t set you back more than £5. Stock image used

‘Spraying a mixture of water and white vinegar around the house or using it to clean surfaces will discourage flies from lingering.’

Other repellants include strong-smelling herbs and spices like basil, mint, rosemary and cloves. 

One of the cheapest peppermint oil options on Amazon retails for as little as £2.23, and cotton balls at Wilko go for 90p.

Meanwhile, a bottle of distilled vinegar from Tesco is only 29p.

Speaking to Country Living, pest solutions company Rentokil advised that common house flies are attracted to ‘rotten’ items, whereas fruit flies will try and find sugary treats like overripe fruit or alcohol.

‘Spotting a few flies buzzing around does not necessarily mean you have a serious fly problem,’ an expert told the outlet.

‘Although you should probably start keeping an eye out for other tell-tale signs, such as small dark clusters of spots in light areas and the presence of maggots.’

Spilt food, sticky surfaces, drain scum, alcohol, and pet waste are all things which could be attracting house flies to your home.

Spilt food, rubbish bins near windows and standing water (such as in watering cans) are also all common culprits, pest control experts told Homes and Gardens.

Speaking to the outlet, Nancy Troyano of Ehrlich Pest Control also warned the some species will only multiply if the problem persists.

‘Fruit flies breed on moist, decaying organic matter, such as fruit or spilled beverages,’ she said.

‘If there is a place for these insects to breed, they will continue coming back.’

Common house flies will also remain a persistent problem until the source of the issue, and particularly any environments it can breed in – such as interior garage rooms – are taken out.

‘House flies do not bite, but they are capable of transferring more than 100 different pathogens, including salmonellosis, typhoid and tuberculosis,’ Pestworld.org says.

‘House flies contaminate food surfaces by spreading disease organisms picked up on their legs and mouths when feeding on trash, feces and other decaying substances.

‘Plus, they defecate constantly.’