best buys
The 75p plant that stops flies entering your home
This page contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small amount of money if a reader clicks through and makes a purchase. All our articles and reviews are written independently by the Netmums editorial team.
We love that the sun is out but we're NOT loving the flies that have arrived with it. Add 'flying ant day' to that – expected to be bigger than ever this year – and the insects are really bugging us! But there's a cheap and easy way to keep the flies away.
The simplest trick that has caught our eye is this ... and it'll only cost you 75p.
According to experts, purchasing a mint or basil plant like the kind you can pick up from Aldi, ASDA or Tesco is just what every home needs to deter flies from entering or lingering once they're in. That's because the insects are repelled by the smell of the herbs! Who knew?
You can grab one of these plants for 75p from Aldi, 90p from ASDA, or £1.50 from Tesco.
Cleaning expert from Tap Warehouse, Polly Shearer, explains:
'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 in the UK this week.
'We recommend using preventative measures to stop flies and insects breeding in your kitchen this summer.'
For other ways to keep flies out of the house, cleaning experts from Tap Warehouse recommend making your own fly deterrent spray by adding a few drops of lemongrass, mint or lavender oil to a spray bottle filled with water.
You could also try filling a glass halfway with apple cider vinegar and covering it in cling film with holes poked in to keep fruit flies at bay.
Addionally, they advise sprinkling baking soda at the bottom of your bin each time you put a new bag in to keep it dry, washing dishes straight away, and never leaving leftovers uncovered whilst they're cooling down.
Back in 2020, a Mrs Hinch fan also revealed a genius fly-banishing hack which could definitely save your summer.
And you'll only need a few coins to try it out!
If you're heading to the beach this summer (but dreading the sand), you NEED to try out this sock hack before you set off ...
Or, if you're struggling to keep cool, here are the celebrity-approved heatwave hacks you need to know about.
Struggle with sweaty boobs during the heat? We've got you covered ... Or, if you're not sure which beaches to visit this summer, check out our list here.
Related stories
Celebrity heatwave hacks that will actually keep you cool
The sock hack every parent needs to know this summer
