Now that the sun is out, most of us are spending more time lounging in our gardens, but the lovely weather also means having to deal with flies buzzing around. Swatting flies off your food is not only annoying but can be dangerous, as they carry many nasty germs that can lead to food poisoning if you are not careful. 

Many people resort to chemical sprays to deal with flies, but these can leave an awful smell, and it is incredibly toxic to breathe in the fumes. Instead, Katie Femia, a DIY expert and founder of The Homespun Hydrangea, has shared that one of the most effective ways to get rid of these flies is to irritate their senses with strong scents. 

Katie said: “My back patio has been swarming with flies and mosquitoes, and I am over it. I don’t like how they bite; I hate the sound they make buzzing around, and all in all, they are just annoying.

“Luckily, I found a pest-repelling solution I really like! Check out this natural way to repel insects using cloves and citrus fruits. 

“Not only is this pest-repelling method easy, it smells really good! And while you will love the scent, flies and mosquitoes will HATE IT.”

It may seem simple, but certain strong smells can overload flies and really irritate their senses, making them instinctively avoid an area. 

Lemons have a sharp, acidic smell that is lovely to us but easily aggravates flies. The scent messes with their smell receptors, making it more difficult for them to look for food.

Cloves contain a compound called eugenol, which is found in many insect repellents. Flies find it overwhelming, and it can disorient them enough to keep them away.

How to keep flies away using lemons and cloves 

All you need to do is cut lemons into two even halves and press cloves into the fruit.

Katie said: “You don’t have to space the cloves any certain way. Feel free to create a pattern or just press them in as you see fit. There is no right or wrong way to do this.”

Repeat until you have used up all your lemons and cloves, then place them in a bowl. Set the bowl in the centre of a table, picnic blanket, or anywhere with food nearby.

This simple pest repellent can keep flies away for days. It lasts as long as the fruit stays fresh, but it will dry out after a day of sitting in the hot sun. 

Katie said: “Heat and sun can shorten the life of the fruit even more. If I set one on the patio, I don’t expect it to last more than a day or two.”

However, this natural fly deterrent is easy to make, cheap to buy, and safe to use, so you can enjoy eating in the sun without having to worry about these pests buzzing about.