Flies in the kitchen are a common nuisance in summer, but there's a simple fly prevention method that could help keep them out of your home. Summer is the worst season for flies, yet it turns out there is a straightforward technique to stop them from getting into your home so you can keep windows open without them buzzing about.
Flies become such a pest during summer because their eggs hatch at a significantly faster rate in warmer temperatures, and they not only need to hunt for food but also for a safe place to reproduce. What most people fail to appreciate is that flies regularly find their way into the darker corners of a kitchen, and once inside, it can be difficult to get rid of them as their eggs hatch in less than 24 hours.
It might seem obvious to simply reach for an insect repellent spray, but these products often contain harmful chemicals that can linger on surfaces, which is far from ideal if you have children or pets.
Why Sink Drains Attract Flies
Fortunately, you needn't wait until the cooler autumn months to rid yourself of flies, as William from Pest Buddy has revealed that it's far more efficient to simply check your sink drain on a routine basis.
William explained: "Flies, and drain flies in particular, breed in the moist, organic film that builds up inside drains and plugholes. Clean and disinfect drains regularly to remove a hidden breeding site and food source that's easy to overlook."
Flies initially enter homes because they can detect food from a great distance away, which is precisely why keeping your kitchen clean and tidy remains the single most effective way to keep them at bay. Many households already understand they should cover fruit bowls and regularly empty bins during summer, as rotting food quickly attracts these pests.
However, sinks often receive countless leftovers, crumbs and vegetable peelings washing down the plughole daily, which gradually form a greasy build-up that adheres to pipes. Flies can not only sense any food remnants left in a sink, but the drain is also warm and concealed, making it the perfect spot for them to lay eggs.
How to Keep Flies Away for Good in Summer
If you're determined to keep flies at bay this summer, then ditch the chemical sprays and ineffective home remedies and instead tackle overlooked areas of your kitchen, such as the sink drain. Keeping a sink drain clean is relatively simple, as you merely need to pour boiling water down the plughole, as the heat will break down any food and also kill any flies already living there.
It can also be beneficial to pour washing-up liquid or soda crystals down the sink as they are especially good at cutting through grease compared to alternative cleaning products. Make sure you clean your sink weekly during the summer, or even daily if you believe you have a fly issue, to prevent the build-up of odours that can lure flies.
That said, it will also prove enormously helpful to wipe down your kitchen surfaces, sweep the floor and refrain from leaving dirty dishes in the sink as even a tiny crumb can be enough to entice flies. Keeping flies out of your kitchen doesn't require buying any additional products or gadgets; just spending a few minutes clearing away food scraps is enough to keep them at bay for the rest of the summer.
