Flies can be a persistent nuisance during summer, especially around bins. A simple, chemical-free solution involves using ground cinnamon, a common kitchen spice.
The cinnamon trick
Cleaning enthusiast Anna Louisa, known as Anna Louisa at Home on TikTok, shared a straightforward method: sprinkle a generous amount of ground cinnamon into the bin and inside the lid. This works whether the bin is empty or partially filled.
The spice's strong scent masks unpleasant odors from rotting food, deterring flies. Cinnamon contains potent oils like cinnamaldehyde and eugenol, which overwhelm flies' sensitive sense of smell, irritate their taste receptors, and disrupt their communication.
Why it works
Flies have taste receptors on their feet and tiny hairs on their bodies. Contact with cinnamon irritates these senses. Lucie Bradley, a gardening expert at Easy Garden Irrigation, told Martha Stewart: “It contains cinnamaldehyde, which disrupts the nervous system of insects, making it difficult for them to move, find food, or locate mates.”
Cinnamon can also deter other insects like ants, fungus gnats, mites, aphids, mosquitoes, fruit flies, and wasps. For a less messy option, cinnamon essential oil on cotton wool pads can be used. Additionally, flies dislike other potent smells like lemons and rosemary, which can be used in DIY repellents.
