Flies can be a real nuisance during summer, but performing one 30-second task every day could help keep them away. Katherine McPhillips, a Lifestyle reporter, discovered a simple technique to permanently prevent houseflies from entering her home.
The Problem with Houseflies in Summer
With summer here, most people are preparing for holidays or anticipating relaxing days out in the sunshine. However, now is the precise moment to take care of your homes. A major issue that occurs during this season is houseflies, and last year our Lifestyle reporter found a simple technique to keep them out permanently.
She shared: "In July 2025, I started to have a really bad fly problem in my kitchen, and nothing I did seemed to get rid of the annoying pests. I thoroughly cleaned my bin."
"I did not have any fruit sitting on my countertop, and I even set out vinegar fly traps, which helped a little, but the pesky insects kept appearing."
"I was getting really frustrated as I was having to keep my windows shut despite how hot it was, but I did not realise that it was my sink drain that was encouraging them to come into my home."
Why Inspect Your Sink Drain in Summer?
Flies are attracted to food waste, which is why cleaning your bin is typically the first recommendation offered when they become an issue. Yet sink drains are just as vulnerable to food debris on a daily basis.
Numerous households fail to appreciate just how much food residue travels down the drain during washing up. Flies possess extraordinarily keen senses, allowing them to identify decomposing matter even from outside your property.
If your sink drain hasn't been thoroughly cleaned in a while, flies may be especially drawn to it during warmer periods. The warm, moist conditions provide a plentiful food source for them to flourish.
Tackling a fly problem early is essential, as leaving it unchecked can result in eggs being laid and a full-scale infestation persisting throughout the summer months.
Thankfully, there's no need to spend considerable time unblocking drains or forking out on specialist products. Simply pouring boiling water down the drain has proven to be a highly effective deterrent.
How to Keep Flies Out of Your Home in Summer
The method itself couldn't be more straightforward: boil a full kettle and carefully pour the scalding water down the drain each evening before retiring to bed.
Performed daily throughout July and August, this 30-second routine proved remarkably successful, eliminating fly problems altogether and allowing windows to stay open during the day. The boiling water destroys any food residue lurking in the drain, stripping away the odours that attract flies, while also killing any insects already present in the kitchen.
Further measures included placing apple cider vinegar traps around the house, changing bin bags daily, and positioning herb plants near windows. Flies are known to despise the scent of herbs.
With a dog in the household, Katherine was concerned about using chemical insect repellent sprays, making this simple, natural solution all the more appealing as a dependable way to keep flies at bay throughout the summer.
