A simple hack using two natural items can keep flies away from picnic food, according to a TikTok user. Babs, who has over 4.3 million followers on the platform, shared that placing lemon halves studded with cloves around a food spread acts as a natural fly repellent.
How lemon and cloves work
In the video, Babs said: "Wanna keep those annoying flies away from your food? Just place some lemon and cloves around your food." She explained: "The aroma of the cloves and the citrus oil in the lemon act as a natural fly repellent." The combination of limonene in citrus and eugenol in cloves creates a potent volatile scent that overloads flies' highly sensitive sense of smell, disorienting them and masking food odours.
Other natural methods
Other ways to keep flies away include using mesh food covers, a tabletop fan to disrupt flight paths, or placing pots of basil, mint, lavender, or rosemary near seating areas. Essential oils like citronella, peppermint, or eucalyptus on cloth strips can also be hung near food. Cleaning up spills immediately and keeping outdoor bins sealed and positioned away from eating areas is recommended.
