A simple natural fly repellent trick involves placing lemon and cloves around your food to keep flies away, according to a TikTok life hack creator.
How the lemon and clove trick works
Speaking on TikTok, a woman named Babs, who has more than 4.3 million followers, demonstrated the method. "Wanna keep those annoying flies away from your food? Just place some lemon and cloves around your food," she said in the video, positioning two lemon halves with cloves inserted into the fruit near her food.
She explained: "The aroma of the cloves and the citrus oil in the lemon act as a natural fly repellent."
Why lemon and cloves repel flies
The combination of lemon and cloves produces a powerful volatile aroma driven by limonene (found in citrus) and eugenol (present in cloves). This overwhelms flies' sensitive sense of smell, confusing them and concealing the odours of food that would otherwise attract them.
Other natural fly repellents
Physical barriers such as mesh food covers can also protect food. A gentle tabletop fan can disrupt fly flight patterns. Alternatively, pots of basil, mint, lavender or rosemary placed nearby, or strongly scented essential oils like citronella, peppermint or eucalyptus, can create a similar repellent effect.
Cleaning up spills and leftover food promptly, keeping outdoor bins sealed and positioned away from dining areas, also helps deter flies.
