Record-breaking heat has created ideal conditions for flies to breed, but a simple two-ingredient spray made from everyday kitchen staples could help keep them at bay. The spray, which combines eucalyptus or peppermint oil with white wine vinegar, can be used around doors, windows, bins, and drains to deter the pests.
Health Risks and Nuisance
House flies are recognized carriers of disease and can transmit illnesses including salmonella, dysentery, cholera, typhoid, tuberculosis, and even anthrax. Beyond health concerns, flies can be intolerable when they enter your property, buzzing around your head and landing on your food, regurgitating and defecating after settling on unhygienic surfaces such as excrement and decomposing food.
The Two-Ingredient Solution
Journalist Christopher Stevens outlines the approach in The Mail: "Another method is to add drops of eucalyptus or peppermint oil to white wine vinegar. Spray this liberally around doors and windows, as well as bins and drains." He adds, "It's important to empty your bins regularly, of course - and never put liquid in a bin. That makes any food waste rot faster, attracting more flies."
Real-Life Experience
This follows Katherine McPhillips revealing her approach to dealing with flies. She encountered a "serious" infestation in her kitchen during July 2025, yet nothing appeared to "shift the persistent pests". Katherine attempted everything from scrubbing her bin to vinegar traps, but was eventually compelled to keep her windows shut despite the intense heat. She then investigated the drain in her sink.
She explained: "Flies are drawn to food waste, which is why cleaning your bin is often the first piece of advice given when they become a problem - however, sink drains are equally exposed to food debris on a daily basis."
Drain Cleaning Tip
"Many households overlook just how much food residue makes its way down the drain during washing up, and flies possess remarkably sharp senses, enabling them to detect rotting matter even from outside your home. If your sink drain hasn't had a proper clean in some time, flies may be particularly attracted to it during warmer months. The warm, damp environment offers an abundant food source for them to thrive."
Katherine emphasizes that identifying the problem early is crucial. She noted that if they're left to their own devices, it could result in a "full-blown infestation" spanning the entire summer. Her method? Boiling water. She continues: "The method couldn't be simpler: boil a full kettle and slowly pour the scalding water down the drain each evening before heading to bed."
