Flies ‘will avoid your home’ with 22p fruit at window

With the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issuing the first amber heat-health alert across England, many people will be keen to stay indoors to avoid the hot weather forecast over the next few days, including highs of 33C. Opening windows can be a useful way to ventilate homes and provide a cool breeze inside.

However, leaving windows open also makes it easier for flies to enter your home. Thankfully, there are plenty of tips and tricks people can follow to keep their homes insect-free this bank holiday weekend.

Nancy Birtwhistle, Sunday Times bestselling author and lifelong gardener, shared a quick, easy and affordable way people can stop flies from flying through open windows. Appearing on an episode of ITV’s This Morning, Nancy said homeowners only need to use one fruit.

She said that because insects are attracted to scent, homeowners can use items that not only have a strong smell but also give off an odour that flies don’t like to their advantage. She told viewers at the time how cutting up a lemon can work wonders.

Speaking to presenters Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard, Nancy, who won the fifth series of The Great British Bake Off in 2014, said using a lemon is “so good” and you only need “half a lemon”. She added: “You can use a spent lemon if you don’t want to use a new one.”

Explaining the benefits of leaving half a lemon near windows, Nancy said: “They hate the smell of citrus”. For an extra deterrant boost, Nancy also recommended putting whole cloves into the lemon.

She said: “And they hate the smell of cloves. Which I think both smell beautiful. And I stand mine in egg cups. And I promise you, the flies will stay away.”

Nancy says people could keep the lemons anywhere in their house where they want flies to stay away from. “I keep one in my pantry, and I haven’t got any flies in there,” she revealed.

Lemons are some of the most affordable fruit available at supermarkets. For instance, Aldi is selling a four-pack of Wonky Lemons for 89p, which works out to 22p per lemon.

She also said that she keeps one in her conservatory” because the doors are “always open”. Cat Deely asked: “And it stops them coming into the conservatory? Nancy replied: “They just hate it.”

Nancy went on to share some feedback she has received from fans. “I’ve had some followers on social media say, ‘my husband just didn’t believe this until his fly come in, turn around and fly out’,” she said.

Nancy did warn that the lemon half will eventually dry out, “in a week or two”. But she says she reuses the cloves. Ben asked: “So you take the cloves out, put them in a new bit of lemon?” Nancy agreed.

Cat later asked: “And if it’s in your conservatory, how many would you put in?” Nancy shared: “I just have one.”