As soon as the warmer weather arrives, so do the flies. But it’s important for UK homes to keep common house flies, fruit flies and drain flies out of the house, as these irritating pests can spread germs and generally cause a nuisance.
Thankfully, it’s my job to test all of the ways to keep flies out of the house, and I’m always on the lookout for new hacks that can get the job done – especially as flies have been buzzing around my own kitchen recently. So, when I spotted a method that uses coffee grounds to get rid of flies, I decided to test it out.
According to @thehitchcockhouse, all I had to do was burn my leftover coffee grounds in the oven for 15 minutes, then leave the smoking remains to work their magic and keep the flies at bay. And while I’m happy to report that it did work, there was a catch.
The coffee grounds fly hack is based on the notion that coffee is a scent that flies hate. Like most animals and humans, they also associate smoke with danger. So, in theory, the burnt coffee grounds should force the flies to flee.
After burning coffee grounds from my own morning brew in the oven for 15 minutes, I was left with a smoking pile of coffee that made my house smell like a café. And within a few minutes of placing it on my kitchen worktop, the flies that had been buzzing around left through a window I’d left open for them.
For the next three hours, my house was a fly-free zone – despite leaving the window open to let the cool breeze into my stifling Victorian terrace. However, the magic wore off after that, and the flies started to return.
This is something that James Copley, Chief Executive Officer of Copley Pest Solutions, expected to happen. He told me, ‘Burning coffee grounds to keep flies out of your home is a widely shared tip that homeowners use. Flies heavily rely on their sense of smell, so the smoke will deter them, but it is not a permanent solution. Instead, the most effective way to keep flies out of your home is to remove whatever attracted them in the first place.’
So, while burning coffee grounds can be a great way to reuse coffee grounds and get rid of flies in the short-term, long-term prevention will always be more effective. This is especially true if you struggle with flies in the kitchen as I often do.
James says that the most important step is to deter flies from food waste bins, as ‘Flies are attracted to food scraps, overripe fruit, dirty bins, pet food, pet waste, and standing water. Homeowners should not just empty their bins regularly but also clean them.’
Regularly cleaning the kitchen, storing food in airtight containers, and removing standing water from kitchens and bathrooms are also key steps to keep flies out of the house.
Physical barriers can also help if you’re struggling right now. Our Senior Digital Editor, Jenny, swears by fly fans like this Zero In Fly Go! USB Rechargeable Fly Repellent Fan (£11.99 at Amazon) to naturally repel the flies, and there are even barriers you can put on your windows and doors to keep these unwanted visitors out.
Jason Peterkin, director and founder of 247 Blinds, says, ‘One of the simplest ways to keep flies out of the house is with a retractable fly screen. They create a physical barrier that helps keep insects out while still allowing in ventilation and natural light, making them particularly useful in kitchens, living spaces and bedrooms where windows are frequently left open during warmer weather.’
Of course, there are also the traditional methods of using citronella candles and even the lemon clove fly repellent hack, where you stick cloves into a lemon half to throw off their senses and leave them no option but to flee your home. But, really, prevention is always better than the cure if you want to keep flies out of the house.
Joseph Joseph Intelligent Waste
This food waste caddy should be less appealing to flies thanks to the ventilated design that reduces moisture and odours – and it even comes with an odour filter, too.
NeatiEase Adjustable DIY Magnetic Fly Screen
This magnetic fly screen comes in different sizes to suit the windows in your home, and comes extremely well-reviewed on Amazon.
Habitat Citronella Striped Effect Multiwick Candle
This multi-wick candle will be both practical and pretty, and the citronella scent should ward off flies inside and outside the house.
So, while I was impressed by the short-term effects of the coffee hack, I’m not sure I’ll be using it again! And for anyone interested, my coffee machine is the Sage The Barista Express Impress (was £729.99, now £599.99 at Argos).
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