I’m a cleaning pro – here’s the 99p natural repellent that will keep flies out of your home, and keep moths at bay too | The Sun

AS THE temperatures drop you may notice that your house has become home to a few more creepy crawlies.

Most insects are usually after a warm, dark place to spend the winter, where food and water are nearby. 

Still, it’s unpleasant to be greeted by these unwanted houseguests, so experts at  MattressNextDay have revealed how to prevent them…

99p hack prevents flies in your home 

If you’ve been clapping your hands or snapping your fingers at tiny flies or huge buzzing ones, then you’ll know how annoying these can be. 

Flies search for shelter in nooks and crannies, and lay eggs in decaying organic material, like fruit and fungus. 

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They can indicate unsanitary household conditions and can spread bacteria and disease through their body hair which then gets ingested by us. The illnesses they can spread include food poisoning, eye infections, and dysentery. Nasty!

If you’re looking for a more natural way to deter than fly-swatting, then getting 99p cinnamon sticks is the answer. 

The smell is overpowering, and some of the components can even be toxic to flies. Placing cinnamon sticks in a mason jar without a lid is the easiest way to deter flies, and only needs to be changed every month (once they’re dry). Some people love the scent of cinnamon as it reminds them of Christmas, so it’s a win-win situation!

Wipe your kitchen counters 

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Leaving food around the house or on kitchen countertops uncovered is a surefire way to attract flies. 

Wiping down tables and countertops to eliminate small bits of food, juices, and crumbs, as well as keeping dishes clean, will help to remove the allure of your home.

'Top dress' your houseplants

Covering the soil of your indoor plants with sand or small stones means that you can still water them, but the soil becomes inaccessible to flies. 

Any larvae already there will die off as they can’t get past the sand or stones.

Herbs can be a natural repellent to moths 

Attracted by the light, you’ll often find moths fluttering wildly against a lightbulb. Although they appear more in the spring and summer, we’ve included them in our list because now is the time to check your wardrobes.

Adult clothes moths don’t feed, but their larvae do. They lay their eggs in closets and cupboards full of natural materials. When the eggs hatch, after 4-20 days, they eat the material, and this can leave holes in jumpers, shirts, and other high-quality materials.

The reason you should act now is that larvae can last for anywhere from 2 months to 2.5 years! After this, they transform into a cocoon, but 2.5 years is a long time to be finding your clothes ruined.

For a preventative measure, place dried rosemary, thyme, or lavender into a small cloth bag, hang them in your wardrobe, and place them in your drawers. Alternatively, you can add cedar or lavender oil to water and spray it around your doorways and windows to deter them further.

Vacuum regularly – and get behind your furniture 

You should vacuum at least once a week but even more so if you spot a moth in your house. This is because you will want to remove any eggs that may be on your carpet, as well as any hair, skin, and food debris that will make the moths starve. 

Also, make sure to hoover behind and under furniture and moths like to loiter around the darkest places.

Always wash your clothes before putting them away

Did you know that moths are primarily drawn to human sweat that is left on clothing? You should ensure that you only ever place washed clothes in your wardrobe or drawers – especially if you’re putting them away for a long time. 

Even the smallest amount of sweat on a top could entice moths to make their way into your storage system, whilst putting holes in your clothes.

Fresh mint and conkers can prevent spiders 

It’s not just the warmth of homes that attracts spiders in the autumn. The ones you spot running around are likely males looking for a mate. The female spiders have probably already found a nice place to settle and lay their eggs within a dark spot in your house.

Plants like mint and eucalyptus are easy to buy from local supermarkets and their strong scent deters creepy crawlies. 

Alternatively, you can chop mint up and add boiling water. Let the mixture sit until it's cool before straining it and pouring it into a spray bottle. You can then spray harder-to-reach spots such as the back of cabinets or the corners of ceilings, where spiders like to relax.

It may be an old wives’ tale, but it really does work; placing conkers on your windowsills can deter spiders from coming into your home. You can even tie-style them to make a seasonal home décor accessory.

Make sure to take your recycling outside every day

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As spiders like to hide out in dark, moist environments, recycling bags and bins can be a literal housing estate for them. Bottles, tins, and cans are perfect for them to set up in and as in the UK, most of us get our recycling bins emptied fortnightly, this could mean you have an indoor bin that goes unemptied for a while. 

The best thing to do is either keep the bin in a covered outdoor area or empty it daily into your outdoor recycling bin.

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