Now’s the time of year when wasps, flies and other insects start looking for a new home. And, to make sure they don’t find a warm welcome in or around your home, there are a number of steps you can take:
1. Block those gaps
If you spot a few solitary wasps or large black flies buzzing around your home and they are unlikely to have come in through an open door or window, check your property for small gaps that they could have squeezed through. Perhaps there is a small hole between the window frame or a pipe and the brickwork. Follow the drafts on a windy day and you’ll quickly seek them out. Once discovered fill any holes with sealant.
2. Don’t entice them in
Wasps or flies who stray in to your home through an open window will only stay if there is something enticing. So make sure you don’t leave uncovered food out and cover fruit bowls (fruit ripens quickly on warm days and on hot days can start leaking juice). Empty rubbish bins regularly and avoid sweetly scented room perfumes, which wasps might find attractive.
3. Actively Deter them
You can use safe natural deterrents to encourage insects to avoid your home. Flies do not like mint, so keep a mint plant in the kitchen and by outdoor eating areas to keep them away when you’re eating.
Moths hate aromatic cedar and teatree oil so sprinkle a few cloth sachets with one of these and distribute among your wardrobes and replenish every few months. It’s also worth keeping your most treasured clothes – such as expensive cashmere jumpers, which moths are particularly partial too – in sealed bags.
Teatree oil, Citronella and Eucalyptus are natural repellents for most irritating insects. Look out for repellent products made with these in your local natural health shop.
4. Getting rid of them
If, despite taking these steps, you find your home is invaded, you’ll need to remove this nuisance quickly.
If you find evidence of moths in your wardrobes, ensure that all the larvae are killed. Dry cleaning clothes or sticking them in the freezer for a few days should successfully do this. Then you’ll need to empty your wardrobe and thoroughly clean it before returning your clothes.
If wasps or flies have moved in, you’re probably best off calling in a professional pest control firm to guarantee that they are removed for good and that no one is hurt in the process. Your council’s pest control department will offer this service for a charge and many other commercial pest removal companies can be found from local directories.
Thanks to guest blogger: Anna Tobin – freelance consumer journalist and interiors stylist
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Keeping a nice garden helps too.
Plenty of nice aromatic flowers and bushes in the garden will give them no reason to come indoors. We have our doors & windows open all the time and rarely have any unwanted guests.