The Fruit You Need To Help Keep Pesky Flies Out Of Your Home

Moment of honesty: pesky flies can dominate even the tidiest of homes –- especially during the spring and summer seasons. Of course, you've heard of the million and one ways to keep flies out of your home, but they're usually terrible for the environment. Chemical-based products like Raid and other insecticides can have harsh impacts on the environment, and usually are extremely toxic to humans. Even those electric fly catchers can be extremely complicated in the long run, as they don't discriminate. You could be accidentally killing bugs that are essential to the environment's pollination season, and spreading disease around your home since the shock is so aggressive.

Being humane is the way to go. And trust us, this option is a lot more affordable. To get rid of that annoying buzzing sound that'll stray all over your house, there are a variety of natural remedies to put your mind at ease. After your next trip to the grocery store, be sure not to throw away your orange peels. They'll come in handy for this hack.

Just pop your peels in a muslin cloth and hang them around your kitchen. Whether you decide to do so in a particular area where you receive a lot of fly traction (we recommend entrance points) or simply put on a hanging shelf like this one, you can say bye-bye to your fly and pest problem.

The same way orange peels keep pests out of your plants, the strong smell of citrus acts as a natural repellant. Limonene, the compound responsible for the sweet, citrus aroma, has been used in perfumes, cosmetics, cleaning products, and foods like lemons, limes, and of course, oranges. For humans, it's great in moderation. But pests, on the other hand, can't stand it. We're talking fleas, ticks, mosquitos, ants, and almost any type of fly you can think of.

Luckily enough, the process is easy and simple. Beyond hanging your peels in a muslin cloth, you can leave peels in your window sills to keep annoying flies out of your home. If you want to maximize the amount of space your orange peel covers, cut it up to cover more ground. Pro tip: if you're having an outside picnic or barbecue, place some clove into your orange peel and wit will keep your day fly-free.

Now, if it's completely against your aesthetic or doesn't mesh well with your lifestyle to have orange peels sitting around your home, we get it. Since you need to replace them as soon as they dry out, this can become a bit taxing. If maintenance gets tricky, we recommend boiling your orange peels for about 10 minutes, then pouring the liquid into a spray bottle. Now, you have a natural insecticide. Spray around the area of your home that seems to be the most fly-friendly every 3-4 days.

Though oranges are an inexpensive alternative that works great, know this isn't the only option when it comes to getting rid of those annoying flies. Because limonene is present in all citrus fruits, you can do this same method with a grapefruit, lemon, or lime. It all works the same, even if you prefer to go the essential oil route. Depending on the quality of the oil, though, the concentration of limonene may be weaker, so be sure to check before purchasing.

Other natural remedies can be found right in your kitchen if your fly problem is a bit more severe. Apple cider vinegar is a must-have, as it easily doubles as a cleaner and pesticide. Grab a bowl and pour in a tiny bit of apple cider vinegar. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and punch a tiny opening in it. Flies will naturally be attracted to the vinegar because it's essentially the final step in a fruit's fermentation process, and once they're inside, it'll be extremely difficult for them to get out. Simply check in on the bowl every so often and release the flies once they've been caught.

Another solution is most likely in your seasoning cabinet. Sprinkle a bit of cayenne pepper into a misting bottle and fill it with a cup of water. Spray this around your entry points whenever you spot a fly. This also works with cinnamon, peppermint, and eucalyptus.