Summer is the perfect time for throwing open your doors and embracing indoor-outdoor living, whether you’re enjoying breakfast on the patio or entertaining friends in the garden. But with warm weather and open doors comes an all too familiar nuisance: flying ants, flies, and mosquitoes.
In fact, searches for ‘flying ants’ have soared by 750% in the past day, according to Google Trends, as Brits battle a seasonal surge of unwanted insect visitors.
To help homeowners enjoy the summer breeze without being bothered by these flying insects, experts at Express Bi-Folding doors have revealed a clever and natural repelling hack that costs just 80p to try, plus a few more eco-friendly tricks to keep your space bug-free.
How to keep flying insects away from your home and garden:
- Try the frozen lemon and essential oil ice cube trick
Looking for a cheap, pretty and effective way to keep mosquitoes away? Try this DIY candle jar hack using ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen or garden.
Start with a clear glass jar or bowl, layer in slices of lemon or lime, along with sprigs of either rosemary, mint or lavender, then fill the jar with water and place a floating tealight candle on top.
Once lit, the warmth from the candle helps release the natural scents from the citrus and herbs, creating a gentle barrier against mosquitoes, while doubling as a beautiful table centrepiece for summer evenings. It’s simple, costs as little as 80p, looks great and keeps those bugs away.
- Use plants with insect-repelling properties
Consider growing herbs and plants like rosemary, basil, and mint near your patio doors or garden seating areas. These plants not only thrive in summer but are also known to repel mosquitoes thanks to their strong scent. Lavender, in particular, is both attractive and effective and can double up as a decorative table addition.
- Use essential oils
Flying insects also hate the smell of some essential oils like eucalyptus, peppermint, and lemongrass. For this hack, simply cut up some strips of kitchen paper or cloth, and place a little bit of your chosen essential oil on them. Lastly, hang these strips around your windows and doors to prevent flies from entering your home.
- Use leftover coffee grounds
Don’t throw away your used coffee grounds; instead, scatter them in small bowls around your outdoor space or near windows. The smell helps repel mosquitoes, ants and even wasps.
- Keep outdoor areas clean and dry
Flying insects breed in standing water and love cluttered, damp areas. Regularly empty plant saucers, pet bowls and any water features to minimise hiding spots for insects.
Photo by Petr Ganaj: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-black-flying-ant-on-a-purple-flower-7256530/
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