LifestyleLife hacksFlies can be a real nuisance, especially during the summer heatwave when windows are open. But there's a simple natural fly repellent trick that may help keep them at bay – and it involves one 37p fruit15:31, 10 Jul 2026If your home is being invaded by flies, then popping one particular fruit on your windowsill could do the trick. With the UK bracing itself for yet another heatwave this week, many of us have been flinging our windows wide open in a bid to let in as much fresh air as possible.‌However, leaving your windows open leaves your home exposed to unwanted visitors such as flies, which are drawn indoors in search of food. Keeping these pesky insects at bay can feel like a losing battle. Short of covering your windows with netting, the tiny creatures will inevitably find their way in, leaving you with no choice but to spend the next 10 minutes frantically trying to shoo them back outside. But according to one cleaning guru, there's a surprisingly simple way to stop them from getting in at all.‌In a video posted on TikTok by Chantel Mila, she revealed that just one fruit and one spice could work wonders in keeping flies away. As an added bonus, your home will smell absolutely lovely too.‌Chantel suggested slicing a lemon in half and studding the flesh with dried cloves. Both citrus and cloves are scents that flies absolutely detest, so positioning the fruit on your windowsill near open windows or dotted around your kitchen should help keep the unwelcome guests at bay.In a video outlining five cleaning hacks "everyone should know", she said: "To repel flies, place cloves inside a lemon and place it around your kitchen."Another of her clever tricks involved bringing a pot of water to the boil on the hob with some cloves, lemon slices, and vanilla extract. She claimed this "makes your home smell amazing", and since it shares the same fly-repelling ingredients as her previous hack, it's likely to help keep flies at bay too.‌Lemons aren't just useful for deterring flies, though. Chantel's first hack in her video recommends filling a cloth bag with dried rice and a few drops of lemon oil and popping it in your wardrobe to tackle mould and moisture.Interior designer Keely Smith from JD Elite Interiors previously shed light on why the clove and lemon trick is so effective against flies, explaining that the insects are "incredibly sensitive to scent".She explained: "Flies are incredibly sensitive to scent. Lemons release limonene, which is a strong citrus compound that interferes with the way flies find food. When you stick cloves into the lemon, you're adding eugenol, which has a sharp, almost spicy scent that flies dislike even more.‌"The combination of lemon and cloves throws off their senses and makes the area smell too intense and confusing for them to stick around."How to repel flies1. Keep Things Clean:Remove food scraps, spills, and garbage quickly.Clean pet food bowls and litter boxes regularly.Take out rubbish frequently and use bins with tight-fitting lids.‌2. Use Natural Repellents:Essential oils: Flies dislike the scents of eucalyptus, lavender, peppermint, citronella, and lemongrass. Mix a few drops with water in a spray bottle and spritz around doors, windows, and surfaces.Vinegar and dish soap trap: Fill a bowl with apple cider vinegar and add a few drops of dish soap. Flies are attracted to the vinegar but get trapped by the soap.Cloves and citrus: Stick whole cloves into a cut lemon or orange and place it on the table or windowsill.3. Outdoor Tips:Article continues belowRemove standing water and decaying organic matter (like compost or fallen fruit).Mow lawns and trim vegetation regularly.4. Plants That Repel Flies:Basil, mint, marigold, and bay leaf are known to deter flies. Place pots near entryways or windows.Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌HeatwaveInsectsViralLife hacks