Keeping One Aromatic Herb In Your Home Could Help Fight Off Flies Naturally

Summer and open windows can bring a plethora of flies into your home. And while flies seem to be adept at finding their way in through the smallest of gaps, leaving the house again often seems to cause them more challenges. No one wants flies buzzing round their head all day, but rather than resorting to harsh pesticides or bug traps, try adding sage pots in strategic areas. Sage's strong smell and oils are a natural repellent to flies, so keeping a plant in your kitchen or by an open window is an easy way to help deter them from entering your home. While sage has many uses around the home, this may be one of its most useful. 

Although the distinct aroma of the plant is unpleasant to flies, sage also contains natural compounds including cineole and camphor, both of which can induce toxic effects in an insect's nervous system. These compounds can also disrupt an insect's sensory receptors, which means flies will be deterred from landing on surfaces near to your sage plant. As an added bonus, sage can help to repel mosquitoes, with the cineole and camphor helping to cut down their ability to bite you. Of course, a single pot of sage is unlikely to be enough to keep your house completely fly-free, but it can be a valuable asset in keeping them away from food and off surfaces. 

Houseflies are more than just a nuisance; they carry over 130 pathogens that can cause serious infections in both humans and animals. This isn't surprising, considering their inclination to feed off dead and decaying things. And although flies only live for up to a month, they are prolific breeders, requiring only part of a single day from eggs being laid to fresh flies buzzing around your house. With one female fly being capable of laying over 500 eggs in her lifetime, these aren't insects you want hanging around indoors for too long –- no matter how much they want to stay and help themselves to a plentiful food supply. Knowing the best ways to keep flies out of your home will make life a lot more hygienic, but keeping them out with natural methods is undoubtedly the safest option for you and your family's health.

If flies are a serious problem that natural methods just aren't dealing with, it may be time to call in the professionals. Large quantities of flies, either dead or alive, point to a serious infestation that could need an expert to treat with commercial grade insect repellent. For most who are dealing with the usual summer influx of flies, using natural hacks such as sage plants should be enough to deter these insects from spending time in your home.