With the warm weather finally looking like it's here to stay, many of us have been spending the past week with our windows wide open to let some fresh air into our homes.
But having your windows open also means that flies are more likely to find their way into your home, and they can be a real nuisance as they buzz around your kitchen and try to land on your food.
Thankfully though, one pest expert has shared some important dos and don'ts when it comes to dealing with annoying insects, and you won't have to cover your entire house in a cloud of fly spray.
Jordan Foster from Fantastic Pest Control said one of the most effective ways to "trap" flies and kill them instantly is to use a solution made up of apple cider vinegar, some sugar, and a few drops of washing up liquid.
The vinegar and the sugar make a sweet smell that flies love, while the washing up liquid causes them to get stuck in the mixture, which kills them.
Speaking to The Express, he said: "Combine two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, one tablespoon of sugar, half a cup of warm water, and a few drops of dishwashing detergent [in a bowl].
"Thoroughly stir the mixture to ensure all the ingredients are well-mixed. Once ready, pour it into a bowl and place it near the area where flies are present. The sweet scent will attract the flies, and they will come into contact with the solution, causing them to die."
You can buy apple cider vinegar for as little as £1.30 from Asda, and most of us will already have sugar and washing up liquid at home already, making the trick cheap and easy to use.
Other traps recommended by Jordan included one specifically for ridding your home of fruit flies, which involves putting a piece of fruit in a bowl covered in cling film with some small holes poked into it.
He added: "Set the trap in an area where fruit flies are present. They will be lured by the scent of the decaying fruit and enter through the holes, but they won't be able to escape. Once trapped, you can remove and dispose of the flies."
As well as sharing some tips on how to deal with flies, the pest expert also explained there's one thing you should never do if you have flies in your home - squash them.
It can be tempting to squish a fly sitting on a countertop with a piece of kitchen towel, but Jordan insisted it can be "unhygienic" to do so, because flies carry bacteria that can spread to your surfaces.
He said: "It can be messy and unhygienic to squash flies. As flies carry bacteria and pathogens on their bodies, these microorganisms can spread when squashed, potentially contaminating surfaces and putting people at risk.
"In addition, getting rid of flies one by one will not be effective. A fly reproduces rapidly, and it will take you a long time to eliminate them one by one."
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