Flies will stay out of homes if you follow this 52p kitchen food hack
Experts believe the cheap common item will help deter pesky flies.
Temperatures across Scotland are heating up with this weekend set to be a scorcher. WXCharts, which uses Met Desk data, predicts Scotland could see 26C on Friday, and STV weatherman Sean Batty didn't rule out highs of 28C, although he didn't specify where or when this might occur.
Yellow heat health alerts have also been issued for most of England, with temperatures likely to climb as high as 33C by Saturday. The problem with the sunshine and warm weather is that it tends to attract insects - including pesky flies - into our homes.
This is down to the fact windows and doors are left open for longer periods. And there's nothing worse than trying to get some fresh air only to be met with constant buzzing in your house.
But experts believe there is a simple hack to keep the annoying insects out.
One common 52p kitchen food can help deter flies due to its strong aroma. Basil, a pungent herb, contains oils and aromatic compounds that flies find unpleasant, making it a natural fly repellent.
The common ingredient also contains very heady oil and is useful in the kitchen to keep small gnats and flies out of food.
Used for centuries as a natural way to deter flies and other insects, the culinary herb can be planted in pots, used as a border plant, or even grown indoors near windowsills to help repel flies.
Although basil doesn't kill flies, it does prevent them from contaminating the kitchen and food and is non-toxic making it a useful product.
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You could also create a water and basil concoction to spray around your home by steeping basil leaves in water for 20-30 minutes.
A pack of Sainsbury's fresh packed basil will set you back just 52p and 30g of cut basil costs the same at Tesco.
Meanwhile ASDA's 'Wonderfully aromatic basil' costs a little more at 60p.
Other household items including peppermint, eucalyptus and lavender can naturally deter flies.
Cayenne pepper is also believed to deter flies. It contains capsaicin, which has an incredibly strong smell and is also spicy so will really irritate flies senses.
Not only do flies find cayenne pepper uncomfortable, but it makes them less interested in lingering about as it will mask the smell of food that attracts them to homes.
All you need to do is boil 475ml of water in a kettle, then the water into a bowl. Add one or two tablespoons of cayenne pepper to the bowl and give it a good stir.
Wait for the water to completely cool down, then place in a empty spray bottle.
Spray the solution around windows, doorways, kitchen and anywhere else flies are known buzz about.
Flies will naturally stay far away from the spicy scent so your home is more likely to stay insect free throughout the summer.
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