How to get rid of flies in the summer - a DIY guide to debugging your home

It's not just people who love the sun - annoying flies like to come to play when temperatures soar.

The familiar buzzing sound it is an annoyance we could all do without, but what can you do? No sooner have you got rid of one of them that another turns up.

If it's left you feeling exasperated, don't despair.

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Our colleagues at Kent Live have come up with a list of things you can do to help combat them.

Make sure all food waste is disposed of correctly in a bin with a lid on

It's a basic requirement as flies love food scraps found in discarded pizza boxes, takeaway containers and even old fruit.

If you clean those up and make sure the lids are closed, there is less incentive for the insects to make an appearance.

Flies love pizza (Getty Images)

Keep doors closed

Not the easiest suggestion to enact with temperatures soaring but if you can stand it, it will help. The less entry points there are for the insects, the less chance there will be of one making it into your house.

A mint idea

Here's one of those, 'not a lot of people know that' facts, much loved by Michael Caine. Flies don't like mint, so dotting a few sprigs around the place should fix the problem fairly sharpish.

Oranges

You could try control them which is where oranges come in. Flies love sugar so cutting up a nice orange and leaving the peels on a plate should stop them from buzzing around and instead settle them on the peel.

Once they're settled, simply lift and toss 'em out.

A homemade trap

For people who like to get creative, why not make your own trap.

Empty a two litre plastic bottle and wash it out. Next, cut off the top third of the bottle and line the bottom two thirds with a sugar-water mixture.

Once that's done, turn the top third upside down and place it in the opening at the top of the bottom two thirds.

The flies will be able to get into the bottle - but won't be able to figure their way out.

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