Magic Cloves

I would have never believed it if I hadn’t tried for myself.

There’s always something bothering us it seems.  It started out as ants this year, which were quickly eliminated through the use of Terro and organic ant granules outside.  (Well, we still have ants, but not near so badly.)  Then it was mosquitoes, man were they thick for awhile! Then it stopped raining though, and since it’s been so dry, the mosquitoes have pretty much vanished as well.  Next we saw the invasion of fruit flies.  When produce is coming in from the garden so frequently, it was only a matter of time.  For the most part, I am able to keep up with the fruit flies by pouring a little wine or beer in a glass along with a tiny, tiny drop of dish soap.  The wine or beer attracts the flies, and they fly down to get a drink, but then the dish soap causes them to sink into the liquid instead of floating on top and they drown.  It’s a pretty effective way to eliminate fruit flies, or at least keep them manageable.

But over the last week or so, it’s been houseflies.  And I’m talking about a full scale invasion! Over this past weekend, at any one time we could have had 15-20 flies in the house, and three times as many buzzing around outside waiting for a chance to be let in.  Talk about disgusting!  And I couldn’t find anything that would specifically be attracting them.  I looked for a homeopathic way to get rid of flies, similar to the fruit fly trick, but I found nothing- only a recommendation to try making my own fly tape using masking tape and honey.  Please, I don’t want that hanging around!

What I did find though, was a recommendation for a repellent.  Specifically, cloves.  The suggestion I’d read said to press cloves into an apple and set it on the counter.  The flies are repelled by the scent of clove.  Well, apples are a precious commodity in our house- our kids love apples, and I hated the thought of wasting an apple trying this one out.  So instead, I went down into the basement and pulled out my tiny crock-pot. The little two-cupper one that I use for hot dips and whatnot. I poured water into the crock, followed by a generous sprinkling of whole cloves. (Maybe 15 or so).  I plugged the crock in and before long, the pleasant aroma of clove was wafting through the house, and right out the back door.  I did this on Monday, and while I unplug it at night, and refill with added water throughout the day, I haven’t seen a fly since.  They’re not even outside on the patio like they were this past weekend!

So is it the cloves? I guess I can’t really say for sure, but I sure am glad that the fly invasion has moved on.  I’m encouraged enough by it that I’ll likely keep the clove soup going for awhile.  I love it when a hot tip like this works out! Have flies? Try cloves, works beautifully!