Summer is now in full swing, and the higher temperatures mean we're more likely to see some pesky insects appearing in our homes.
Fruit flies are a particularly bad problem during the warmer months, because we're more likely to have the windows open, and it sometimes seems as though the pests are impossible to get rid of.
They're attracted to things like food being left out or spilled, such as fizzy or sugary drinks, fruit or alcohol.
But there's a simple way to banish the pests from your home, and all it requires is a simple kitchen ingredient that you probably already have lying around.
The Mirror reports that you'll need a plastic bottle to build the basis of the simple contraption.
Then, all you need to do is cut it in half with the bottom half slightly taller than the top, according to the experts at Good Housekeeping.
Take off the cap and fill the bottom half with water, adding a drop of vinegar too if you also want to repel bees. Then stick the top half in upside down so that it resembles a funnel.
To attract the flies, spread some sugar water around the top of the bottle, and pierce two holes in it so you can thread some string through and hang up the contraption wherever you need to.
This natural repellent is ideal for keeping pests away without resorting to using harsh chemicals.
And a bag of sugar will only cost you 89p from Asda, making it incredibly budget-friendly as well.
You can also pick up a bag for £1.05 from Tesco or £1.09 from Morrison's.
Flies will smell the sugar water and fly into the bottle to try and reach it, but they'll get trapped as they can't get back out the narrow opening.
Their wings may also get wet from the water, meaning they're unable to fly.
Other cheap and easy ways to get rid of flies include picking up some fresh herbs.
Seeking advice for exactly this problem, a Facebook user asked on the Mrs Hinch Cleaning Tips page: "Loads of flies everywhere in my house. How do I get rid? Thanks."
The post received over 100 comments, but there was one tip in particular that stood out because of its simplicity.
One woman said: "Fresh mint. The stuff you grow in pots. Flies and ants hate it."
Another agreed, commenting: "Mint, they hate it, have some in the window sill."
You can pick up fresh mint plant from any supermarket, for example at Asda for 90p, or Sainsbury's for £1.50.
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