Fight the Flies: How to Keep the Pests Away with Cinnamon and Cayenne Pepper!
Imagine you could combat this fly infestation without toxic sprays. That's exactly what's possible! Certain spices contain essential oils and aromatic substances that irritate the sensitive sensory organs of the insects, creating an invisible barrier. This is similarly effective to some home remedies against slugs.
Cinnamon and Cayenne Pepper – Your Dynamic Duo
The two heroes in the fight against flies are cinnamon and cayenne pepper. But how exactly do these unassuming spices work wonders?
Cinnamon: The Scent Shocker
Cinnamon is not only delicious in pastries but also a real nightmare for flies. It contains the active ingredient eugenol, which massively disrupts the insects' sense of smell. The flies lose their orientation and can no longer find their food sources – namely your organic waste. Additionally, the intense cinnamon aroma masks the stench of the waste. Scientific studies have even shown that cinnamaldehyde, a main active ingredient in cinnamon, disrupts the communication pathways of flies, even in low concentrations.
Cayenne Pepper: The Spice Scare
Cayenne pepper is also a powerful ally. Its secret is capsaicin, the active ingredient responsible for the heat. When flies touch surfaces treated with cayenne pepper, this active ingredient irritates their sensitive legs, mouthparts, and antennae. This unpleasant experience ensures that the insects avoid these areas in the future.
How to Apply the Spice Trick
The application is very easy and can be implemented immediately:
- Gewürzmischung auf den Müllboden: Streue beim Wechseln des Müllbeutels etwas Zimt und Cayennepfeffer auf den Boden des leeren Mülleimers.
- Zimtspray selbst machen: Mische einen Teelöffel gemahlenen Zimt mit einer Tasse Wasser, schüttel alles gut durch und sprühe es auf die betroffenen Bereiche im Mülleimer.
- Zimtstangen als Barriere: Lege einfach ein paar Zimtstangen in den Mülleimer. Ihr Duft wirkt ebenfalls abweisend.
- Ränder behandeln: Bestreue die Ränder des Mülleimers, besonders den Deckelrand, mit etwas Gewürz.
The combination of these two spices is particularly effective. While cinnamon disrupts the sense of smell, cayenne pepper prevents direct approach to the trash can. This double strategy keeps not only flies but also other pests like ants away. Even small amounts achieve good results. If you don't like the strong smell, simply use less cayenne pepper and more cinnamon.
Other Home Remedies for a Fly-Free Summer
To enhance the effect and make your organic waste even less attractive to flies, you can use other home remedies:
- Lorbeerblätter: Ihre natürlichen Öle schrecken Fliegen ab.
- Essig-Wattestäbchen: Ein mit Essig getränktes Wattestäbchen am Müllboden verstärkt die abweisende Wirkung.
- Regelmäßige Reinigung: Entferne regelmäßig duftende Rückstände im Mülleimer.
- Stark riechende Abfälle: Lebensmittel wie Fisch oder Fleisch solltest du vor der Entsorgung zusätzlich verpacken.
A small note on the side: Even though this spice method is super effective, it cannot drive away all flies 100 percent. The effectiveness diminishes over time, so it is advisable to reapply the spices regularly. Sometimes cinnamon powder also leaves visible traces that you would need to clean additionally. And yes, some people find the smell disturbing. But for a chemical-free defense, these small limitations are usually bearable!
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.