Are a few flies getting a little too comfortable in your home? Here’s a safe repellent…

Many insects with wings are repelled by the smell of basil. If you’re into growing herbs, be sure to feature basil in your herb garden and you won’t have to shoo-fly any flying insects.

You can also ward off flies in your home by drying bunches of this fragrant herb. To dry basil: Clump three or four stems together with string or a rubber band. Once you have a bunch of clumps, hang them upside down in a place that’s well-ventilated and out of direct sunlight.

When the leaves are dry, crumble them into small muslin bags or pieces of cheesecloth and hang them all around your home…or wherever you suspect flying insects enter…or where they like to hang out. Basil repels flies but smells delicious to humans!

More help with bugs and pests…

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