HOUSE FLY CONTROL- REMEDIAL MEASURES TO KEEP AWAY

Flies pose a threat to hygiene and are a nuisance to humans and animals. They are carriers of a large number of diseases including gastroenteritis, dysentery, typhoid, salmonella and tuberculosis.

Flies are often seen around fruits, cooked food, fermenting food and decaying stuff too. It becomes most important to keep away flies as they cause major health problems. Children love to use the fly swatters available in the market to attack the flies one by one. In summer and rainy season the flies will come into the houses and make you furious with the buzzing sound.

The movie Eeega in Telugu and the remake in Hindi was a good example to cite the power of a house fly. Flies are always in the air , flying throughout the day and rest at night.

A single house fly can carry over one million bacteria. To keep fly populations under control, you must limit the places where they can breed and feed.

In warmer climates, breeding continues throughout the year. Eggs are often laid in moist decaying vegetable matter and animal waste. The complete metamorphosis cycle can be as short as 7 – 9 days in ideal conditions. Adult flies normally live 1 – 3 months.

The first line of defense will be to control flies from entering the premises be it a home or an office. Close all doors and windows. Place insect screens over doors and windows and check if they are in good condition.

House fly Control:

The three basic principles of house fly control are sanitation, exclusion and non-chemical measures. Sanitation will provide the best long-term control, followed by exclusion and non-chemical measures, which provide shorter-term management.

ü  Sanitation: Flies can’t breed in large numbers if food sources are limited. Don’t allow materials such as manure, garbage or other decaying organic matter to accumulate. Keep trash cans clean and tightly covered. Do not pile garbage for long. Dispose off garbage as vegetable and fruit peels are great attracting items. Eliminate areas of stagnating water .

ü  Exclusion: Flies can be kept outside of homes by the use of window and door screens. Make sure screens are tight fitting and without holes. Keep doors closed, making sure there are no openings at the top or bottom. Check for openings around water or gas pipes or electrical conduits that feed into the building. Caulk or plug any openings. Ventilation holes should be screened, as they can serve as entryways for flies as well. Ensure the closing mechanism / spring of mesh doors slide and close quickly after use.

ü  Non-chemical Measures: The use of devices such as ultraviolet-light traps, sticky fly traps, fly swatters, and baited fly traps can eliminate many flies inside a home, but the fly swatter is the most economical control method for the occasional fly.

Chemical controls:

Chemical control is generally part of an integrated fly control program. Spraying non-residual, contact aerosols that are labeled for flies can provide temporary relief by killing the adult flies. However it does not get to the source, so will not provide long-term control. Residual insecticides, labeled for flies, can be sprayed around door and window casings, onto screens, under leaves or around any other fly entry points.

Remedial measures popularly followed at home:

• A few drops of eucalyptus oil on a piece of cotton cloth will deter flies. Hang or leave in areas where flies are a problem.
• Basil plants placed at the entrance of the home at parking areas will keep away flies. In Indian homes basil plants are placed at the entry of the house or window sills .To keep away flies from the kitchen hang a bunch of Holy basil / Tulsi stems and bruise them occasionally to ensure the smell keeps away flies.
• Use mint as a fly repellent. Small sachets of crushed mint can be placed around the home to discourage flies.
• Bay leaves, cloves and eucalyptus wrapped in small cheesecloth squares can be
  hung by open windows or doors.
  

Ideal solution in mechanical control:

UV light traps are a common sight near sweet shops, meat stores and shopping complexes. Ultraviolet light traps are useful and must be properly placed. Right placing is critical. Follow simple requirements for best results:

• Place where it cannot be seen from outside, so it doesn’t attract flies indoors.
• Place not more than 5 feet above the floor – where most flies fly.
• Place away from competing light sources and food preparation areas.
• Place where they are not competing with daytime sunlight.

As a famous quote mentions , It is easier to catch a fly with honey than with vinegar. You can keep away flies and enjoy your time with family.

HOW TO MAKE WHITE CLOTHES LOOK BRIGHTER

You love to wear white clothes but are afraid that it will lose the brightness after a few washes. Therefore you minimize your white clothes collection. But you cannot avoid your child’s school uniform. It has to be maintained throughout the year.

White clothes turn gray gradually as it is washed in hard water. Most of the homes are supplied with hard water and this is the main reason for the soap not to lather and be ineffective. The hardness in water settles as a residue on the clothe leaving it stiff too. You need to add powdered water softeners in the water while soaking white clothes, available in the market.

Whites are worn to churches regularly and is mandatory for individuals in medical profession. Come summer, all family members will prefer wearing white clothes to minimize the heat effect. It becomes all the more painful for the home maker who needs to monitor and upkeep the hubby and kids cupboard .

Here are a few tips to make your white clothes look bright and fresh.

• Wash white clothes separately. Do not mix with color clothes.
• Do not include stained socks along with whites while soaking
• Use lukewarm water or hot water to soak the whites that are soiled as the detergent will dissolve and be effective to completely remove the dirt.

• Whites can be washed regularly in normal water. Use hot water every third wash based on the look of the clothes. You can save on hot water.
• If you feel a particular set of white clothes are looking gray, then soak them in lukewarm water into which detergent is added. Leave it for 24 hrs and then rinse the clothes with Vinegar and water. Dilution to be followed: 2 tspn of vinegar to 1 litre of water.
• You can make white cotton socks look sparkling white by boiling them in a flat vessel containing water and a few slices of lemon for 5 minutes. Lemon is a natural bleach and removes soil and dirt from the clothes and restore color too.
• An alternative for washing soiled white socks will be Dishwashing liquid. Add a spoon of dishwasher to the lukewarm water and soak the soiled socks.
• Follow the same practices for your white bed sheets.
• Follow the washing directions mentioned on the label of your white clothes for best results. This will prevent damage to the fiber of the fabric.

You will be surprised to see your white socks and white clothes looking bright and new. You will receive appreciation for your effort and special attention from loved ones.

Make your jeans look new

Teenagers love to wear whites with jeans and you need to be in sink with the sparkling whites. To prevent your new jeans from fading, soak them in 4 tbsp of Vinegar mixed in 5 litres of water for about 30 minutes. Brush the soiled areas with a brush. Rinse and dry the jeans inside out to prevent fading. This will increase the durability of the clothes.

To make your towels fluffy and white

Minimize usage of detergent while washing towels. Add vinegar in the first rinse cycle. Have extra rinse while washing towels basically to remove all detergent in the clothes. Drying towels in the dryer will make them fluffy and soft than the ones dried on lines.

HOW TO KEEP STAINLESS STEEL SINK FREE OF HARD WATER STAINS

You have cleaned the entire kitchen and are worried to see the Stainless Steel sink full of stains and white patches. You are having a small get together at your home this weekend and you are desperate to find a solution.

These white patches are hard water stains meaning the water droplets have dried leaving those ugly marks on the surfaces. If left uncleaned they will form a thick layer and it will leave permanent scars on the surface.

Hard water stains are a result of mineral content in water like lime, silica and calcium. When the water evaporates the mineral deposits leave a scaly appearance on the areas. Few individuals have replaced the SS sink as they were unable to clean the stains.

Here is a solution for removing the hard water stains from the SS sinks and surfaces.

• Make a paste of baking soda / cooking soda.
• Add ½ cup baking soda and ¼ cup of Vinegar into a container. You will observe a foaming action when the two ingredients are combined. This is normal, wait for the foaming to stop. Mix the solution with a plastic spoon.
• Dip a cleaning cloth ( use soft texture ) into this paste and apply on the sink. Apply the paste on the stained areas in circular motions such the stains are cleaned.
• In another utensil keep warm water. Dip the cleaning cloth into the warm water and clean the sink thoroughly. Remove all cleaning paste and wipe off all water spots with a dry cloth.
• You can recycle old , unused banians and old T- shirts for cleaning. This material will absorb all moisture and leaves your Stainless Steel sink free of stains.
• Recycled cotton material also absorbs oils from gas stoves and kitchen counters.

You can save on money as you are using recycled material and also ensuring the Stainless Steel sink is free of hard water stains.

You can also use the lemon peel after using the juice for cleaning the sink. It also kills all bacteria and leaves your sink smelling fresh.

Precaution is better than cure therefore after all the utensils are washed, drain off all water and clean the SS sink with a dry cloth. This will remove all moisture and you will not see those ugly spots again.