Latest news with #NancyBirtwhistle
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- General
- Daily Mirror
Get rid of flies from your home this summer with 2 ingredients 'they detest'
With the warmer weather hopefully here to stay, it's nice to open the windows and doors to let in some fresh air - but it can also invite flies in. Here's how you can keep them at bay Opening your windows for a breath of fresh air in the summer can unfortunately also let in some unwelcome visitors. To combat the invasion of flies into your home, gardening guru and writer Nancy Birtwhistle has revealed her top tip to keep the bothersome bugs at bay. Appearing on ITV's This Morning, she divulged the two simple ingredients you need to place on your windowsill or around your house to ensure you're "leave you fly free this summer". The green-fingered expert shared: "My husband just didn't believe this until he saw a fly come in, turn around and fly out. This is so good, I can't tell you." She explained that insects are drawn to odours, so leaving food out will attract them. If there's anything unpleasant, like pet smells or rotting food, flies will be all over it. Nancy then detailed how flies detest the scent of citrus and cloves, saying: "So you can make these and I stand mine in little egg cups and I promise you, the flies will stay away." In the demonstration, she cuts a lemon in half and sticks about 10 to 15 cloves into each piece, noting: "Just half a lemon. You can use a spent lemon if you don't want to use a new one." 'Entitled mother-in-law spoiled my twins' birth by what she did in delivery room' A follower commented on her post, saying: "I've just tried this, admittedly, I've used about 25 cloves in each half of the lemon - but it appears to be working." One user chimed in: "Flies get in through the tiniest gap but are unable to fly out a wide open window or door. Doesn't matter how many lemons I have, the fly is unable to leave the house via an open gap." Another remarked: "Well, I live in French countryside I use the sticky fly papers and since I made two of these. The fly numbers on the papers are about one tenth and corner window of garden room is completely fly free." A different user expressed their bewilderment: "I'm always amazed that a fly can make its way in through an open window/door, but it can never make its way out the same way without help!". They added with a touch of humour: "They must have a really sore head with the amount of times it flies into a pane of glass or wooden door!". Offering up another tip, someone else shared: "A variation on this to put a slice of lemon in a small dish or ramekin and stick cloves in the lemon. Then pour lemon juice on it. Saw it in Portugal last month and it works in the UK as well."
Daily Mirror
08-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mirror
Mice will run away from homes and gardens with simple non-toxic spray
Former Great British Bake Off champion Nancy Birtwhistle shared a natural and non-toxic remedy for keeping mice away from your home and garden this summer Former Great British Bake Off star and domestic whizz Nancy Birtwhistle has shared her tip-top non-toxic trick for keeping mice at bay during the sunny season. Appearing on ITV's This Morning back in June, Nancy unveiled a variety of savvy strategies to deter pesky intruders, whether inside her abode or in the garden. Nancy confessed that she couldn't stomach the thought of setting a mousetrap for a furry visitor in her shed. Instead, she whipped up a a natural home remedy that will convince the critters to get away from the house - or garden. All it takes is one kitchen cupboard staple added to the solution, reports the Express. This is what you'll need to do. How to deter mice The cleaning aficionado announced that mice have a serious aversion to peppermint, inspiring her to nab a bottle of peppermint extract for the task. Nancy mixed a few teaspoons of peppermint extract with 500 millilitres of water in a spray bottle. Once you've got your spray ready, give a good spritz around every nook of the house and garden. She remarked: "And that's not gonna harm anything but... they hate the smell." Presenter Cat Deeley asked: "Does this work on anything else or just mice?" Nancy answered: "I think many insects don't like peppermint. So if you wanted something really easy, cheap. Just peppermint extract in water." The Kitchn shed light on why mice turn their noses up at peppermint, stating it's because the potent aroma throws them into a tizzy. They reported: "Essentially the strong scent of the peppermint disguises their pheromones on pathways they've taken. "It should be noted, however, that if mice are actually living in your house, the smell of peppermint isn't going to make them abandon their happy home (and yours)." Yet, Rentokil, the pest control experts, have debunked some of the tall tales about rodents' aversion to peppermint. The common belief is that mice, with their delicate sniffers, would be put off by a hefty dose of peppermint oil, messing with their olfactory system. Mice boast an impressive olfactory prowess, which they use to suss out specific scents and tell apart the whiff of grub from the funk of foes. While peppermint might act as a temporary fix, giving the mouse's nose a bit of bother, it's not a silver bullet for keeping them at bay indefinitely. Rentokil's boffins suggest that playing the long game with preventative tactics is the top strategy to stop mice from making themselves at home on your turf.
The Sun
07-07-2025
- General
- The Sun
The 80p spray you need to be blasting your houseplants with – it smells so good and keeps bugs away
JUST like your outside plants, houseplants are susceptible to pests too. But don't worry, you don't need to spend a fortune to keep them at bay because there's a simple spray you can whip up for next to nothing. 2 2 This Morning pro Nancy Birtwhistle revealed the easy trick anyone can use, and you'll be wondering why you didn't try it out sooner. On the show, Nancy explained that a quick spritz of the DIY spray can keep things like green flies away for good. So, what do you need to make the spray at home? You'll be happy to know most of the ingredients you'll likely already have in your cupboard. Start by filling a bottle with around 500ml of water and add in about a teaspoon of washing up liquid. Next pop in a teaspoon on cooking oil - any you've got on hand will do the job. "That just makes it stick," Nancy explained to This Morning hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard. And finally, a few drops of clove bud oil should be added to finish to spray, which the pro said is perfect for both indoor plants, as well as those in your greenhouse. You don't need to buy a spray bottle for this either, simply reuse one - but make sure to give it a good clean first. According to the pro, the clove bud oil is the perfect ingredient to add because it's a natural insect repellent. Alan Titchmarsh's top 7 plants that 'transform ugly fences with gorgeous flowers & fragrance' & they grow for years After sharing the trick, Instagram users were keen to try it out, as one commented on the clip: "I can't wait to try this out." "I made this batch 18 months ago and it's still working," a second wrote. And a third commented: "It actually seems to work! I was sceptical but only seen one fly that went out again in two days!" MORE TICKS FOR HOUSEPLANTS During these summer months, keeping your plants safe in direct sunlight is a must, Luckily, Kelly Dyer, from Patch Plants, shared how there is a common mistake you should avoid when it comes to your indoor plants - and it may seem surprising. She shared: 'Don't be tempted to mist plants if they are sitting in a spot that gets direct sunlight. 'The water will evaporate and lead to scorching.' She also advised that you don't use aircon, if possible, and to open your windows instead. 10 Unkillable plants Home and garden experts at Nth Degree shared 10 (almost) unkillable plants that'll transform your garden space. Rosemary - It looks great, smells amazing and bees love it. Pop it in a sunny location and water it occasionally. Nasturtiums - Colourful flowers that grow well in poor soil. Even better, they self-seed so return every year. Thyme - Another edible plant that smells amazing and is tough as nails. It's hardy so just needs dry soil and lots of sun. Sedum - Adored by bees, the small, colourful succulents are drought-tolerant. Ivy - A plant that loves to grow vertically, just make sure you cut it back to stop it growing out of control. Lemon balm - Looks like mint but smells like lemon! It can be used in teas and baking. Boxwood - An evergreen plant that thrives in shade and requires little water. Miscanthus - Tall, airy and commonly known as elephant grass, it can grow up to six feet tall and hard to kill once established. Lavender - The ultimate patio plant, it grows brilliantly in pots or containers, provides beautiful colour and fragrance, and loved by bees. Hellebores - A winter-blooming flower that can withstand ice, wind and rain.
The Irish Sun
07-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Irish Sun
The 80p spray you need to be blasting your houseplants with – it smells so good and keeps bugs away
JUST like your outside plants, houseplants are susceptible to pests too. But don't worry, you don't need to spend a fortune to keep them at bay because there's a simple spray you can whip up for next to nothing. 2 The DIY spray is perfect for keeping your houseplants in top condition Credit: ITV 2 Nancy explained how to make to spray at home in seconds Credit: ITV This Morning pro Nancy Birtwhistle revealed the easy trick anyone can use, and you'll be wondering why you didn't try it out sooner. On the show, Nancy explained that a quick spritz of the DIY spray can keep things like green flies away for good. So, what do you need to make the spray at home? You'll be happy to know most of the ingredients you'll likely already have in your cupboard. READ MORE ON GARDENING Start by filling a bottle with around 500ml of water and add in about a teaspoon of washing up liquid. Next pop in a teaspoon on cooking oil - any you've got on hand will do the job. "That just makes it stick," Nancy explained to This Morning hosts And finally, a few drops of clove bud oil should be added to finish to spray, which the pro said is perfect for both indoor plants, as well as those in your greenhouse. Most read in Fabulous You don't need to buy a spray bottle for this either, simply reuse one - but make sure to give it a good clean first. According to the pro, the clove bud oil is the perfect ingredient to add because it's a natural insect repellent. Alan Titchmarsh's top 7 plants that 'transform ugly fences with gorgeous flowers & fragrance' & they grow for years After sharing the trick, Instagram users were keen to try it out, as one commented on the clip: "I can't wait to try this out." "I made this batch 18 months ago and it's still working," a second wrote. And a third commented: "It actually seems to work! I was sceptical but only seen one fly that went out again in two days!" MORE TICKS FOR HOUSEPLANTS During these summer months, keeping your plants safe in direct sunlight is a must, Luckily, Kelly Dyer, from She shared: 'Don't be tempted to mist plants if they are sitting in a spot that gets direct sunlight. 'The water will evaporate and lead to scorching.' She also advised that you don't use aircon, if possible, and to open your windows instead. 10 Unkillable plants Home and garden experts at Rosemary - It looks great, smells amazing and bees love it. Pop it in a sunny location and water it occasionally. Nasturtiums - Colourful flowers that grow well in poor soil. Even better, they self-seed so return every year. Thyme - Another edible plant that smells amazing and is tough as nails. It's hardy so just needs dry soil and lots of sun. Sedum - Adored by bees, the small, colourful succulents are drought-tolerant. Ivy - A plant that loves to grow vertically, just make sure you cut it back to stop it growing out of control. Lemon balm - Looks like mint but smells like lemon! It can be used in teas and baking. Boxwood - An evergreen plant that thrives in shade and requires little water. Miscanthus - Tall, airy and commonly known as elephant grass, it can grow up to six feet tall and hard to kill once established. Lavender - The ultimate patio plant, it grows brilliantly in pots or containers, provides beautiful colour and fragrance, and loved by bees. Hellebores - A winter-blooming flower that can withstand ice, wind and rain.
Scottish Sun
07-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- Scottish Sun
The 80p spray you need to be blasting your houseplants with – it smells so good and keeps bugs away
You probably have the ingredients to make the spray home FLY FIXER The 80p spray you need to be blasting your houseplants with – it smells so good and keeps bugs away Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) JUST like your outside plants, houseplants are susceptible to pests too. But don't worry, you don't need to spend a fortune to keep them at bay because there's a simple spray you can whip up for next to nothing. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 The DIY spray is perfect for keeping your houseplants in top condition Credit: ITV 2 Nancy explained how to make to spray at home in seconds Credit: ITV This Morning pro Nancy Birtwhistle revealed the easy trick anyone can use, and you'll be wondering why you didn't try it out sooner. On the show, Nancy explained that a quick spritz of the DIY spray can keep things like green flies away for good. So, what do you need to make the spray at home? You'll be happy to know most of the ingredients you'll likely already have in your cupboard. Start by filling a bottle with around 500ml of water and add in about a teaspoon of washing up liquid. Next pop in a teaspoon on cooking oil - any you've got on hand will do the job. "That just makes it stick," Nancy explained to This Morning hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard. And finally, a few drops of clove bud oil should be added to finish to spray, which the pro said is perfect for both indoor plants, as well as those in your greenhouse. You don't need to buy a spray bottle for this either, simply reuse one - but make sure to give it a good clean first. According to the pro, the clove bud oil is the perfect ingredient to add because it's a natural insect repellent. Alan Titchmarsh's top 7 plants that 'transform ugly fences with gorgeous flowers & fragrance' & they grow for years After sharing the trick, Instagram users were keen to try it out, as one commented on the clip: "I can't wait to try this out." "I made this batch 18 months ago and it's still working," a second wrote. And a third commented: "It actually seems to work! I was sceptical but only seen one fly that went out again in two days!" MORE TICKS FOR HOUSEPLANTS During these summer months, keeping your plants safe in direct sunlight is a must, Luckily, Kelly Dyer, from Patch Plants, shared how there is a common mistake you should avoid when it comes to your indoor plants - and it may seem surprising. She shared: 'Don't be tempted to mist plants if they are sitting in a spot that gets direct sunlight. 'The water will evaporate and lead to scorching.' She also advised that you don't use aircon, if possible, and to open your windows instead.
