Tuesday 24 June 2014

The cooling effect....

I detest flies, there is simply no other way to put it. If they manage to get into the house, someone shouts 'fly', then we find it, capture it if possible (same with spiders) and put it out or kill it (we don't kill spiders, they are always released outdoors). DS learnt this from an early age and it didn't take him long to realise he didn't need to shout 'fly' when outdoors!

When the days get a little too hot, I would prefer to open windows and doors but that lets the little blighter's in. I'm afraid it is one of my foibles and FDiL on her first few visits, wondered what on earth was happening.

Our lounge faces North so stays the coolest for longest but by evening, the sun is around to the window warming it up. For several years now, we have had a window net on its tilt and turn window. If it is slightly hot, on the tilt lets in a breeze. If it is very hot, the window can be fully opened without flies getting in (mind you, that involves pulling the settee forward, open the window, push settee back), so it is not fully open except on stifling evenings. The breeze it lets in then is wonderful!

The window net is held in place on all 4 sides by Velcro and the net itself, is taken down when autumn arrives, washed and put away until late Spring the next year. The Velcro stays in situ. Both back patio doors are also tilt and turn but they have normal nets on them which keeps most things out.

Up until now, we haven't been able to have the dining room door open. That is a big problem when making chutney/pickles as the fumes from the vinegar cooking can make your eyes water. It also takes an age to clear the smell from the house.

Now we have the answer. On our last visit to DS and FDiL, we noticed they had got a magnetic fly screen on their door. As their dogs go in and out when both doors are open, flies were becoming a problem. Once the magnetic fly screen was up, they can come and go at will and the door closes behind them. Very few flies get in now.

We have just spent a few hours adapting/sewing one to fit our UPVC door in the dining room. We had to put up a white painted piece of wood to attach it to at the top, rather than just tacking it up which you can do if you have a wooden door frame. It came with small Velcro strips for down the sides to hold it in place, but we bought sew and stick Velcro, sewing the sew bit all along the outer strips of the net bit, then stuck the sticky part down both sides of the door.

It was all in all, a little fiddly, and of course you might just want to put it up how it comes, but it would, width wise, have covered half of the other door which doesn't open. It just didn't look right. Here it is in situ with the door open - this particular make only seems to come in black:
Here is a close up of the 6 magnetic strips down the middle, which close behind you as you walk through:
There are little gaps in-between but as long as it keeps out most things, it should be fine. It was also a little long so was taken up and fine net weights put into the hem to help stop it flapping open in the breeze.

Once it was up, the inner conservatory door was opened (we have normal net in their as well for privacy). You can now feel a gentle movement of air from front to back and side to side. Sheer bliss:)

Oh, and the name of curtain we bought (although others are available) was Magic Mesh Magnetic Fly Screen Door


10 comments:

  1. OMG we're the same. Having chooks in the back garden isn't helping, even though we clean the cages and pick up after them every day. I've just ordered a red top fly catcher for the garden so I'm hoping that cuts down on the little blighters.

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    1. I don' like them mainly because of what they do to your food when they land on it.

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  2. I have to say I have had the windows open a lot of late but luckily we dont get many flies in.They are horrible things arent they? Do you remember those horrible sticky paper things you used to hang from the ceilings? They looked disgusting but were effective and my mum and dad used to use them until recently.

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    1. You can still buy them down here. Horrible looking things but very effective!

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  3. I hate the flies coming in, like you I worry about them getting on food, I'm afraid i'm not as humane as you and usually chase them around the house with a rolled up newspaper.

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    1. Those we can't catch get killed so only partly humane!

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  4. Ugh I can't stand them either! They drive the dog mad so he charges around snapping at them like a loon!

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  5. We were almost at the point of desperation with not having our French Doors open any more but I found a curtain that looks like the old plastic strips they used to have to the door of betting shops but the one I found on Amazon is in pretty pastel colours. It has two stick on hooks for the top of the door and then the pole of the blind rests on the top when you want to have the door open. Dog was anxious of it at first but now runs in and out. Not the most attractive thing but does the job!

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    Replies
    1. I had one of those many years ago but when the wind blew, they still let in the flies!

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