Roof lanterns bring in glorious natural light, create a sense of space and add serious WOW-factor to any room. But let’s be honest – there’s nothing more annoying than looking up to enjoy your beautiful lantern only to find it’s become a hangout spot for flies. At Lantern Superstore, we know a thing or two about what makes roof lanterns both stunning and practical. So, if flies are taking the shine off your roof lantern, here’s some tried and tested ways to keep them out – for good. Keep reading our blog for how to stop flies in a roof lantern.

Start With A Clean Slate

Flies are drawn to crumbs, bins, food smells and even stagnant water. Keeping your kitchen or dining space clean, especially under the lantern, is your first line of defense. Wipe your surfaces regularly, seal your bins and avoid leaving any food uncovered, especially during hot summer months.

Seal Up The Gaps

Over time, some lanterns may develop tiny gaps around the seals, where the lantern meets the flat roof. These small openings can become an easy entry point for flies. If you’re noticing a consistent problem and can feel a draught, you should check with your installer or manufacturer, or apply weatherproof sealant or a draught excluder.

Consider Discreet Fly Screens

If you’re finding flies entering your home a persistent problem, you may want to consider adding fly screens to your windows and doors. When opening and closing doors, pesky flies will enter and be drawn to your roof. Fly screens stop flies entering your home, and are especially useful in summer, when you want the fresh air in, but not the insects. There’s many stylish, near-invisible options on the market that wont affect the look of your home, but keep pests out of your roof lantern.

Use Natural Repellents or Fly Spray

A popular option to deter flies from your roof lantern is to use fly spray. This is typically best used on an evening in a closed room, which will deter flies attracted to your room.

Not a fan of chemical sprays? You’re not alone. However, there are many natural remedies that can be effective at keeping bugs and flies out. Repellents like essential oils (eucalyptus, citronella, peppermint and lavender are all good scents) can be effective at deterring flies.

Other things such as diffusers or placing a bowl of dried herbs near the roof lantern area can also smell great, but deter pests.

Opt for UV Fly Traps (The Subtle Kind)

While old-school fly zappers can be noisy and a bit of an eyesore, there are now many other options available. Modern UV traps are designed to blend into your interior, and generally aren’t as noisy. These light traps attract flies and manually remove flies for you. These can be especially handy if your roof lantern sits above a kitchen island or food prep area. Quiet and discreet, they prevent flies without ruining your lovely home aesthetic.

Hang Up Fly Paper

Fly paper is a sticky paper with a sweet smelling coating to attract flies, where they will then get stuck to the sticky surface. Although not particuarly pleasant to have up in your home, fly paper can be effective fly traps and discourage flies in your roof. By trapping the unwanted guests, the paper can decrease the fly population and can be hung strategically in areas where flies thrive.

Keep Your Roof Lantern Clean Inside & Out

It’s not just the inside that matters. Dead flies, cobwebs and dirt can gather round the internal frame or the exterior glazing. To avoid build up, give your lantern a clean every so often – especially at the change of seasons. A clean glass roof lantern is less inviting to insects, plus it keeps your view crystal clear. So, if you have a fly problem, ensure you are regularly cleaning your living space for both the inside and outside world!

Enjoy Your Roof Lantern!

Your roof lantern should be a source of natural light and inspiration – not frustration. Warm weather is a tough season to keep flies away, and in some instances professional pest control should be called. However, in most cases, with a few simple preventative measures, you can enjoy a bright roof lantern, fly-free space all year round.

Looking to replace a lantern in your home? Why not consider one of our many stock sizes from Lantern Superstore? We offer a variety of sizes and designs from many reputable manufactures, making replacing a roof lantern easier than ever. Plus, if you have a specific size in mind, we can also offer made-to-measure sizes! Get in touch with our friendly team at sales@lanternsuperstore.co.uk for more information.