Latest news with #IanWilliams
NBC News
2 days ago
- Health
- NBC News
How to get rid of flies, mosquitoes, gnats and other household insects
We don't always have the answers, but we have some people on speed dial who do — which is why we present to you our series FYI where we have experts explain if lip balm is actually bad, how often should you wash your hair and more. There are many things to love about warm weather. Think summer travel, trips to the beach or strolls through the park. What's not so great about increasing heat and humidity is that many of the bugs, insects and pests we work hard to get rid of throughout the year seem to come out in swarms compared to cooler months. This is a great time to get a refresher on how to get rid of flies (and other pests) quickly. Many common causes for house flies stem from exposed and/or rotting food, either in the trash can, garbage disposal, pantry or on the counter. Open windows, especially ones with air conditioning units in them, also allow flies to sneak into your home. To find the best way to get rid of flies (and fast), I spoke with multiple cleaning experts for their guidance. How to get rid of flies, according to experts The best way to get rid of flies and other flying insects is by regularly cleaning areas that are susceptible to attracting them, according to Ian Williams, technical manager at extermination services company Orkin. 'Proper waste management and sanitation is the single most effective way to keep flies and fruit flies out of a home,' he says. Taking out the trash frequently and rinsing out beverage containers can also go a long way in preventing flies from entering your home. You should also consider some of the top-rated products below for getting rid of flies — they all have at least a 4-star average rating from 500 reviews or more on Amazon. Want more from NBC Select? Sign up for our newsletter, The Selection, and shop smarter. The best products for getting rid of fruit flies Aunt Fannie's FlyPunch Fruit Fly Trap $7.96 Amazon $7.96 Walmart This looks like it should go in your cabinet next to salt and pepper, but it's actually meant to capture fruit flies hiding in your kitchen, bathroom or living room. All you have to do is open the lid, place it on a flat surface, such as your kitchen countertop, and let it attract the fruit flies. It contains a mixture of sodium lauryl sulfate, malic acid, ethyl lactate, water and vinegar. It also lasts up to 30 days and is great to use outside in the garden or if you sell food at a farmer's market, according to the brand. NBC Select reporter Zoe Malin is a fan of the product and uses it regularly in her apartment. Similar to baking soda, apple cider vinegar has multiple uses outside of cooking, including getting rid of fruit flies. In the summer, I always add apple cider vinegar (not white distilled vinegar), such as this one from Lucy's, to a small bowl or condiment dish, cover it tightly with plastic wrap and poke small holes on the top with a toothpick. The smell of the apple cider vinegar acts like a magnet for flies. Additionally, Delah Gomasi, managing director and CEO of cleaning services company MaidForYou, highly recommends using both apple cider vinegar and a bit of dish soap for getting rid of fruit flies. 'The main reason a mixture of apple cider vinegar and dish soap works so well in eradicating fruit flies is because the apple cider vinegar attracts the fruit flies whilst the dish soap traps them in the mixture,' he says. This gel treatment, which has a 4-star average rating from over 14,000 reviews on Amazon, is the answer to getting rid of flies that seem to come out of nowhere. It goes directly into the drain of your kitchen sink, which is a common hotspot for flies in the home. The gel treatment then cleans out grime and food residue that may be attracting insects and causing unpleasant smells. It helps wash away fruit flies, drain flies, eggs and nests, according to the brand. It's also non-corrosive, so you don't have to worry about it damaging your sink drains, pipes or garbage disposal, according to the brand. You only need one cup of the solution for each use to start getting rid of flies. The best products for getting rid of house flies, mosquitos and gnats Zevo Plug-In Flying Insect Trap $19.99 Amazon $19.99 Target $19.98 Lowe's This plug-in fly trap has a 4.3-star average rating from over 53,000 reviews on Amazon, and it uses a blue UV light to attract and trap flies indoors, according to the brand. It's effective in capturing fruit flies, common house flies and gnats. The cartridge on the inside also has an adhesive covering so the insects don't escape, according to the brand. You can buy multiple cartridges and replace them when you're done using one by simply sliding it on and off of the device. This fly trap uses light to attract flies, but it also is great for getting rid of fruit flies, gnats and moths, according to the brand. The back of the device has a glue card that attaches to the plug — this helps keep the flies and other insects in place and out of sight. You can also buy multiple glue card replacements, which you can use in rooms of varying sizes. Malin also uses the device in her home. Aside from a plug-in fly trap or drain cleaner, a fly ribbon is also quite effective in trapping flies. These ribbons, which have a 4-star average rating from over 12,000 reviews on Amazon, use a subtle scent to attract flies and the adhesive on them keeps them in place. They expand into a long spiraled ribbon, which you can attach to a wall, windowsill or door, according to the brand. All you have to do is place in an area that gets a good amount of natural light, which is more likely to attract flies and other pests. What attracts flies in the home? There are a few common causes for flies around the home, according to our experts. While there are a few different types of flies, in addition to other flying insects that are often confused for one another, like mosquitoes and gnats, many of them are typically caused by the following factors: Fruit and sugar: Both fruit flies and house flies, both of which are categorized as 'filth flies,' are extremely attracted to the smell of fruit, according to Gil Bloom, president of pest control company Standard Pest Management. 'In the home, they are typically introduced as eggs on fruit and produce which then emerge once fermentation starts,' he says. 'You can see this relationship if you look at fruit stands.' This problem arises when the fruit is left out, unwashed, overripe and/or rotting in a trash, fridge or cabinet or on a countertop. Additionally, fruit flies gravitate toward sugar substances like soda, fruit juice and candy. Fermentation: Similarly, fruit flies are often attracted to the smell of fermented foods and drinks, such as beer, wine, kombucha, yogurt, cheese and bread. While you keep these items in the fridge, things like small spills or crumbs left on the counter can attract flies. Plus, when you throw these items out, they can still attract flies due to residual matter. This is why Bloom recommends regularly rinsing out containers, cans and bottles before throwing them out to prevent flies. Decaying matter and filth: Other types of filth flies, such as the house fly, may gravitate towards fruit, but they're also attracted to dirtier materials, according to Bloom. This includes leaking drains, dirty mops, compost and pet litter. This could also include bits of food sitting in your garbage disposal. Windows and weather: Lastly, leaving windows and doors open, even for a few seconds, gives flies the easiest entry into your home. That said, you may also notice an increase in flying insects like flies, fruit flies, mosquitoes and fungus gnats during late spring and throughout summer, according to Williams. 'Flies and fruit flies have more access to food sources in the warmer months, as they're attracted to rotting produce that is more abundant this time of year,' he says. In other words, a more humid environment makes it easier for flies to survive and reproduce. Meet our experts At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest. Why trust NBC Select? I am a commerce editor at NBC Select, where I cover cooking, cleaning, wellness and other lifestyle content. I also write many of the site's holiday gift guides.
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Dorset gas storage caverns: What you need to know
A company has settled on Dorset for the site of the UK's second series of underground storage caverns for hydrogen gas. But what does that mean, and why Dorset? To store gas the way the company, UK Oil and Gas (UKOG), is proposing, you first need to find a thick band of underground salt. Engineers can drill straight down and inject water to dissolve that salt, creating huge empty caverns. The brine can then be pumped out and gas can be pumped in to be stored for when it is needed. Dorset is one of only three areas on the UK mainland that has the geology needed to make this possible, according to the company. The salt the company is looking at lies about 0.8 miles (1.3km) underneath the surface. The exact location of the site has not yet been announced, but the company describes it as "west of Weymouth". Storing gas underground is nothing new, and is how most natural gas is safely stored in the UK. But the use of these caverns for hydrogen has been limited, with only one facility in the UK, located in Teesside in the North East of England. And a 2022 study from the British Geological Survey said the salt underneath Dorset is less well understood than other parts of the UK and has never been used to store gas. Local environmental campaigners have voiced concerns that this could lead to problems. "Hydrogen leaks very easily, and when it leaks, it's dangerous," said Ann Stewart, a member of Weald Action Group and local Green Party coordinator. "Especially if it comes into contact with oxygen, because that's when it's explosive. "I would like to see really stringent checks over leakage checks, and dealing with leaks very, very quickly." Ian Williams, professor of environmental science at the University of Southampton, echoed the concerns around explosiveness, while also describing hydrogen as "a powerful indirect greenhouse gas". He said: "Leakage during production, transportation, and storage can contribute to global warming. "The lack of information about this new location will not help in terms of limiting anticipated, legitimate public concern." Plans for gas storage caverns under a lough in Northern Ireland were thrown out last year by the UK Supreme Court, with campaigners arguing the salty discharges from the drilling process could create a marine dead zone. Ms Stewart said they had similar concerns. "Where would all that brine go? Because that is a protected coastline," she said. Stephen Sanderson is CEO of UK Energy Storage Ltd, a subsidiary of UKOG, and said once studies had been completed details of the project would be made available in a public consultation. "Dorset's Triassic salt deposit is well understood, with around a hundred boreholes and extensive seismic data coverage," he said. "It is of an equivalent geological age, stratigraphy, composition and thickness to the Triassic salt in the Cheshire Basin, where gas storage caverns have operated safely since 1984." The UK Climate Change Committee suggests that in the future, hydrogen generated with renewable energy could be stored and used to fill the gaps in the energy supply when wind and solar are not generating enough electricity. Hydrogen is also considered by the IEA an important potential fuel for the future of some industries that are harder to clean up. For example, replacing coal in steelmaking furnaces. However, most hydrogen produced in the UK today is produced from fossil fuels and is not considered low-carbon. UK Energy Storage Ltd previously said plans for a hydrogen storage facility in Dorset could service the nearby Solent cluster - a regional hub of industry partners, co-founded by Exxon Mobil, who claim they want to make industry in the area greener. The Solent cluster has plans for a hydrogen production plant at the Fawley refinery near Southampton. Local politicians, and environmental campaigners like Greenpeace, have accused it in the past of greenwashing - that is, misleading the public about the environmental benefits of the plans. UKOG said in a release that it hopes to see construction under way by 2030, with the first caverns being open for business between 2030-32. But that will be subject to regulatory approval - requiring a Development Consent Order (DCO) from the Secretary of State - and will also depend on what financing is available. The company intends to bid for government revenue support for the project. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Plans for UK's largest gas storage caverns moved UK Oil & Gas
BBC News
09-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Weymouth hydrogen storage caverns: What you need to know
A company has settled on Dorset for the site of the UK's second series of underground storage caverns for hydrogen gas. But what does that mean, and why Dorset? One of three suitable locations To store gas the way the company, UK Oil and Gas (UKOG), is proposing, you first need to find a thick band of underground can drill straight down and inject water to dissolve that salt, creating huge empty caverns. The brine can then be pumped out and gas can be pumped in to be stored for when it is needed. Dorset is one of only three areas on the UK mainland that has the geology needed to make this possible, according to the company. The salt the company is looking at lies about 0.8 miles (1.3km) underneath the surface. The exact location of the site has not yet been announced, but the company describes it as "west of Weymouth". What could the impact be? Storing gas underground is nothing new, and is how most natural gas is safely stored in the UK. But the use of these caverns for hydrogen has been limited, with only one facility in the UK, located in Teesside in the North East of England. And a 2022 study from the British Geological Survey said the salt underneath Dorset is less well understood than other parts of the UK and has never been used to store environmental campaigners have voiced concerns that this could lead to problems."Hydrogen leaks very easily, and when it leaks, it's dangerous," said Ann Stewart, a member of Weald Action Group and local Green Party coordinator. "Especially if it comes into contact with oxygen, because that's when it's explosive."I would like to see really stringent checks over leakage checks, and dealing with leaks very, very quickly." Ian Williams, professor of environmental science at the University of Southampton, echoed the concerns around explosiveness, while also describing hydrogen as "a powerful indirect greenhouse gas". He said: "Leakage during production, transportation, and storage can contribute to global warming."The lack of information about this new location will not help in terms of limiting anticipated, legitimate public concern." Plans for gas storage caverns under a lough in Northern Ireland were thrown out last year by the UK Supreme Court, with campaigners arguing the salty discharges from the drilling process could create a marine dead zone. Ms Stewart said they had similar concerns. "Where would all that brine go? Because that is a protected coastline," she said. Stephen Sanderson is CEO of UK Energy Storage Ltd, a subsidiary of UKOG, and said once studies had been completed details of the project would be made available in a public consultation."Dorset's Triassic salt deposit is well understood, with around a hundred boreholes and extensive seismic data coverage," he said."It is of an equivalent geological age, stratigraphy, composition and thickness to the Triassic salt in the Cheshire Basin, where gas storage caverns have operated safely since 1984." Why hydrogen? The UK Climate Change Committee suggests that in the future, hydrogen generated with renewable energy could be stored and used to fill the gaps in the energy supply when wind and solar are not generating enough electricity. Hydrogen is also considered by the IEA an important potential fuel for the future of some industries that are harder to clean up. For example, replacing coal in steelmaking furnaces. However, most hydrogen produced in the UK today is produced from fossil fuels and is not considered low-carbon. UK Energy Storage Ltd previously said plans for a hydrogen storage facility in Dorset could service the nearby Solent cluster - a regional hub of industry partners, co-founded by Exxon Mobil, who claim they want to make industry in the area greener. The Solent cluster has plans for a hydrogen production plant at the Fawley refinery near Southampton. Local politicians, and environmental campaigners like Greenpeace, have accused it in the past of greenwashing - that is, misleading the public about the environmental benefits of the plans. When will work start on the ground? UKOG said in a release that it hopes to see construction under way by 2030, with the first caverns being open for business between that will be subject to regulatory approval - requiring a Development Consent Order (DCO) from the Secretary of State - and will also depend on what financing is available. The company intends to bid for government revenue support for the project. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
