If there's one insect that's hard to get rid of in a house, it's the fly! Even if you have a perfectly clean house, the summer heat seems to make them multiply. There are many things to repel or kill them, such as window stickers, electric fly swatters, etc. But ultimately, the most effective solution remains the good old-fashioned adhesive strip to attach to the ceiling. Simple and effective! But really ugly, I must admit! While looking for an effective and more aesthetically pleasing solution, I discovered the Prodifa diffuser, which uses a natural insecticide to repel flies, mosquitoes, and many other insects. Let's take a closer look…
Discovering the Prodifa diffuser
The Prodifa diffuser is very similar to the automatic diffusers you might find for toilets, for example. It's a diffuser that holds a spray of insecticide:
It can be purchased in a set with the sprays, or on its own. The diffuser consists of a white casing with a silver opening through which the insecticide is released.
Just above, two LEDs indicate the device's status. A steady green flash indicates proper operation, while a red light indicates low batteries (steady red) or the need to replace the product can (flashing red). The system actually calculates 3,000 sprays before estimating that the can is empty.
Below is the button to unlock the diffuser. It can be locked with a small plastic key to prevent children from opening it.
As you can see, it has two “legs” that allow the Prodifa diffuser to stand upright on a piece of furniture if desired.
But it can also be wall-mounted if preferred, with screw holes provided on the back:
The case itself measures 21 x 8.2 x 8.2 cm and maintains a fairly neutral aesthetic.
Opening it reveals the battery compartment, the spray can, and the settings. Everything is hidden away here!
This Prodifa diffuser has several handy settings. There's an On/Off button, of course. There's also a time setting: the device can spray every 7.5 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, or 45 minutes. Finally, the last slider allows you to activate it 24/7, or only at night, or only during the day, which it detects thanks to a darkness sensor. The night setting will be particularly useful for mosquitoes, for example!
To operate, the Prodifa diffuser requires 4 AA batteries (not included), which fit on each side of the device. The device can then last up to 3 years.
All that's missing is the insecticide can itself. The manufacturer offers two versions here: a “regular” one and a reinforced one. Both are based on pyrethrum, a plant often used to make household insect repellents, mosquito repellents, and pet pest control products. Pyrethrins, extracted from the flowers of this plant, are considered a relatively safe and effective way to control many types of harmful insects, such as mosquitoes, flies, fleas, bedbugs, and other pests.
Pyrethrins are often preferred over more powerful synthetic chemicals due to their natural origin and rapid degradation in the environment, which limits their impact on non-target wildlife and humans. However, it is still important to follow the instructions for use of these products carefully, as pyrethrins can be toxic to pets and humans if overexposed or misused. These sprays have been specifically dosed for indoor use, with regular spraying.
In general, the “normal” (yellow) model will be sufficient for most uses. The reinforced model is best used when you're infested with flies or mosquitoes, for a more “shock” effect. You can then switch to the yellow version to maintain the repellent effect.
The spray simply fits into the diffuser (without the cap, of course), by correctly positioning its nozzle:
The mechanism is simple: at the selected interval, the mechanism will apply pressure to the nozzle to spray. When you close it, you can only see the nozzle through the opening:
You can then position the Prodifa diffuser wherever you want, as seen here on top of a high piece of furniture:
The system then goes about its business, completely autonomously!
Conclusion
I've been using this Prodifa diffuser for a good month now, and I must say that its effect was almost immediate! The mosquito problem was initially addressed here with the
Biogents traps
, which I take out every early spring, so we weren't too bothered by these critters. However, flies were a real nuisance during the summer. Within 24 hours, we only had one or two stubborn flies. And after 48 hours, no flies at all. And if any mosquitoes had slipped into the house, I didn't see them :p The diffuser operates discreetly, although it's configured here to run 24/7, spraying every 30 minutes. In this mode, a 250ml cartridge provides approximately two months of use, costing €14.90 (a 150ml version is also available for €12.90). The battery life can last up to six months, depending on the frequency and mode used. This cost remains very reasonable. The diffuser itself costs less than €30. And to get started, kits are available, including a Prodifa diffuser and two or three spray cans of product.
Pack découverte Prodifa
Diffuseur Prodifa + 3 bombes renforcé
Diffuseur Prodifa + 3 bombes naturel
Recharge diffuseur Prodifa Renforcé 250ml
Please remain courteous: a hello and a thank you cost nothing! We're here to exchange ideas in a constructive way. Trolls will be deleted.