For a truly chemical-free way to keep mosquitoes and black flies away from your porch, use a fan. It might seem strange to use a fan outside, but it works! A simple oscillating pedestal fan or box fan will do the trick.
And in addition to keeping mosquitoes off of your body, setting up a fan outside has the added benefits of keeping you cool and keeping flies off of your food. It's really a win-win-win.
The only thing that repels black flies and other flies reliably is mint. DON'T use undiluted mint oil as it will cause burns. Make a mixture in a spray bottle of ten drops, plus 1/4 cup vinegar, plus one cup water, and spray on outer garments (long pants, long sleeve shirts, footwear, hats, head-net, etc.)
The question is, ``will a ceiling fan keep mosquitoes away?'' and the answer is given for this. The short answer is yes, fans can assist to keep insects at bay. According to study, mosquitoes, who are typically weak fliers, are deterred by the fan's speed.
Absolutely! They provide a safe, effective, and hassle-free way to keep flies away from your food and guests.
Cinnamon – use cinnamon as an air freshner, as flies hate the smell! Lavender, eucalyptus, peppermint and lemongrass essential oils – Not only will spraying these oils around the house create a beautiful aroma, but they will also deter those pesky flies too.
DEET or Picaridin: The EPA considers both DEET and picaridin as being highly effective as wearable repellents against insects when used in the proper concentration. A product with either 20% DEET or picaridin can repel insects for up to 4 to 5 hours.
Repellents - Using insect repellents approved for biting gnat prevention is only marginally effective and usually is nowhere near as successful as when used to repel mosquitoes. Fans - Since biting gnats are small, weak fliers, using ceiling and other fans are effective at keeping biting gnats away.
Bugs hate the smells associated with repellency, such as lavender, citronella, vinegar, peppermint, and geranium. These oils are considered a natural way of driving away bugs from your home without harming you, your family, and other animals.
Black flies are active only during the day. They do not bite at night. Depending on weather, black flies tend to be more active at certain times of day. Activity peaks tend to occur around 9:00 to 11:00 AM and again from 4:00 to 7:00 in the late afternoon and early evening, or until the sun falls below the horizon.
Vanilla extract, pine, or lavender oil repels biting black flies and mosquitoes too. Herbs like anise, basil, cedarwood, coriander, lemongrass, and mint may work to repel black flies and can be planted in flower boxes or pots and around the edges of your yard. Garlic plants are also reported to have a repelling effect.
Not only will cold air stop flies from coming where they aren't wanted, but mosquitos, wasps, and even mice might be repelled, too!
The smell of the menthol in it will repel the insects away.
Troyano says you want to prevent flies from entering your home in the first place, so it's important to keep doors and windows closed when possible, cover food, clear away food debris, and keep trash in tightly sealed lids.
In addition to making your house smell minty fresh, herbs like spearmint and peppermint can also keep flies at bay. Mint grows quickly and makes an excellent addition to your backyard garden or your windowsill. For those who lack a green thumb, spearmint or peppermint essential oils can also prevent fly infestations.
Irish Spring is known for its classic “invigorating” scent, and there are plenty of success stories on the internet from people using it to banish flies. Get a mesh or nylon bag, place a bar of soap inside and hang it on your patio or porch.
Fly traps, such as commercial tapes or DIY traps, can be very effective at getting rid of a lot of black flies at once. For example, you can set up a trap using a plastic bottle, fill it with apple cider vinegar, and punch a hole in the top that traps them.
Not only will fans keep the flies, bees, mosquitoes, and gnats off of you, fans will also do a great job of keeping them off of your cookout meals as well. A ceiling fan may not get rid of them 100%, but even a 75% reduction of the pests is a major improvement.
Use Lavender Spray Or Plants
Gnats are not fans of the aroma of lavender, so whether you want to plant your lavender because you enjoy the look as well as the scent or choose to use a liquid substitute to this scent, gnats will avoid it.
Create a fly and wasp repellent.
This DIY pest repellant should be a staple in the Southern home. Pour equal parts water and Pine-Sol in a spray bottle to spritz on outdoor furniture, the deck, and indoor areas where flies are most likely to flock, such as kitchen countertops.
Homemade fly repellent spray: A mixture of dish soap, water, baking soda, and vinegar can be filled into a spray bottle. The mixture should contain a few drops of dish soap and a tablespoon each of vinegar and baking soda per cup of water. A few sprays of this mixture can be an effective fly repellent.
Mosquito & Insect Repellent with adjustable frequency, is the perfect app to chase away aggressive insects and pests. By using a special "3D Audio Technology" and an adjustable pitch, this app can repel most insects and pests that don't normally react to one particular sound.