You guessed it: flies despise cloves and lemon due to their strong smells. For us, however, these natural repellents are quite aromatic. To create this decorative and natural repellent, you'll need a lemon and 6-12 cloves.
It seems like fruit flies will target any fruit that's lying around in your kitchen. But when given the choice, these annoying pests actually prefer citrus like oranges, limes, and lemons.
Do lemons repel flies and mosquitoes? YES! Citrus is a natural pest repellent and citrus essential oils are used in most homemade pest sprays.
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.
For a nontoxic alternative, squirt undiluted lemon juice on door thresholds and windowsills. Then squeeze lemon juice into any holes or cracks where ants are coming in. You can also then scatter a few small slices of lemon peel around outdoor entrances. Lemons are also effective against pests like roaches and fleas.
Citrus. Similar to peppermint, the strong smell of citrus frightens off spiders and larger insects. This is one of the best natural solutions to deter pests because it can also help keep your air bacteria-free and smelling fresh! Mix the juice from half of a lemon or lime in with two cups of water.
Lavender, eucalyptus, and citrus are also good fly repelling scents, so you can use an essential oil to help keep flies away. (Of course, you'll also want to make sure your home is neat and tidy so you don't attract fruit flies and other insects.
✔️Mix apple cider vinegar and dish soap.
Ideally, the dish soap will have a fruity smell. “The fermented smell from the vinegar can attract flies,” Pereira says. “But the soap is really what will kill them.” The detergent in soap will destroy the flies' digestive tract and can also break down their cell walls, he says.
Cayenne pepper is an excellent natural fly repellent and also deters many other insects. Mix one cup of water and one teaspoon of cayenne pepper in a misting bottle and spray it near entryways and wherever you see flies. Other natural fly repellents include lemongrass, peppermint, eucalyptus, camphor, and cinnamon.
From a single house fly to a swarm, kill them in seconds with Ortho® Home Defense® Flying Bug Killer With Essential Oils. This spray is safe to use around kids and pets when used as directed and will make quick work of your flying pest problem.
Flies have a strong sense of smell, and while they flock to food (and animal waste, yuck) they fly away from certain smells. Flies tend to dislike the smell of Pine Sol, citronella, peppermint oil, and clove oil. You will find that many DIY bug spray recipes use these ingredients in some way.
Lemon. Smelling citrus scents like lemon is pleasing, but for bed bugs, it's death. Some bed bugs cannot resist the smell of lemon juice and having it around will help you eliminate the problem once and for all.
The taste and smell of garlic or lemon juice can be pleasant, but bugs don't react well to it. Most bugs are offended by the scent of allicin, a component found in garlic. The acidity and odor of lemon juice serve as an unpleasant boundary no bug wants to walk across.
Fruit flies are not fans of citrus smells and you can use lemon or orange peels to prevent fruit flies. However, ensure you throw the peels out before they begin to rot as this will attract the flies rather than repel them.
One of the most common predators of flies, including fruit flies, is the frog. Although frogs eat a diverse diet, they feed on flies as often as they can. The spider is also a common predator of the fruit fly. These arachnids spin their webs as traps for flies.
Fill a microwave-safe bowl with apple cider vinegar and a few drops of dish soap. Microwave the bowl so the mixture becomes even more aromatic. Leave the bowl out uncovered as fruit fly bait. The soap will reduce the surface tension, causing any fruit fly that lands on the surface to drown.
Common House Spider (Parasteatoda tepidariorum)
Common house spiders are known to be primarily insectivorous, consuming insects, including flies, mosquitoes, ants, and other small invertebrates. The common house spider is an essential natural predator of flies, effectively managing their populations.
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 to, such as kitchen countertops.
Here are some of the most well-known scents that can lure flies: House flies: Unpleasant, decaying smells (rotting meat, decomposing garbage, etc.) Fruit flies: Sweet, sugary smells (ripe or rotting fruit, spilled soda or juice, alcohol, etc.) Drain flies: Moist, mildewy smells.
Many bugs hate citrus smells and cockroaches are no different. You can use lemon juice and put it in dishes to ward off those pests. You can also take lemon peels and place them around your home where you might think the cockroaches are hiding.
It's easy to keep spiders away using natural products. These eight-legged creatures hate the smell of citrus fruits such as lemons and oranges. They also don't like peppermint oils, tea tree oils, eucalyptus, and vinegar. Using any of these around your home will keep spiders away.
Rats and mice feed on a variety of fruits including oranges, avocados, peaches, lemon, and figs. They are fond of walnuts, almonds, and peanut butter. All fallen fruit and nuts should be regularly removed and discarded in the trash.