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.
House flies are known to dislike the smells of certain herbs and essential oils such as lavender, eucalyptus, peppermint, and basil. Therefore, these scents can be used as a natural fly repellent.
Afraid of shadows
Gibson and his team enclosed flies in an arena where the buzzing insects were exposed repeatedly to an overhead shadow. The flies looked startled and, if flying, increased their speed. Occasionally the flies froze in place, a defensive behaviour also observed in the fear responses of rodents.
Use fly paper or fly strips. Clean with Pine Sol. Use essential oils. Flies hate the smells of Pine Sol, citronella, peppermint oil and clove oil. Use cinnamon as an air freshener as flies hate that smell also. Spray house with lavender, eucalyptus, or lemongrass essential oils. Use fans or light candles.
Flies hate the smell of basil and ginger. Boil a pot of water on the stove and remove from heat. Slice up a 2-inch nub of ginger and add the water along with two cups of fresh basil leaves. Leave to steep for an hour. Remove the herbs and place the water in a spray bottle and spray your surfaces for a fly-free home.
Picaridin: Though it's been around for fewer decades, its efficacy is considered comparable to DEET for mosquitoes and ticks, and it works better on flies. Picaridin also has minimal odor and no damaging effect on plastics and other synthetics.
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.
Natural Sprays That Repel Flies:
Fill a spray bottle with ⅓ hydrogen peroxide and ⅔ water. After shaking the mixture, spray it on surfaces on which flies tend to typically linger. It works wonders! It turns out that flies and mosquitoes are not fans of vodka!
House Flies (Musca Domestica)
They are typically attracted to decaying organic matter such as food scraps, garbage, and animal waste. Their rapid reproduction rate allows them to multiply quickly when conditions are favorable, often leading to large house fly infestations if not promptly addressed.
Use Citronella-Infused Incense and Candles
Citronella essential oil is one of the most effective natural repellents for flies and other bugs. Another plus side of citronella is that it emits a pleasant lemony scent, so you can leave it around your patio space while you're outside.
Choose from either chemical sprays, household cleaners, or hairspray. Chemical sprays kill flies instantly upon contact, though they contain harsh chemicals. You can also spray the flies with household cleaners, like Windex or Formula 409, or with an aerosol like hairspray. All of these sprays will help you kill a fly.
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.
Pteronarcophobia (fear of flies). Spheksophobia (fear of wasps).
Lavender – Lavender is available in many different forms, and flies hate them all. Try growing fresh plants in your garden, especially near any doors or windows. You can also use dried lavender and scented candles to help keep the flies at bay.
Flies hate the spicy odor of cayenne pepper. If you've noticed flies in certain parts of your home, consider sprinkling dried cayenne pepper around the area. You can also mix it with water and spray it in those locations.
Screen them out. A simple solution for keeping flies and mosquitoes at bay is to put some mesh between you and them. Think fly screens on your windows and doors, a mosquito net hanging over your bed or a piece of net fabric in front of your face. Long sleeves, pants and socks will keep them off your skin, too.
Apple Cider Vinegar and Dish Soap
Sprinkle sugar on top to further entice the flies. The dish soap will break down the flies and kill them, while the vinegar attracts them. If you don't have apple cider vinegar, try stale wine or beer, says Irenicus, as the aging scents attract flies.
Flies get inside for a number of reasons, usually in pursuit of trash, rotting food, or moisture. A common house fly is attracted to decaying organic matter like feces and rotting meat. Drain flies, on the other hand, are attracted to moisture and will lay their eggs inside of drains.
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.
Flies are one of the only bugs that are actively affected by colors. While designing more effective fly traps, researchers from the University of Florida found that flies are attracted to blue tones and repelled by warm tones like yellow.
Use insect repellent products, such as DEET and citronella oil to deter black flies. Re-apply repellents every few hours to maintain maximum effectiveness. Remember that smoke from punk sticks, campfires and tobacco products repel black flies.
Some soaps with essential oils can repel insects for a short time but, “Irish Spring soap specifically doesn't have enough quantity to register for mosquitoes [and] no ingredients that would repel flies,” he says.
Pine-Sol® is not recommended for use on marble, aluminum, or unsealed, waxed, oiled or visibly worn wood. Q: Where should I NOT use Pine-Sol® Cleaners? A: We do not recommend using Pine-Sol® Original Multi-Surface Cleaner on aluminum, copper or marble surfaces.