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.
Plant herbs like basil, rosemary, and lavender around patios and garden borders. Use sprays made from essential oils like citronella or eucalyptus on outdoor furniture. Incorporate scented candles or sachets near outdoor dining areas to create a fly-free zone.
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.
Equal parts baby oil, Dettol and rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle. Spray it on your neck and arms/legs. If you can handle feeling a bit slimy it is the only thing I've found that actually repels flies. I've done it with just Dettol and baby oil and it still works.
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.
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.
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.
Cayenne pepper is an excellent natural fly repellent that 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.
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.
Flies appear in outdoor locations wherever there are food sources and moisture. Dark areas also encourage breeding, while warm areas like open doors or vents attract flies preparing for hibernation. Here are the most common sources of fly infestations outside: Pet waste.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Does citronella repel flies? Yes, citronella can help repel flies. It produces a strong odor that flies do not like. You can burn citronella candles or use citronella oil to help keep the flies away however it is not an effective method of killing flies.
Although it may be accurate to say that vinegar “repels” flies in the long run, the opposite is technically true. In fact, vinegar attracts flies, as opposed to being repulsive to them. Particularly in the case of fruit flies, these insects are on the hunt for overripe fruit and the microbes they carry.
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.
It will kill flies and roaches when you spray them. I don't like this page.
Vinegar and Dish Soap - Fill a bowl slightly with apple cider vinegar, wine or honey with some dish soap (washing up liquid). Cover the bowl with plastic wrap with punctured holes or leave uncovered. Flies will be attracted to the smell and will get stuck within the liquid.
To kill the flies that buzz around rooms, use an insect spray or aerosol that contains synergized pyrethrins or synthetic pyrethroids. For best results, the room should be closed and the material misted into the air. Pyrethrins are “quick kill” insecticides and have little or no residual action.
The best homemade fly trap is one that can attract both house flies and fruit flies. To lure both outdoors, mix scraps of rotting meat, like fish or chicken, with sugar or honey. When indoors, the best bait is old fruit or honey. Liquid dish soap is exactly what you need to drown the flies.