Houseflies are just one of the 1.2 million species of flies found in the world. Besides being irritating, houseflies are vectors that carry disease-causing bacteria. It is, therefore, imminent to protect food items and get rid of flies as soon as possible. This article presents the best home remedies for flies that are easy to use, conveniently priced or even free, and are natural.
1. Lavender Oil
Lavender oil is mostly renowned for its soothing properties, yet its applications extend beyond that. In the past, people used dried lavender flowers to keep moth and flies away from their clothes. It is still applicable to date due to its effectiveness in fending off a wide variety of insects.
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Necessary items
- Half to one cup of lavender oil.
- A can with a lid.
- A piece of cloth.
Directions
Dip a piece of cloth in the lavender oil, place it in the can, cover it with a lid, and leave it for 24 hours. Then, remove the lid and place it where flies are prone to dwell. After a day’s use, the air will have weakened the sensation of the homemade repellant, so make sure to replenish the oil and to store it overnight to make it more potent.
Warning: undiluted lavender oil should not come into contact with your skin.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar Trap
Among the most common uses of apple cider vinegar is its application in making one of the most reliable home remedies for flies as its fermenting smell is quite irresistible to them. You can heat it slightly to increase the intensity of its smell. Below is how to make your homemade fly trap with apple cider vinegar.
Necessary items
- An empty jar, preferably mason jar.
- A funnel (improvise one with hard paper).
- Half a cup of apple cider vinegar.
- Few drops of dish soap.
Directions
Gently heat half a cup of apple cider vinegar and pour it into the mason jar, then add a few drops of dish soap. The purpose of the dish soap is to break the surface tension that helps flies float on liquid surfaces. To make the trap more attractive to flies, place an overripe fruit in it then cover the mouth of the jar with a makeshift funnel. When flies come to enjoy the contents of the jar, they drown in the fluid. Those that do not sink immediately will be trapped in the jar anyway thanks to the funnel. Get rid of the content of the jar every 2 days tops.
3. Lemon & Cloves
Cloves are refreshing and delicious spices to some, but are one of the most repelling natural ingredients for flies. When combined with lemon, they create an unbearable scent for flies. To make potent home remedies for repelling flies, use the following ingredients:
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Necessary items
- 6 to 12 cloves.
- Half a lemon.
- Cheesecloth/muslin cloth.
- Rubber band.
Directions
You can make this repellant in two ways.
First, insert six to twelve cloves into the lemon with the bud end sticking out and place it on a plate at the center of the table whenever you have meals outdoors to keep flies away. An apple can also take the place of a lemon in this home remedy for flies.
In the second procedure, wrap the cloves in a cheesecloth or a muslin sack. Tie the top of the bag using a rubber band. Finally, hang it in an area colonized by flies to keep them off.
4. Honey or Jam Trap
Honey trap is one of the most effective home remedies for flies which will guarantee excellent results. Since flies are attracted to sugary foods, honey or jam make good baits.
Note: Our article on the best home remedies for fruit flies features a similar trap plus other tricks that will keep your summer nights stress-free.
Necessary items
- A plastic bottle.
- Water.
- Two teaspoons of honey or jam.
- Dish soap.
Directions
Cut a plastic bottle into two making the top half slightly smaller than the bottom half and add some water to the bottom half of the container. Then, add a few drops of dish soap to the water and stir thoroughly (dish soap breaks the surface tension of water). Apply two teaspoons of honey or jam to the mixture, turn the top half upside down, and let it rest on the top of the other half making a funnel shaped trap. Place this trap in an area infested with flies. When the small insects come to taste the sugary content on the trap, they fall down the funnel and drown.
5. Wine
Flies cannot stand the aroma of fermented food and drinks. Therefore, wine makes good bait for a homemade fly trap. Either white or red wine will work in this recipe.
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Necessary items
- Half a glass of wine.
- A wide bowl.
- A drop of dish wash.
Directions
Pour roughly half a cup of wine into a wide bowl and place it in an open place where flies can easily spot it, then add a drop of dish soap to break the surface tension. Once flies land on the surface of the drink, they will drown and die.
Alternatively, you can leave a little wine in the bottle to make the trap. Cover the top of the bottle with polyethylene after which you make perforations that can allow flies in. When they get in, they will be trapped and eventually die in the bottle, making this one of the smartest home remedies for flies on this list.
6. Homemade Flypaper Strips
Commercial flypapers or ribbons are coated with sticky materials with a subtle scent. These substances are lethal to flies as well as other insects, which means commercial flypapers are harmful to humans, too. However, you can improvise a flypaper strip to keep flies away without creating a health hazard.
Necessary items
- Card stock.
- Half a cup of corn syrup.
- A quarter cup of sugar.
- Thread.
- A bowl.
Directions
Cut the card stock into 2-inch strips, make holes in the strips, and thread them. Then, mix a half a cup of corn syrup and a quarter cup of sugar in a bowl, stir well, and smear the resulting concoction on one side of the strips. Then, hang these homemade flypaper strips in the problem area using this thread. Use this home remedy for flies regularly to get rid of these irritating and harmful insects.
7. Growing Basil Plants
The scent that oozes from basil is a natural fly repellant, which makes basil an effective home remedy for flies. Therefore, planting basil in pots around your home will not only provide you with a fresh organic herb for cooking but also make healthy home remedies for getting rid of flies.
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Necessary items
- Several small flower pots.
- Basil seeds.
- Dirt.
Directions
Put the basil seedlings in small pots, cover them with dirt, and press down to compact the soil. Then, place the pots in fly-prone areas and water occasionally for the seedlings to sprout. This is a long term method for keeping flies away from your compound since the seeds take about four days to grow.
8. Lemongrass
Lemongrass is one of the essential oils that can help keep flies away. It makes the air fresh with its citrus fragrance which the flies find unbearable.
Necessary items
Directions
Add about ten drops of lemongrass essential oil into the spray bottle. Pour some hot water over the oil and shake the spray bottle well to mix its contents. Use this spray along the entry points of flies such as doorways, windows, and air ducts. You can also use it to target flies in sight directly to drive them away.
9. Bay Leaves
Bay leaves, fresh or dry, usually produce an odor that repels flies. You can choose to sprinkle them whole in the infested areas or crush them into powder for a more potent smell.
Source
Necessary items
- Bay leaves.
- Pestle and mortar.
Directions
Crush the bay leaves in a mortar until you achieve a fine powder (if the leaves used are dry). Spread this powder over hotspots that may attract flies such as garbage cans and drains. The powder will be active for approximately ten days. After this, replenish it with freshly ground bay leaves to keep the flies off your home for much longer.
10. Milk, Sugar, and Pepper Mix
This is a homemade fly trap that was used in England as one of the best home remedies for flies. It is based on the aspect of flies being attracted naturally to sugary foods. Today, the technique is used widely due to its utilization of readily available ingredients.
Necessary items
- Half a liter of milk.
- A quarter cup of sugar.
- Four tablespoons of ground black pepper.
- Saucepan.
Directions
Add all the ingredients (milk, pepper, and sugar) into the saucepan, put the mixture on low heat, and let it simmer for about fifteen minutes. Then, distribute the resultant solution in several shallow open bowls and place these dishes in fly-infested areas around your house. When they get attracted to the sugary milk solution, they will drown upon landing on it.
11. Green Apple Soap
Green apple soap is one of the simplest home remedies for flies. It usually attracts flies, a property that you can use to your advantage to set a trap for these irritating insects.
Source
Necessary items
- A wide jar.
- Green apple liquid soap.
- Water.
Directions
Put some green apple soap in a wide jar and add water to dilute it, then leave it uncovered in the affected areas of your house. Later, dispose the contents of the jar and replace it with a fresh solution.
12. Camphor
Camphor wax, which comes from the camphor laurel tree, emits an overpowering smell that will drive away insects such as flies. Besides that, it has antiviral and antibacterial properties to fend off disease-causing pathogens transported by flies.
Necessary items
- Camphor tablets.
- A source of heat.
- Hot water.
Directions
Make a metallic plate warm then place two camphor tablets on it. Heat will melt the tablets and release a strong camphor scent to drive away flies. Alternatively, pour some hot water into a bowl and add two camphor tablets in it. If the odor is too strong for you, place the bowl in the fly prone areas only.
Conclusion
Most of these remedies include do-it-yourself practices that go a long way in keeping flies off your home for good without spending a fortune. The home remedies mentioned in this article are based off natural substances and fly repellents that work quickly to remove or kill flies. Therefore, whichever one you choose, you will notice the difference in just a few days. If you have any other full proof home remedies for flies, make sure to share them with us! with us.
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