How to Get Rid of Flies Naturally
Flies tends to come out in droves during the warmer months, and they can be a real pain once they’re inside your house. If you aren’t too keen on the idea of using harmful chemical repellents, try out these natural methods to get rid of flies and get on with your summer.
Homemade Fly Paper
If you are tired of spending money on those bright orange hanging fly traps, you can make your own using ingredients you probably already have on hand. They might not be visually appealing, but they are extremely effective and won’t cost you a dime.
To make these, you’ll need a brown paper bag and equal parts corn or maple syrup and sugar. Combine ingredients in a shallow pan or dish, and cut about 1 inch wide strips from the paper bag. Cut a whole through the top of each strip so a string can be inserted through and used to hang the fly traps.
Soak the strips in the mixture for a few hours or overnight, if possible. Hang your homemade fly traps anywhere in your house where flies are present, and place a small cup or bowl underneath to catch any drips.
Start an Herb Garden
Okay, you don’t actually have to plant a full-on herb garden, but there is one particular herb that naturally repels flies and will keep them away from your home. Flies cannot stand basil, so consider buying or planting a few basil plants around the perimeter of your home to keep flies at bay.
Mint can also be a deterrent, and has a pleasant scent at that! Make a few small sachets out of crushed mint and hang in areas of your home where flies seem to be a problem.
Essential Oils
There are many scents flies cannot stand, and one of these is eucalyptus oil. To help rid your home of flies, place a few drops of eucalyptus oil on absorbent cloth or in small containers to keep flies at bay.
A friend of mine also swears by pine oil or Pine Sol, in a pinch, although I have yet to test this method.
Water, Water Everywhere
This next fly repellent sounds completely off the wall, but I swear it works. What you do is hang a few clear plastic bags filled about 3/4 of the way with water around doorways and the perimeter of your home. Apparently, flies will see the reflections from the water and the clear plastic bags, and will become disoriented and fly away from your home!
For a few bucks, this is easily one of the most economical ways to get rid of flies naturally, if not the most visually appealing. My stepmother attempted this method one summer, and though my father and I made fun of her the entire time, it really did keep the flies away!
Flies are annoying, pesky creatures that can make your home and life miserable during the summer. If you want to avoid spending a lot of money on nasty chemical repellents, test out a few of these methods to get rid of flies naturally and try to enjoy the rest of your summer.
Have you used any of these methods before, or do you have a tried-and-true trick for ridding your home of flies naturally? I’d love for you to share your tips!