What Smell Will Keep Flies Away? Various smells keep flies away, but a safe generalization — those with powerful and pungent fragrances from aromatic herbs keeps them off. For instance, the aroma of lavender, mint, rosemary, sage, lemongrass, and citronella grass are typical fly-shooing smells.
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.
Eucalyptus oil is a good option, but you can also use lavender, citrus, pine, clove, peppermint, and thyme essential oils. Most flies hate these scents, so the oils will act as a fly repellent.
Spearmint/Peppermint
In addition to making your house smell minty fresh, herbs like spearmint and peppermint can also keep flies at bay.
Make your own natural fly deterrent spray
The smell of essential oils like mint, lemongrass and lavender are hated by flies. You can create your own natural fly deterrent spray by adding a few drops of any of these oils to water in a spray bottle.
Mint is yet another fragrant herb that has pest-fighting properties. According to the Cornell Cooperative Extension, menthol, the active insect-fighting ingredient in mint and peppermint oil, has biocidal properties that help repel and control mites, mosquitoes and various other pests.
Some natural remedies, such as essential oils like eucalyptus, lavender, or peppermint, can repel flies. If you are dining alfresco, make sure to cover food or bring it indoors once you have eaten. Use lids on bins and clean them regularly to minimise odours that attract flies.
Common house flies are attracted to decaying organic filth such as feces and rotting meat, whereas fruit flies seek sugary substances and feed more commonly on overripe fruit, spilled soda, and alcohol.
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.
Of all the oils tested by the scientists, peppermint oil was the most effective. It repelled every single fly from the area where it was applied. And it continued to work just as well for six days after application. The study used neat peppermint oil.
This spray is great for outdoor and indoor use. Flies seem to HATE pine-sol. To make the fly repelling spray, mix the original Pine-Sol with water, at a ratio of 50/50 and put it in a spray bottle. Use to wipe counters or spray on the porch and patio table and furniture to drive the flies away.
Plant Fly-Repelling Herbs
Basil, bay laurel, mint and lavender are all fragrant and can also be used to spice up your recipes. Wormwood, tansy, rue and citronella grass are good choices for planting beds near your patio as well.
Flies detest the smell of pine, which is what makes Pine Sol such an effective deterrent. If you're dealing with an outdoor fly infestation, simply swab your porch, deck and even the side of your house with a solution of hot water and Pine Sol.
The strong aroma of cinnamon repels flies. The scent, which comes from an organic compound called cinnamaldehyde, is overpowering to their sensitive olfactory receptors, forcing them to stay away.
The only maintenance required is to gently squeeze the lemon once a day to release the juice. Niecy said this is a method that can be used both indoors and outside to keep flies at bay. Flies are revolted by citrus and clove scents, as are mosquitoes, making it the perfect tonic to leave on your back veranda in summer.
✔️Mix apple cider vinegar and dish soap.
“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.
Houseflies LOVE the scent of food, garbage, feces, and other smelly things like your pet's food bowl. They're also attracted to your body if you have a layer of natural oils and salt or dead skin cells built up.
Here are some reasons why they land on humans: o They are attracted to carbon dioxide which human beings breathe out. o They are attracted to the heat of the warm body, to sweat and salt, and the more the person sweats the more flies they attract. o Flies feed on dead cells and open wounds.
Home flies are appealing to organic dirt, such as excrement and rubbing flesh, while fruit flies are much more likely to look for sucrant chemicals and to feast on overripe fruit, spilt drink and liquor. Drain flies prefer wet conditions and organic matter to lay their eggs inside drains.
Things Flies Hate
Basil, bay leaf, cedar, cinnamon, citrus, citronella, cloves, cucumber slices or peels, lavender, marigolds, mint, peppermint, pine, rosemary, and vanilla oils and air fresheners are a few popular choices for fly repellents.
Use citrus oils, candles and incense. Other natural solutions to keeping flies away include placing citronella candles and incense close to open doors and windows. Putting dried cloves, mint, lavender or cinnamon in pots or bowls by open windows should also work as flies do not like the strong smell.
Vinegar and dish soap fly trap
Use a shallow dish bowl and fill it with an inch of apple cider vinegar and a tablespoon of sugar. Next, add some fruit-scented dish soap. You can leave the dish uncovered or tightly covered with plastic wrap.
3: Mint. Spearmint and peppermint are often noted for their ability to repel flies, fleas, and spiders in the garden. One thing to keep in mind when planting mint is that it is an invasive plant and will spread quickly.
Mint (Mentha)
The scent of mint repels aphids, cabbage moths, flea beetles, squash bugs, whiteflies, and even ants. To prevent this aggressive grower from taking over your vegetable garden, you can simply lay sprigs of mint among the plants you want to protect, but the sprigs must be replaced often.