I live on a farm in the South. I came across an old folklore fly repellent remedy that I had never seen.
Take a zip lock bag, 1 quart size is best. Put 2 pennies in it. Fill the bag around 3/4 full of water and close. Hang it near the door ways.
In the barn they say to place where the stall windows and doors are.
I tried it, (felt a little foolish when I did it) and the flies went the other way!
They used to fly into the house and drive me nuts. They would die on the window sills and floor beneath the windows. I had to sweep 'em up once a week. Bunches of them, now there's none. Now I may see 1 or 2 flies that sneaked in, the whole summer in my house.
I was told that flies have many facets on their eyes and they do not like the water reflecting the sparkles in their eyes. They don't like the copper either.
So if you see it, believe me it works. What have you got to lose? I have mine hanging all year round. I've seen them at other people's homes and I just giggle to myself. If they only knew how good that works, around the world.
By Army Brat
How do I get rid of flies apart from pest sprays?
By Ashwin from Suva, Fiji
I need some help with controlling flies in the pet area outside. I would like to use a home remedy if possible.
By Alison from Garland, TX
By Carolyn
07/06/2011
I have chickens. The flies aren't to bad yet. But the hot weather is just now coming. I've put a basil plant in 2 garden windows and the bathroom and have not had a fly problem yet.
I have a problem with flies, I don't like using sprays because of my pets. I have tried tying a bunch of lavender in the window, but the flies just sit on it. Has anyone any other "natural" remedies?
By Janet from Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
By Carol in PA
06/11/2012
I am not sure if marigolds work for flies or not, but they work for other insects.
How do I get rid of flies outside before a pool party?
By dllatham from midwest, IL
By Hobbiehorse
09/20/2009
Citrus Repellent: Cut a lemon into quarters and place in a pint jug. Cover the lemon with boiling water and let it steep overnight. Next day you have a flea repellent that you can use in a spray bottle. Spray all over your dog remembering especially behind the ears and around the head generally (careful of eyes), around the base of the tail (once again keep away from delicate bits) and under your dogs "armpits."
Aroma Therapy Repellent: Using 10 ml. of Pure Almond Carrier Oil as your base, add 10 drops of Lavender Essential Oil and 5 drops of Cedar wood Essential Oil. Shake well and use 1 or 2 drops [of this mixture] spread over the skin at least twice a week to keep the fleas away.
A flea collar can be made by rubbing a few drops of one of the following into an ordinary webbing or rope collar or even a doggy bandanna: Eucalyptus Essential Oil, Tea Tree Essential Oil, Citronella Essential Oil, Lavender Essential Oil or Geranium Essential Oil. Don't forget to do this weekly.
Your home: Fleas spend most of their time in your furnishings and only hop onto your dog or you for their next meal. Make sure you wash your dog's bedding regularly because no flea ever survived a hot wash cycle. If you add Eucalyptus Essential Oil to the final rinse it will also kill 99% of house dust mites according to research from the University of Sydney, Australia.
Vacuum your home very thoroughly and sprinkle a fine layer of ordinary table salt over your upholstery and carpets and leave overnight before vacuuming again to evict your unwelcome guests safely but don't forget to empty your vacuum bag.
Bathing: A badly infested dog really needs to be bathed so use your favorite dog shampoo. Rinse the dog off very thoroughly and in the final rinse add a couple of drops of Tea Tree Essential Oil or Lavender Essential Oil. An alternative is to make your own herbal flea dip which will also work on ticks. Steep two cups of fresh Rosemary Leaf in two pints of boiling water for 30 minutes. Strain the liquid, discard the leaves and make it up to one gallon ( 8 pints) with warm water. Pour this mixture over the dog until it's saturated. Do not rinse off and allow the dog to dry naturally so this is a remedy to use on hot summer days.
Internal Flea Repellents: Garlic may not be your favorite cologne and it's not the flea's favorite smell either. When your dog eats garlic, the smell is excreted through the dog's skin making your dog less likely to be the flea's next meal. In case you think you might need to give your dog a breath freshener along with the garlic, my dogs, Mack and Josh, eat a garlic clove every day and I don't find their breath smells from it at all. Brewer's yeast tablets will also help to make your dog less attractive to fleas because once again the smell is excreted through the skin.
Adding a dessertspoon of natural apple cider vinegar to the water bowl will make the skin more acidic and unpleasant to fleas and ticks. If your dogs don't fancy apple cider vinegar in the water bowl, dilute it 50/50 with water and use in a spray bottle instead of the citrus repellent. [Or, you can use natural apple cider vinegar tablets.]
On my front porch I have flies. I had an exterminator come to see if something died under the porch they are so bad. But after paying $300, nothing was found under the porch. You don't open your mouth as you pass to the front door. Any help appreciated. Will the vase also work in this instance, as with the fruit flies?
By Jan W.
By muttmom
08/24/2011
To catch and kill, a fly trap from local feed store. It attracts with an odor and they drown. At least they are not breeding. It might smell for awhile but better than walking quickly lest you need to open your mouth. To keep them away for the moment, set up a moving fan.
My condo is next to the dumpster. My small backyard is full of flies. What should I use to get rid of them?
By Sharon from El Cajon, CA
By sickandsexy
06/23/2010
I don't know what really work to get rid of flies except for a can of Raid Spray. My husband brought those little sticky fly trap that you hang up in the cealing, in whichIi hate looking at it. Don't try those water bags filled with water because that do not work, I tried that already.
We have a terrible problem with flies on the front porch. We tried hanging a large bug zapper, 2 fly strips, and 2 basil plants. The flies are still there. What can I do to make them go away for good? We have this problem every summer.
By Bobbi J. from Burlinton, NJ
By Carol in PA
06/25/2012
Try to think of what is attracting the flies. Are they hatching in a dead mouse under the porch? Are you eating food on your porch? Once you remove their source of food they will no longer be attracted to the area.
I have always liked Yard Guard sprayed around outside before I sat out.
How do I get rid of flies outside?
By Michele H.
By Mehitabel
06/03/2011
Get a few empty, clean 2 liter (or similar size) plastic soda or drink bottles (ones without "handles"). Throw away the caps. Cut bottles apart horizontally (across the width of the bottles) about a third of the way down from top. Put some banana peels or other food remnants (no meat) in the bottles. Invert the top of each bottle and nestle it inside the bottom so that the cut edges meet. Fold some strong tape around the bottle where the edges meet to seal the edges together. Using a paper punch or awl, make a hole on opposite sides of each bottle just slightly below where the edges are taped. Using a length of twine or pliable wire for each bottle, thread one end of the twine/wire through one hole and tie it off so it won't come loose. Then do the same with the other end of the twine/wire and the opposite hole. Hang the bottles out of the sun where flies are a problem. When the bottles have quite a few flies in them, throw them out and make more. (I know a picture would have saved a thousand words, but I don't have one.) Hope this helps.
How do jugs of water placed around your yard help deter flies? I see them everywhere, and does this really work?
By Mary
By louel53
03/23/2012
The flashing of sunlight in the water in the plastic bags is supposed to startle the flies into staying away. I don't know if this works or not. I do not put much faith in these sorts of solutions, but I suppose it wouldn't hurt to give it a try.
I can't get rid of flies. Is there a home remedy for this?
Hardiness Zone: 9a
Christine from Brentwood, CA
I have a horse next door which creates lots of flies. I use fly bait and they take it. But I also have porch flies which don't take the regular bait and they just stay circling on the porch. Any suggestions?
By pbshepherding from Graham, WA
By dunno
Another suggestion was to put some wadded newspaper into a brown paper bag that has been crumpled a bit, then tie, or glue that near where you do not want the flies. They will "see" a hornets nest, and stay away. I think I got this information from-ta-da-Thrifty fun. Hope this works. (06/23/2009)
By LJF
By Artlady
By sickandsexy
I have flies in my back yard, neighbors on both sides have dogs. This simply might be due to the multiple rains and not the dogs, but if you have a suggestion I'd like to hear it. Thanks.
Holly from Richardson, TX
There are passive fly strips at our local Wal-mart in the section where fly spray and roach items are shelved. The bug zappers do work. If you have children I wouldn't want to use sprays. If it'll kill a fly it can harm a child is my rule.
I'm not aware that rains make flies worse, except they want shelter under your roof. If that is part of the problem, try the fly strips. Good luck> (03/19/2008)
By 2oma
Remove any containers that may hold water. Anywhere a puddle may set, fill it in. If there is any feces anywhere near, then clean it up and keep it far away from your house.
As for a safe fly deterrent use vinegar, you can dilute it with water. It's safe on the environment, actually healthy if ingested. So no worries with pets or children and it works. I have used it for years in animal barns with terrible fly troubles. You will be amazed with its results.
Anything that produces or offers heat and warmth is a huge attraction for flies. (03/20/2008)
By Chicklet
By ramblingrose
By Amanda
By Paul
What do you spray in your backyard to get rid of the flies?
By Misty from Daytona Beach, FL
By Allison5
Pesticides are now believed to be the cause of Parkinson's. Pesticides and herbicides (bug and plant killers) are disrupting the hormones in all life systems and doing incredible damage to the earth and it's occupants. Animals are being born of no definite sex, and that includes humans. Boys are being born with micro-sex organs. Talk about a life of misery.
We have got to stop using this stuff. (03/05/2010)
By PIKKA
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Getting Rid of Flies