It might not seem like it right now, but it won’t be long until summer comes around again. And when that happens, it can only mean one thing: the return of flies. Whether you live in a big city or in the middle of the countryside, you can’t get away from flies.
Although flies might not seem dangerous, they spread various infections, so it’s probably best not to have them flying around while you’re cooking! Stay tuned to learn of the best homemade remedies to get rid of flies, fast.
Let’s start with some natural fly repellents, made with ingredients readily available in our homes.
1. Hot Pepper Repellent
One of the most effective ways to get rid of the flies in and around your house is to use hot pepper. Flies avoid these plants and won’t come close to foods containing hot pepper. Flies’ hatred towards pepper is thought to be caused by their inability to breathe whenever they get a whiff of the hot pepper scent. For that reason, you should see success by placing a couple of hot pepper plants in your kitchen windowsill to keep flies away. You can also grow pepper plants in your garden to ward flies away from your home in general.
Make a powerful all-natural hot pepper fly repellent spray by following these simple steps:
• Use 2 or 3 hot peppers, depending on the concentration you want, and blend them finely in a food processor.
• Add 3 to 4 cups of water and continue blending to get a uniform mix.
• Seal this mix in an airtight container and place it in the sunlight for about a week.
• Strain the liquid and transfer it to a spray bottle.
• Spray liberally around your doors and windows to keep the flies away.
2. Basil
Basil, a culinary herb, is most commonly used in Italian cuisines. Its aroma, though delicious to us humans, can repulse flies. To get rid of flies in your home, grow a basil plant in your garden or in your windowsill – grow basil and pepper alongside one another for the best fly-repelling results! You can also make an insect repellent spray with basil leaves. Here’s how:
• Pick a few basil leaves and squeeze them a little to form cuts in the leaves.
• Steep these leaves in hot water for about 30 minutes.
• Strain the leaves and use the liquid as a spray.
3. Ginger Spray
Ginger spray is an all-natural and powerful fly repellent that’s easy to make and works like a charm. Similar to hot pepper and basil leaves, the strong odour of ginger repels flies and keeps them away from your house. A mixture of ginger and water is also an effective insect repellent that’s traditionally used in farms. The strong, repulsive odour of ginger keeps most flies at bay.
4. Essential Oils
Many essential oils have strong odours that send flies away. Making a spray out of a mixture of these oils is a wonderful way to keep the flies away from your house. To prepare an essential oil fly spray, you just need some oils with strong odours, like clove oil, thyme oil, peppermint oil, lemongrass oil, and cinnamon oil. Here’s what you need to do:
• Add 10 drops of each essential oil to the spray bottle.
• Pour 2 cups of water and 2 cups of non-flavoured vodka into the bottle.
• Blend the ingredients together by shaking vigorously.
• Use around your home as part-air freshener, part- fly repellent.
5. Apple Cider Vinegar and Eucalyptus Oil
This fly repellent concoction is especially effective against house flies. You just need a quarter cup of witch hazel, a quarter cup of apple cider vinegar, and about 60 drops of eucalyptus oil. Then, follow these steps:
• Add the witch hazel and the apple cider vinegar to the spray bottle and shake well.
• Next, add the eucalyptus oil to the mixture and shake well to prepare the repellent spray.
This concoction can also be applied on your skin to repel house flies.
If the organic sprays aren’t keeping your pesky flies at bay, it’s time to take it up a notch with some homemade fly traps.
1. Vinegar Fly Trap
An effective way to get rid of fruit flies in your house is to use the vinegar trap. Fruit flies are primarily attracted to rotten or fermented fruits. That’s why fermented fruit products such as apple cider vinegar and wine make an excellent bait to lure in the flies. A simple trap can be made with fermented liquids to eliminate fruit flies in your home.
To make this trap, pour some apple cider vinegar into a glass and cover it with a clear plastic sheet. Use rubber bands to tightly secure the sheet to the glass. Using a needle, create a hole big enough for fruit flies to crawl into the glass. These holes will send the smell of the vinegar out of the glass, attracting flies. Once they crawl in, the flies won’t be able to fly out of the holes, and they’ll eventually drown.