DIY Natural Fly Repellents and Sprays

There isn’t much I don’t love about summer, but the flies do drive me crazy! We live across from a farm, so there’s tons of them to contend with. I don’t want to use chemicals in the house, and fly paper is just gross, so here are some really effective ways to keep your home fly free.

Essential Oil Fly Spray

Safe for use in kitchens, on kids and animals and any surfaces that you want to keep clear of these little pests.

• 20 drops rosemary essential oil
• 20 drops lavender essential oil
• 20 drops peppermint essential oil
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon biodegradable dish soap
• cups apple cider vinegar

Mix in a spray bottle and apply to surfaces every day. Essential oils break down faster than chemicals, so you have to apply them more often, but at least they are healthy!

Herbal Fly Spray

Flies hate the smell of basil and ginger. Boil a pot of water on the stove and remove from heat. Slice up a 2-inch nub of ginger and add the water along with two cups of fresh basil leaves. Leave to steep for an hour. Remove the herbs and place the water in a spray bottle and spray your surfaces for a fly-free home.

DIY Fly Trap

This works best outside where you can trap flies before they come into the house. Cut the top off a plastic soda bottle about a third of the way from the top. Remove the bottle cap and turn it upside down and shove it back in the bottom of the bottle so that it makes a funnel. 

Pour some sugar water into the bottom of the bottle or cut up some fruit and place outside. Flies will find their way through the inverted bottle top into the bottle, but won’t be able to fly out.