Bounce the Buzzing Party Crashers
You didn’t invite them, but they always show up—hovering around your patio snacks, compost bin, and open windows like they own the place. Flies are nature’s garbage collectors, which is noble… until they start walking across your fruit bowl like it’s a dance floor.
Let’s show them the exit using DIY fly repellent strategies that are safe, simple, and effective. Homemade fly deterrents and traps are great for outdoors. Use around your foundation landscaping, porches, patios. Guess what? They work inside your home, too.
Citrus + Vinegar Spray
“Zesty No-Fly Zone” – A Simple Homemade Fly Spray
What it does:
This crisp-smelling homemade fly spray for home tells flies that your space is off-limits.
Why it works:
Flies hate citrus and vinegar. Citrus peels release limonene. It is the secret weapon and natural insect repellent. The vinegar disrupts their scent detection.
Recipe:
- Peels from 1–2 lemons or oranges
- 2 cups white vinegar
- 1 cup water
Instructions:
Soak the peels in vinegar. Let them soak overnight. Strain and dilute with water. Pour mix into a spray bottle. Mist around doors. Spritz garbage bins. Spray the compost pile. Treat around foundation flower beds.
Bonus Tip: Add a few drops of eucalyptus or lavender oil. It makes for a stronger DIY fly deterrent.
Kid Safety Tip: Avoid spraying toys or play furniture.
Pet Safety Tip: Citrus is safe but don’t let pets chew the peels.
Apple Cider Vinegar Trap
“The Apple Cider Ambush” – A Homemade Fly Killer
What it does:
This homemade remedy to keep flies away lures them in and traps them for good.
Why it works:
Flies love fermentation. Apple cider vinegar mimics overripe fruit. Combined with soap, it becomes a fly killing spray homemade.
Recipe:
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar
- A few drops of dish soap
- Jar or bowl
- Plastic wrap + rubber band (optional)
Instructions:
Pour in vinegar and soap, cover with wrap and poke holes—or leave open. Flies enter and sink.
Bonus Tip: Place near compost bins or outdoor trash cans.
Kid & Pet Safety: Non-toxic but keep out of reach of kids and pets.
Herbal Fly-Repelling Spray
“Mint Condition Fly Control” – Homemade Spray to Keep Flies Away
What it does:
This fresh homemade fly spray creates a minty barrier flies won’t cross.
Why it works:
Essential oils like mint, rosemary, and basil throw off a fly’s scent receptors. This is a fly spray DIY that doubles as air freshener.
Recipe:
- 10 drops essential oil (mint, basil, rosemary)
- 1 tbsp witch hazel or vodka
- 1 cup water
Instructions:
Place in a spray bottle. Mix and shake. Mist around porch lights, garden beds, or trash cans.
Bonus Tip: Grow these herbs near your foundation landscaping for a dual benefit.
Kid Safety Tip: Avoid misting walkways and benches used by kids.
Pet Safety Tip: Cats are especially sensitive to essential oils. Use sparingly.
Clove-Studded Citrus
“Pomander Fly Repeller” – Natural Home Remedy to Keep Flies Away
What it does:
This natural decoration is also a homemade fly deterrent.
Why it works:
Clove and citrus produce strong odors that flies avoid.
How to make:
- Halve a lemon or orange
- Stick 10–20 whole cloves into the rind
Place near doors, patios, or outdoor tables
Bonus Tip: Refresh the scent by squeezing slightly every few days.
Safety: Totally safe unless pets or kids try to eat it.
Diatomaceous Earth Fly Perimeter
“Ground Control” – DIY Fly Repellent for the Yard
What it does:
DE breaks the breeding cycle by targeting larvae and maggots, a critical part of any homemade fly deterrent plan.
Why it works:
DE dries out soft-bodied pests in mulch or compost, reducing adult fly populations.
How to use:
- Sprinkle a light layer around beds, bins, or damp areas
- Reapply after rain
Bonus Tip: Use around foundation planters to keep soil from becoming a breeding ground.
Pet/Kid Safety Tip: Only use food-grade DE. Don’t allow inhalation.
Foundation Landscaping Fly Defense
“Landscaping with a Purpose” – Home Remedies to Keep Flies Away Naturally
What it does:
Smart, clean landscaping reduces fly attractants like standing water and rot.
Why it works:
Flies are drawn to decay. If your yard stays dry and fragrant, they move on.
Tips:
- Avoid over-watering mulch near your home
- Keep bins sealed and 3+ feet from exterior walls
- Grow herbs that double as fly repellents—like mint, basil, or lavender
- Don’t let leaf piles or grass clippings build up
Homemade Fly Repellent
Whether you need a homemade fly spray for house or a fly deterrent DIY for your backyard, these recipes offer natural, effective, and eco-friendly solutions. Say goodbye to buzzing pests and hello to peace on your porch, thanks to home remedies to keep flies away that smell great and keep everyone safe.
And don’t forget:
Foundation cracks, shifting soil, or sudden moisture problems invite pests. It’s also the beginning of long-term problems. When in doubt, call Arch Foundation Repair. Schedule your inspection and keep your home standing strong—inside and out.
Important Safety Precautions:
- Always follow label instructions for any product you use.
- Keep homemade repellents out of the reach of children and pets.
- Avoid contact with skin and eyes.
- Use in well-ventilated areas.
- Wear appropriate protective gear, such as gloves and eye protection, when handling ingredients.
- If you experience any adverse reactions, discontinue use and seek medical advice.
- If accidental ingestion or exposure occurs, contact the Poison Control Center immediately at 800-222-1222
Additional Resources: Ingredient Safety & Toxic Warnings
For ingredient handling, toxicity awareness, and safe usage around kids, pets, and foundation landscaping, check these trusted sources:
- Essential Oil Safety (Peppermint, Basil, Eucalyptus, Lavender, Rosemary): ASPCA – Are Essential Oils Dangerous to Pets?
- Apple Cider Vinegar Use & Effects: NIH PubChem – Apple Cider Vinegar Overview
- Essential Oils and Pet Sensitivity: Pet Poison Helpline – Essential Oil Toxicity in Pets
- Witch Hazel: Witch Hazel Data Sheet (pdf)
- Diatomaceous Earth (DE) Safety Guidelines: NPIC – Diatomaceous Earth Fact Sheet
- General Household Chemical Use: Canada – Using Household Chemicals Safely
These references support responsible DIY use—especially when spraying or placing fly deterrents around family living spaces, pets, or edible gardens near your foundation.
Foundation Landscaping Eco-Friendly Pest Control Series
- Bug-off Naturally with Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
- Why Make Homemade Insect Repellent?
- How to Make a Homemade Remedy for Termites
- How to Make a Homemade Ant Repellent
- Homemade Cockroach Killers that Really Work
- How to Make Homemade Bug Spray for Spiders
- How to Make Homemade Fly Repellent
- How to Make a Homemade Wasp Trap and Spray
- Powerful Pest-Repelling Plants for Stunning Texas Foundation Landscaping
- Foundation Landscaping: Epic Kid & Pet-Friendly Pest Control
