Flies are such annoying little creatures, that are constantly buzzing around, disturbing your peace, or roaming around you. More than that, they even carry bacteria and some other pathogenic breeds.
So what to do about flies? One very good starting point would be to try a DIY fly spray with simple ingredients and easy recipes. You can easily get rid of these flies with some basic, simple recipes, and ingredients for that matter. Here is how you can come up with a good homemade fly repellent.
Gather the Materials
You need to mix essential oils with witch hazel, apple cider vinegar, or water to make homemade fly sprays. You should mix in a spray bottle and mist anywhere that you are having trouble with flies.
One good thing about do-it-yourself sprays is that you can experiment with various mixtures of essential oils for so long until you find the one that you like best. You can even use them for making a fragrant homemade natural air freshener. The following are known essential oils that keep flies away:
Tea tree
Clove
Rosemary
Basil
Eucalyptus
Lemongrass
Citronella
Peppermint
Importance of Each Material
The unique properties of these components that are directed at the senses and behavior of flies make homemade fly sprays work effectively. They are similar to the commercial sprays but without the dangerous chemicals within the formula.
Apple cider vinegar is a natural repellent, smelling quite strong to ensure that no flies come to the area. On the other hand, dish soap breaks the surface tension, trapping the fly the instance it touches the surface. The base of water or witch hazel allows for the solution to be sprayed out.
1. Lemon Eucalyptus Oil
Lemon eucalyptus oil has been a reliable organic fly repellent since the mid-1900s. A study that was performed in 2014 showed that a concentration of 32% lemon eucalyptus oil could provide at least 95% protection for three hours against flies.
This refreshing smell keeps the flies at bay and offers a good substitute for chemical-based sprays with its health-friendly content. It has been recognized even by health agencies, like the CDC, as a reliable element in many commercial insect sprays due to its remarkable efficacy.
To make a balanced mixture with about 9% lemon eucalyptus concentration, you need to mix 1 part lemon eucalyptus oil with 10 parts sunflower or witch hazel oil. Then you should dilute the product to a 5–10% concentration for safety reasons, as higher concentrations may irritate the skin.
You should avoid applying this mixture to children younger than three years old or close to the mouth or eyes. Patch testing should always be done before broad deployment. Apply the mixture again every one to two hours to maintain its efficacy because of the natural ingredients and dilution.
Lavender oil, extracted from the crushed flowers of lavender, repels adult flies. This makes the oil derived from lavender such a much-sought choice for organic pest control, more so because lavender is a fragrant herb that is grown by many homes.
This makes lavender an adaptable ingredient for soothing irritated skin and repelling flies simultaneously because it has analgesic, antifungal, and antiseptic qualities in addition to its repellent ones.
Ingredients: Lavender Oil
Instructions
You should mix one part of lavender oil with ten parts of a carrier oil, such as sunflower oil or witch hazel, to get a concentration of about 9% lavender oil. Such dilution will ensure the effectiveness of the lavender oil but not strong enough on the skin.
You should be cautious because of its higher concentrations and should not use the mixture on the mouth, eyes, and on any child under two years of age. You have to patch test before using it on larger areas of the skin for best fly-repellent coverage and reapply every one to two hours.
3. Thyme Oil
Due to the strong smell and potent scent, thyme essential oil helps to fight against flies. This essential oil is capable of repelling mosquitoes and would further produce the exact outcomes for flies and other flying insects.
Thyme oil has very potent antimicrobial and antifungal properties that would prove to be very effective and practical in addition to homemade spray solutions. It is also a natural insect repellent. This makes it a good choice for an all-natural, multi-purpose pest control solution.
Ingredients: Thyme Oil, Olive Oil, Jojoba Oil
Instructions
You need to mix 1 part of thyme oil with 10 parts of carrier oil, for example, sunflower or witch hazel. The mixture reduces the thyme oil to a concentration level of about 9%, making it very mild to the skin. You should take proper care with higher concentrations, as some can irritate the skin.
DO NOT APPLY on the face or near mucous membranes of infants or young children. To obtain continuous fly repellency, you can patch test before using it and reapply it every one to two hours.
While this can be a very effective repellent against flies, it is used in the smallest amounts since cinnamon oil is very strong. For homemade fly sprays, you should make a mixture of 1/4 of a teaspoon, or 24 drops, to every 4 ounces of carrier oil such as witch hazel or sunflower oil.
This dilution will retain the repelling features of the cinnamon oil and reduce the possibility of your skin irritation. You should shake the spray mixture well before applying it to the areas where the flies are located.
To minimize possible irritation, you can spray covering but not touching the skin. Also, you should not put the spray in reach of small children and sensitive areas.
Ingredients: Cinnamon Oil, Water
Instructions
For an absolute concentration of about 9% cinnamon oil, you should mix 1 part cinnamon oil with 10 parts of either sunflower or witch hazel. Such a level of dilution provides a good balance between skin safety and the strong effectiveness of this potent fragrance of cinnamon essential oil.
It does repel file, however, you should use it with caution since higher concentrations will irritate the skin. You should avoid applying it near the mouth or eyes and keep it out of reach of children. You should patch test before full use and reapply every one to two hours to maintain effectiveness.
5. Greek Catmint Oil
You should mix 4 ounces of carrier oil, such as witch hazel or sunflower oil, with ¼ teaspoon Greek catmint oil, that is 24 drops. This gives a diluted solution that is safe for use and very effective.
You should use this mixture by shaking it well and then spraying it on plants or in areas around the house where flies present a problem. You should avoid direct application on the skin, and keep it out of children's reach as well as away from sensitive areas.
Ingredient: Greek Catmint Oil
Instructions
Similar to lavender oil, research confirmed that Greek catmint oil worked at a concentration of as low as 2% and up to 100% without being diluted. If your catmint oil becomes low, you can just add either carrier oil or water to it.
Catnip and Greek catmint are related, but catmint does not have the same effect. Both plants belong to the same genus: Nepeta, where, since catmint does not have the same quantities of nepetalactone as catnip, catmint does not elicit the same responses in most felines.
It is well known that the application of soybean oil can provide you with long-lasting protection from flies. On the other hand, the efficacy of soybean oil has been demonstrated for flies even at a highly dilute concentration of 2%.
While making homemade fly repellents, it is a reliable ally due to its non-irritating, non-volatile nature and it has no known detrimental effect on human or children's skins.
Ingredients: Soybean Oil, Lemongrass Oil
Instructions
You can use soybean oil on its own as a fly repellent, but it is always very greasy and may smell slightly offensive. To make it better, you can add a few drops of lemongrass oil into your soybean oil to make the concoction worthwhile.
The addition reduces the oily feel of the oil, adding freshness to the citrus fragrance and resulting in effectively repelling a wide array of flies.
7. Citronella Oil
Citronella oil is one of the most popular home remedies to keep flies at bay. The common constituent in most of the fly repellents is obtained from a mixture of several herbs.
Citronella oil, like DEET-based repellents, can protect for as long as two hours if applied properly.
There are two ways to make homemade fly repellent with citronella oil. You can use citronella as body oil, mixing it with jojoba or lavender oil to assist in dilution. You can add almond oil to your carrier oil which will not only preserve the potency but also minimize the risk of skin irritation.
In the case of sprays, you should mix the citronella oil with vodka or isopropyl rubbing alcohol to help hold it in place. As this combination is going to be used extensively, test the citronella first as it may cause skin irritation and is not meant to be ingested.
8. Tea Tree Oil
Melaleuca oil, also known as tea tree oil, is a common essential oil from Australia and has the properties of being an antiseptic, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory agent. New field tests have also proven the insect-repellent activity of tea tree oil.
The vegetables proved to be active against biting midges, bush flies, and mosquitoes, all of which pose major nuisances in Australia's outback. Tea tree oil is a natural, powerful ingredient in this homemade fly-repellent spray.
Ingredients: Tree Tea Oil, Water
Instructions
You need to pour one ounce of tea tree oil into a 12-ounce spray bottle, then top it off with water. To fully combine the solution, you should swirl the bottle carefully. An 8% concentration of tea tree oil will form from doing this.
Then you can apply the spray to your skin and clothes before heading outside. You should stop using it right away if you feel any skin irritation. You should also avoid ingesting or inhaling tea tree oil.
9. Geraniol
Geraniol is a widely used ingredient in commercial fly repellents. It’s an alcohol known for its pleasant fragrance, which is derived from blending various plant oils such as citronella, lemongrass, and rose.
Geraniol is regarded as a more potent substitute for citronella and has a remarkable ability to keep flies away. Geraniol is a powerful insect deterrent that, when used correctly, can offer protection for up to four hours.
Ingredients: Geraniol, Water
Instructions
Although geraniol works well, it can cause skin irritation and result in swelling, redness, or itching. So, you need to start with a 20% solution of geraniol and dilute it with water to avoid these problems. Make sure you don't experience any side effects by first testing a small section of your skin.
You should lower the concentration to 1–5% to weaken the solution if necessary. A 1% solution may not last as long, but it still functions. Additionally, you need to keep the solution out of your eyes as it may irritate them.
Neem oil is probably one of the oldest known natural fly repellents in use today, applied for generations in India and known to its ancient rulers.
Because it might act as an irritant on the skin, neem oil is not very common in commercial repellents, but in case you have it with you and are not allergic, it may work quite well. You should be cautious and test neem oil on a small portion of your skin before using it on your whole body.
Ingredients: Neem Oil, Water, Lotion, Olive Oil, Coconut Oil
Instructions
You should mix one part neem oil with one hundred parts of water or carrier oil to dilute the mixture into a homemade fly spray, and you are ready with a spray.
Using cold-pressed extra virgin neem oil will prove more effective. You need to note that neem oil degrades when mixed with water, so use the mix as soon as possible, ideally, within 24 hours.
How Long Do Homemade Fly Spray Last?
While their efficacy depends on the choice of ingredients and storage methods, homemade sprays may prove very useful as an all-natural repellent to keep unwanted creatures at bay.
When you know how long your handmade spray lasts, you shall be well-informed about the time frame for when it remains as a repellent. Neem oil, alcoholic solutions, and essential oils have quite differing uses and lifetimes.
Commercial Sprays
Commercial fly sprays may vary, with a length of residual protection between 4 to 8 hours. While the duration will vary based on the cleanliness of a facility and the rate at which flies are entering it, they are all said to provide long-lasting protection.
Therefore, you should always check the product label for specific duration information.
DIY Sprays
In general, homemade fly sprays would last about one to two hours. Sprays made with neem oil usually seem to break down rather quickly in the water, so you should be sure to use them within 24 hours.
Sprays with an alcohol base could last up to 4-6 hours. So you should always keep the spray in a cool, dark location and shake it before using it to ensure it's at peak potency.
Potential Risks Of Essential Oil Sprays
You should always be cautious with sprays that contain essential oils. Before smearing some drops of essential oil on the skin, you must always make sure of safety by dilution with another oil, such as almond, coconut, or olive oil.
You can face allergy reactions occasionally from homemade fly sprays, particularly if essential oils are included. Symptoms of an allergic reaction can include rash where the spray is applied, redness, swelling, or itching. Some people may get hives or skin irritation in more severe cases.
It is advised to conduct a patch test on a small section of skin before applying the spray more broadly to prevent this. You should stop using it right away if you experience any discomfort, and wash the affected area with soap and water.
