Flies always seem to show up when you’re cooking, eating outside, or trying to enjoy a quiet afternoon on the patio. They’re more than a nuisance, too, since they can pick up germs from garbage, animal waste, and other dirty surfaces before landing on food and counters.
I’ve found that keeping flies away starts with making the house less inviting, then using a few simple tricks to deal with the stragglers. Plants, scents, and homemade traps can help in certain situations, but clean surfaces, covered food, sealed garbage, and good window screens usually do more to keep flies under control.
Citronella
Citronella candles are a popular choice for outdoor gatherings because their scent may help discourage some flying insects nearby. Place them around your patio seating area, following the safety instructions on the label, and keep them away from children, pets, and anything that could catch fire.
Related: How to Make Homemade Citronella Candle
Garlic
Garlic has a strong smell, so some people use it in homemade insect-repellent mixtures around outdoor spaces. There’s limited evidence that crushed garlic or garlic sprays reliably keep houseflies away, so it’s better to focus on removing food scraps and keeping garbage bins tightly closed.
Essential Oil Spray
Some people use scented sprays containing lavender, eucalyptus, or citronella to make their homes smell fresh while trying to discourage flies. These mixtures aren’t a dependable way to control an infestation, so avoid spraying them near food and keep them away from pets, since certain oils can harm animals.
Basil
Basil is a useful kitchen herb that grows well in pots on sunny windowsills, balconies, and patios. Its scent may discourage some insects nearby, but it won’t reliably keep houseflies out of your home, so use it alongside screens and good food-storage habits.
Lavender
Lavender brings a pleasant scent to gardens and outdoor seating areas, and its flowers can be dried for sachets inside the home. Although many people use it to repel insects, don’t count on lavender alone to keep flies away from doors and windows.
Related: 16 Stunning Purple Perennial Flowers That Will Make Your Garden Pop
Cloves and Citrus
A lemon studded with whole cloves is an old-fashioned centerpiece for outdoor tables and kitchen counters. It smells pleasant, but there’s little evidence it reliably repels houseflies, so replace the fruit before it spoils or attracts other pests.
Marigolds
Marigolds add bright color to garden beds, containers, and spots near the patio. They’re lovely to grow, but planting them alone won’t keep flies away, so combine them with practical measures such as removing decaying plant matter and keeping outdoor garbage covered.
Related: Cheap Perennials to Grow That Will Make Your Garden Pop
Fans
A fan is one of the more useful ways to discourage flies from landing near outdoor meals. Flies struggle against steady moving air, so place a fan near the table or seating area and direct the airflow across the space where people are sitting.
Rosemary
Rosemary grows well in containers and garden beds, and its fragrant leaves are handy for cooking. You can place a pot near an outdoor seating area for easy access to fresh herbs, but don’t rely on the plant or its scent as your main defense against flies.
Related: How to Make Rosemary Water for Hair
Plastic Bags Filled With Water
Some people hang clear plastic bags filled with water near doors, patios, or barns because they believe the reflections confuse flies. Scientific support for this trick is weak, so it’s fine to test it, but don’t expect it to replace screens, traps, or good sanitation.
Geraniums
Geraniums brighten porches, window boxes, and patio containers with colorful flowers, and some scented varieties have a noticeable fragrance. They’re a lovely addition to an outdoor space, but claims that they reliably drive away houseflies aren’t well supported.
Apple Cider Vinegar and Dish Soap Trap
A shallow bowl with apple cider vinegar and a few drops of dish soap can help catch fruit flies attracted to fermenting smells. This trap works best for small fruit-fly problems rather than ordinary houseflies, so remove overripe produce and clean drains and counters to deal with the source.
Related: Homemade Fruit Fly Trap with Apple Cider Vinegar
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus has a strong scent, and its oil is sometimes used in products marketed for insect control. A homemade eucalyptus spray isn’t a reliable way to clear flies from a room, and the oil can harm pets if used carelessly, so follow product safety guidance and keep it away from food.
Catnip
Catnip contains nepetalactone, a compound studied for its insect-repellent properties. Growing it in a pot is easy, but its ability to keep houseflies away is limited, and neighborhood cats may decide the plant is worth a visit.
Vanilla
Vanilla extract has a sweet smell, and some people use it in homemade mixtures intended to discourage flies. There’s little reliable evidence that vanilla repels houseflies, so enjoy the scent if you like it, but rely on covered food, secure trash, screens, and fans to keep flies from settling in.
Keeping flies out is much easier when they have fewer reasons to visit in the first place. Clean up spills, rinse food containers before tossing them, keep garbage covered, repair window screens, and use fans near outdoor meals for a more dependable way to limit the buzzing around your home.
