Few things can ruin a summer afternoon faster than flies buzzing around your food. They seem to know exactly when the grill is hot, the drinks are poured, and everyone has settled outside. Leave a door open for a few minutes, and suddenly you have company nobody invited.
Flies are more than a nuisance, too. They can pick up bacteria from garbage, animal waste, and other dirty surfaces before landing on food, counters, and tables.
The good news is that you don’t have to rely on one solution. Keeping food covered, cleaning up spills, taking out garbage regularly, and using screens can make a big difference. A few plants, scents, and simple tricks can also help make your home and outdoor spaces less appealing to flies.
Here are 16 things worth trying this summer.
Grow Basil
Basil is a useful summer herb for more than cooking. Its strong scent may help discourage some flies and other insects from hanging around.
Grow basil in pots near doors, windows, patios, or outdoor tables. You’ll have fresh leaves for salads and pasta while adding some greenery to the area.
Just don’t expect a few basil plants to eliminate a fly problem by themselves. Keeping food and garbage covered still matters much more.
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Plant Lavender
Lavender has a strong fragrance that many people enjoy, while some insects seem less interested in areas where its scent is present. The plant is easy to grow in sunny spots and works well in containers.
Place pots near patios, walkways, and doors. Dried lavender can also be kept indoors in small sachets.
Try Lemons and Cloves
This is one of those old household tricks that’s incredibly easy to try. Cut a lemon in half and push whole cloves into the exposed fruit.
The combination creates a strong scent that may help discourage flies from lingering nearby. Set the lemon halves on an outdoor table or kitchen counter during meals.
It won’t replace proper sanitation, but it’s inexpensive and smells much better than many commercial pest products.
Add Marigolds
Marigolds are a favorite among gardeners because they’re colorful, easy to grow, and useful around vegetable beds. Their scent may also discourage some insects.
Plant them near patios, garden beds, windows, or entryways. They also provide flowers that can attract pollinators and other helpful insects.
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Turn on a Fan
A fan may be one of the easiest ways to deal with flies during an outdoor meal.
Flies are small, relatively weak fliers, so steady airflow can make it harder for them to hover around a table. Aim a fan across your patio table or seating area rather than directly at people’s faces.
There’s another benefit: everyone stays a little cooler on a hot afternoon.
Grow Rosemary
Rosemary has a strong aroma that some insects find unpleasant. The herb also happens to be hardy and useful in the kitchen, making it a practical plant for patios and gardens.
Keep rosemary in containers near outdoor seating or sunny doorways. Fresh sprigs can also be placed around an outdoor table for a short-term scent boost.
Use Citronella Products
Citronella is best known for mosquito control, but its strong scent may also make an outdoor area less appealing to some flying insects.
Citronella candles and other scented products are popular for patios and porches during summer gatherings. Their effect on flies can vary, so think of them as one small part of your fly-control routine rather than a complete solution.
Keep Garlic Around the Garden
Garlic has a strong odor that can discourage certain insects, which is one reason gardeners sometimes use it in homemade pest sprays.
A simple garlic spray can be made by soaking crushed garlic in water, straining the mixture, and applying it to suitable outdoor areas. Test it on a small part of a plant first, since homemade sprays can damage some leaves.
The smell may linger for a while, so this trick probably isn’t for everyone.
Make a Homemade Essential Oil Spray
Strong-smelling essential oils such as peppermint, lavender, eucalyptus, and citronella are often used in homemade insect sprays.
For a basic room or outdoor-area spray, add a small amount of essential oil to water along with a little rubbing alcohol or another suitable emulsifier. Shake well before use and lightly mist around areas where flies tend to gather.
Don’t spray homemade mixtures directly onto food, pets, or your skin unless the ingredients and concentration are known to be safe for that purpose. Essential oils can also damage certain finishes, so test an inconspicuous area first.
Try the Water-Bag Trick
Clear plastic bags filled with water have been used for years as a homemade fly deterrent. You’ll sometimes see them hanging near porches, restaurants, barns, and outdoor dining areas.
The idea is that reflections and light passing through the water may confuse flies. There isn’t strong evidence that this works reliably, but it’s cheap and easy enough to test if you’re curious.
If you try it, keep the bags securely tied and out of reach of children and pets.
Grow Geraniums
Geraniums are a popular choice for patios, balconies, and window boxes. Some scented varieties contain plant compounds that are used in insect-repelling products.
Place them around areas where you spend time outdoors. They add plenty of color and may provide some help with insects, although they shouldn’t be expected to keep an entire yard fly-free.
Set Up an Apple Cider Vinegar Trap
If you’re dealing with small flies around the kitchen, an apple cider vinegar trap can be useful.
Pour some apple cider vinegar into a shallow dish and add a few drops of dish soap. The vinegar attracts flies, while the soap changes the surface of the liquid and makes it difficult for them to escape.
This works best for small fruit flies rather than the larger houseflies you see outdoors.
Use Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus has a strong scent and is commonly included in natural insect-repellent products. A few drops of eucalyptus oil in a diffuser can make a room smell fresh while creating an aroma some insects may avoid.
Keep essential oils away from pets, children, and food, and follow the safety instructions for whatever product you’re using.
Grow Catnip
Catnip contains nepetalactone, a plant compound known for its insect-repelling properties. The plant is easy to grow in sunny garden beds and containers.
There is one catch: catnip can attract neighborhood cats. If you don’t mind having feline visitors, it’s an interesting plant to add to the garden.
Try a Skin-Safe Repellent
If flies are bothering you while you’re gardening or spending time outdoors, a commercially made insect repellent is usually a safer choice than mixing your own skin product.
If you prefer a homemade option, be careful with essential oils. Some can irritate skin or cause reactions, especially when exposed to sunlight. Never apply concentrated essential oils directly to your skin.
A small patch test can help identify irritation, but it doesn’t guarantee that a larger application will be safe.
Use Vanilla for Outdoor Gatherings
Vanilla has a pleasant scent that some people use as part of their homemade fly-deterrent routines. Vanilla-scented candles or other fragrances can make an outdoor gathering smell nicer while potentially discouraging some flies.
For a better chance of keeping flies away, combine scented products with practical measures such as covering food, cleaning spills quickly, and keeping garbage containers closed.
Don’t Give Flies a Reason to Stay
Plants and scented products can help, but the biggest difference usually comes from removing the things that attract flies in the first place.
Keep food covered when you’re eating outside, clean up spilled drinks, rinse dirty dishes instead of leaving them around, and empty garbage before it starts to smell. Check that window screens are intact and keep doors closed when possible.
Pet waste should also be cleaned up regularly, since flies are naturally attracted to it.
A few small changes can make summer meals much more pleasant. You may never get rid of every fly in the yard, but there’s no reason to let them take over the picnic table.
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