Deterring Flies

[pelmetman]

I like to have the windows and doors open in the summer but I hate the flies, particularly the ones that appear when preparing food and wondered if any of you know any deterants that work i.e. certain types of plants maybe or any other remedy you happen to know.
Sue

[crowsashes]

# Use mint as a fly repellent. Small sachets of crushed mint can be placed around the home to discourage flies.
# Bay leaves, cloves and eucalyptus wrapped in small cheesecloth squares can be hung by open windows or doors.
# Place a small, open container of sweet basil and clover near pet food or any open food in the house.
# A few drops of eucalyptus oil on a scrap of absorbant cloth will deter flies. Leave in areas where flies are a problem.
# You can make your own flypaper with this simple recipe: Mix 1/4 cup syrup, 1 tbsp. granulated sugar and 1 tbsp. brown sugar in a small bowl. Cut strips of brown kraft paper and soak in this mixture. Let dry overnight. To hang, poke a small hole at the top of each strip and hang with string or thread.

hopefully this might help :)

i use the bay leaf and clove to repel moths too and that seems to work.

[pelmetman]

That is thanks from me to. I have already collected the bay, eucalyptus leaves and cloves and have them hanging around the sun room doors. Will have to try and remember to collect and dry the mint this year. Will try the fly papers too.
Sue

[crowsashes]

if your using dried herbs it helps to give them a bash every now and again to release the oils, i find cotton wool balls soaked in essential oils is also quite handy.

[pelmetman]

No they are'nt dried. We grow bay and eucalyptus so have scrunched them up and had some cloves in the cupboard.

Sue

[theabsinthefairy]

Lemon scented geraniums in pots on the window sill also deter flies.

[becks77]

We bought Venus fly traps and sundews and a tall trumpet like fly eating plant(cant remember its name) but all carnivorous and work very well

[JulieSherris]

Ooo.... and don't forget those beaded curtain thingies that hang over the doors!
Our old neighbour when I was growing up, had one of those plastic multi-coloured strip ones (remember those? ) As soon as I saw that hanging at her front door, I knew it was summer

I got a plastic bead one last year from one of those euro shops. We put the hooks on the outside of the back door & a hook at the side of the door for when you want to pull it back - it's time to unhook after the winter now... ooo, must be summer!

[Loobyloo]

I'll definitely be trying some of those! We have a stream running right by our house and get loads of flies in the summer. And GIANT mossies ( I mean really huge!) will those remedies work on mossies too?

[JulieSherris]

Hey Looby! We live 'on the bog' so to speak & we get a mossie season - feb to nov, usually!
Anyway, when they get really bad I found that a few dabs of tiger balm - behind the ears, inner elbows, the neck - you know all the perfume spots works quite well!

Mind you, last year we had the MIL out here in May when the mossies were getting fully into their stride..... they REALLY loved her wigs (goodness knows what she sprays on them ) and so her head was absolutely full of bites by the time she went home! Oops!

[crowsashes]

mozzies

any of these should help

# Citronella Oil
# Lemon Eucalyptus Oil
# Cinnamon Oil
# Castor Oil
# Rosemary Oil
# Lemongrass Oil
# Cedar Oil
# Peppermint Oil
# Clove Oil
# Geranium Oil
im assuming the plants themselves will work too (fresh leaves etc)

i personally use a combo of dried cloves, bay leaves a few sprigs of lavender and eucalyptus oil and i very rarely have mozzies, flies or moths in my house and i have a wood with a stream that runs through it literally on the other side of the road.


simple repellent
http://chemistry.about.com/od/healthbea ... nt.htm?p=1

this recipe if made with vodka/alcohol could be used to wipe on door/window frames to help keep them out. the oil based one could be used but it would leave a greasy mess.

thyme, fennel and neem oil have also been used ( neem being good for all kinds of skin complaints too)

just taken a look through a couple of books catnip, rosmary and marigolds can also help to repel them. it might be worthwhile planting some the least it would do is make your garden look pretty

[battybird]

Hi
Where we live in portugal, we are surrounded by eucalyptus trees, the air is thick with the smell...but we get loads of the flies and mozzies indoors all through the summer!! Can someone explain to me why eucalyptus oil deters the pesky things?
I will try the recipes suggested when we are out there soon! Oh, just thought...the beams in the barn are all eucalyptus too...some are very new green wood so i am even more confused!
All the neighbours use the plastic bead curtains at the doors, I got one but the OH kept complaining that he gets caught up in it when he is coming in & out with bricks, wood etc (building in progress!! Had to take it down to save the marriage...put it up when I can, and it does work!

[tizzy]

I haven't had a problem with flies in the summer days since I put the compost bucket outside the back door. It was attracting those little beetle type flies. I think they like yeasty smells because they used to invade the breadbin too.
The ones we have problems with are the minute midges that come at dusk and stay all night. If I've been daft enought to leave the windows open I have to hoover the ceilings and walls before going to bed, or wake up covered in itching lumps.
They specially like hubby. He has to wear that Avon bath oil and hates it because it isn't manly