Are flies a nuisance for your picnic, backyard, pasture or patio? It’s like an endless swarm of pests ruining everything you enjoy doing outside — including eating together as a family and feeding livestock!
Flies can create challenges with your health (including spreading deadly diseases) and with enjoyment while eating together with your family and being able to have interactions with livestock. Before spending a fortune on a pre-manufactured chemical-laden solution, however, you should consider this: there are simple, effective and cheap homemade alternatives that will provide you with a safe and natural method to drive flies away from your home, pets and loved ones.
This article will demonstrate just how to create your own fly spray at home that works! All of the ingredients used to create homemade fly spray can be found in your own kitchen or can easily be purchased at any grocery store. We will also discuss the advantages of using homemade fly sprays over commercial fly sprays, what the best combination of ingredients is, how to mix your customized blends to suit your own needs and finally, important safety tips when preparing your own fly sprays. So, grab your spray bottle , and let’s get started!
Why Homemade Fly Spray?
Why Use Homemade Fly Spray?
Many of the fly sprays available in the market consist of synthetic chemicals, which can be effective deterrents against flies but may, in the process, cause skin irritation, hurt animals, pollute the ecosystem, and induce allergies; it is no wonder that individuals who are allergy sufferers and have pets know the need to limit the use of unnecessary chemicals because fly problems get the worst of them during summer.
Here’s some info about the benefits of making your own fly spray:
- Natural Ingredients – The majority of DIY recipes employ plant-based essential oils that have fly-repelling tendencies.
- Savings – Buying a fly spray that is available commercially can prove costly. Homeowners will spend fewer dollars with a homemade solution.
- Environmentally friendly – Solutions found in nature are less likely to hurt good bugs like pollinating bees during decomposition.
- Customization – You are totally free to decide the formulation of the selected ingredient(s) of your home-made spray, which could contain any fragrance of choice, a stronger formulation, or a pet-friendly option.
Most importantly, when made correctly, homemade fly spray actually works — and sometimes better than store options because you control the potency and ingredients.
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How Flies Think (And Why Repellents Work)
Studying how flies interact with us helps developers create great repellents for flies so they will bother us less.
The fly relies heavily on its sense of smell for finding food (garbage and animals) and for that reason, they can follow that scent very far away, and conversely can become disoriented by the sheer number of smells at any one location. Flies are generally repulsed by the stronger smells produced from eucalyptus, peppermint and citronella (and many other essential oils).
Therefore, if you were to create an effective homemade fly spray, it would either contain strongly scented substances or a way to mask the fragrance of any scent used, so that it creates a very uninviting situation for the fly and would encourage the fly not to stay in that location. Fly sprays were not designed to kill flies but rather were developed to provide a location which will make flies not want to be in that area.
Best Ingredients for Homemade Fly Spray
You can experiment with different combinations, but the following are proven fly-repelling heroes:
1. Essential Oils That Repel Flies
| Essential Oil | Why It Works |
| Eucalyptus | Strong scent; confuses fly sensory receptors |
| Peppermint | Refreshing for humans; offensive to flies |
| Lavender | Soothing smell; repels many insects |
| Citronella | Classic insect deterrent |
| Lemongrass | Similar to citronella, super effective |
| Tea Tree | Antibacterial + insect repellent |
| Clove | Strong and spicy scent flies hate |
Tip: Essential oils are potent — a little goes a long way.
2. Carrier Liquids
You need something to carry these scents and help spray them evenly:
- Water – Simple & effective
- Apple Cider Vinegar – Adds extra odor flies dislike
- Witch Hazel – Helps oils disperse in water; has its own repelling power
- Unscented Liquid Soap – Breaks surface tension, helps stick to surfaces
3. Optional Add-Ins
- Vegetable Glycerin – Helps the spray cling to surfaces
- Alcohol (e.g., Vodka) – Helps dissolve oils and evaporates quickly
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DIY Homemade Fly Spray Recipes That Work
Here are several tried-and-true fly spray recipes — from gentle to extra strong.
Classic Natural Fly Spray (All-Purpose)
Ingredients:
- 1 cup water
- 2 tbsp witch hazel
- 10 drops lavender essential oil
- 10 drops eucalyptus essential oil
- 10 drops peppermint essential oil
Directions:
- Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle.
- Shake well before each use.
- Spray around entry points, picnic tables, patios, or barn stalls.
Why it works: Lavender smells amazing to people but irritates flies, while eucalyptus and peppermint add extra repelling power.
Vinegar Fly Spray (Strong & Effective)
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup water
- 15 drops lemongrass essential oil
- 10 drops tea tree oil
- A squirt of unscented liquid soap
Directions:
- Mix vinegar, water, and essential oils.
- Add soap and swirl gently — don’t shake aggressively.
- Spray where flies congregate.
Why it works: Vinegar masks scents that attract flies, and soap helps the mix stick to surfaces.
Extra-Strength Outdoor Fly Spray
Ingredients:
- 1 cup water
- 1/4 cup witch hazel
- 15 drops citronella essential oil
- 15 drops clove essential oil
- 10 drops lemongrass essential oil
Directions:
- Combine liquids and oils.
- Shake well.
- Reapply every few hours when outdoors.
Why it works: Citronella and clove are powerful natural deterrents, especially useful for picnic tables and outdoor seating.
Pet-Friendly Homemade Fly Spray
Ingredients:
- 1 cup water
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 5 drops lavender oil
- 5 drops cedarwood oil (optional)
Directions:
- Mix ingredients.
- Spray lightly on pet bedding or outdoor areas (avoid spraying directly on animal).
Important: Always test a small area first and consult a vet before using on animals.
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How to Use Homemade Fly Spray (without wasting it)
Spray strategically — not everywhere. Here are target zones where flies gather:
- Around doors and windows
- On outdoor furniture edges
- Near trash cans and compost piles
- Around barns and livestock areas
- Patio umbrellas and table legs
When outdoors, reapply every 2-4 hours if needed. Natural sprays evaporate faster than chemical sprays, so regular spraying helps keep flies away.
Tips for Making Flies Hate Your Space
Here are additional tweaks to boost the efficacy of your homemade fly spray:
1. Clean First
Flies love dirt, food crumbs, and animal waste. A clean surface is less attractive to them.
2. Eliminate Attractants
- Food leftovers
- Pet food bowls
- Sticky spills
- Vegetation near eating areas
3. Add Fly-Repelling Plants
Some plants naturally repel flies:
- Basil
- Mint
- Rosemary
- Marigold
- Lavender
Place them around patios or near doors.
Safety First: Essential Oil Guidelines
Even if something comes from nature, safety isn’t guaranteed. These details matter when working with essential oils.
- Keep out of sight and stay clear of the skin
- Pet owners should not apply it straight to animals unless a veterinarian gives clear permission first
- Try it on just a tiny bit of skin first thing. Only after that move out in full.
- Smaller amounts may be used when giving products to people who are sensitive or young kids
Check oil labels carefully because warnings and mixing instructions often appear there.
The Bottom Line
You don’t have to live through flies buzzing annoyingly around your back deck all summer. You can create your own fly spray at home or for your back patio using a series of natural substances that are not only effective but pleasant and improve your living space.
In Short
- Only natural ingredients are used to ensure the safety of the product.
- Another form of saving money is making your own fly spray at home.
- If you don’t have any, you can make your own essential oil blend according to what suits your needs.
- Regular application is essential for best results
Now that you know how to make homemade fly spray, you’re ready to take back your space — naturally!
