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Protect your home from flies the natural way! Dip into my homemade fly spray recipe for a safe, affordable, pleasant-smelling fly deterrent.

Spraying a homemade fly spray along the edges of a screened in porch.
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With warmer weather (hopefully!) on the horizon, itโ€™s time to prepare the fly spray! 

Donโ€™t settle for toxic aerosol sprays that cost a fortune in stores. Opt for a homemade version instead!

My homemade fly spray recipe is the perfect solution. It acts as a repellent rather than a fly killer and, as a bonus, leaves your home smelling amazing!

Homemade fly spray recipe

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup (8 oz) water
  • 1/2 cup (4 oz) isopropyl alcohol
  • 15 drops of lemongrass essential oil 
  • 10 drops of cedarwood essential oil
  • A clean spray bottle (16 oz)

Fly Spray Instructions

Step 1: Mix the water and isopropyl alcohol together in the spray bottle. Give it a gentle shake so it mixes well. 

Adding rubbing alcohol and water to a spray bottle while using a funnel to prevent spills.

Step 2: Add lemongrass and cedarwood oils to the bottle.

Step 3: Secure the sprayer nozzle and shake gently to thoroughly mix all the ingredients.

Shaking the homemade fly spray ingredients well before using.

Step 4: Spray in areas where flies frequent, such as the kitchen, patio, and near trash bins or along window sills. Pay extra attention to entryways, windows, and other access points where flies might enter.

Misting the fly spray along the curtains.

Step 5: Reapply the spray as necessary, fairly frequently, particularly after house cleaning or if the scent starts to fade and you see flies coming in.

Why use a homemade fly spray?

We mainly use a homemade fly spray because it works, in my opinion, just as well as any conventional fly spray.

Iโ€™m not too fond of the fact that manufactured fly sprays contain a lot of strong chemicals that often affect the quality of air you breathe. 

And, weirdly as it may sound, I dislike the idea of dead flies in my home! 

Iโ€™d much rather keep them away as a deterrent. Theyโ€™re welcome to fly about in the garden, just not in my living space!!

I also want to mention that I love bees. So, to make you aware, this is a fly spray, not a bee spray! Please donโ€™t use it around bees. 

Note: I have an alternative recipe to deter wasps if thatโ€™s something youโ€™re looking for. And a further alternative recipe for deterring bugs and ticks.

Storing one of my batches on the porch.

Benefits of homemade fly spray

  • Cost-effective: When making your own homemade fly spray, youโ€™ll save money compared to a store-bought option. 
  • Ingredients: You know firsthand what ingredients youโ€™re putting into the bottle when you make this fly spray!
  • Customizable: You can use this spray indoors and out, at BBQs, garden parties, and while entertaining, and your guests wonโ€™t mind one bit!

Why this fly spray works

It really comes down to these two ingredients: lemongrass and cedarwood. There are several studies showing lemongrass to be an effective fly repellent. An article from the USDA shows how cedarwood oil has potential as a pest control agent.

Lemongrass Oil

Lemongrass is one of the best-known natural insect-repellers! It’s perfect for this recipe because lemongrass has a beautiful citrus aroma that humans love but flies hate.

Just look at the summer BBQ section in your local garden store, and youโ€™ll see candles galore, all smelling of lemongrass or citronella (and for good reason.)

Flies, mosquitoes, and gnats canโ€™t stand the smell. Some people even plant lemongrass outdoors to repel any unwanted pests.ย 

Cedarwood Oil

Cedarwood oil is another excellent essential oil for repelling flies. Itโ€™s a strong, woodsy scent that naturally keeps flies and other insects away while scenting your home with a gorgeous, warming aroma at the same time. 

Misting fly spray outdoors to deter the flys.

Alternative scents to try

If you donโ€™t want to use lemongrass and cedarwood, you could try lavender, peppermint, citronella, or eucalyptus as some alternatives. 

The great thing is that this is such an easy recipe, so you could make several batches with different scents and see which works best for you!

Did you know? I also have a repellent for spiders, which works amazingly well in my world!

Application Tips 

Firstly, shake the bottle before every use to mix up the ingredients, as they will likely separate when not used. 

Always perform a spot test on a small material area before applying it to larger surfaces to ensure it doesnโ€™t cause damage or discoloration.

When applying the spray to a surface, mist lightly. You donโ€™t want to soak the area – weโ€™re looking to offload the scent that will keep flies and gnats away. 

Pay particular attention to areas where flies congregate, such as trash cans and food preparation areas. 

Lastly, apply the spray early or late evening when flies are most active for best results.

Frequency of Application

If using the spray outdoors, apply it as often as necessary to keep the flies away! I keep a bottle on our screened-in porch ready to use at a momentโ€™s notice.

Believe me, it works! We saw a significant reduction in flies within 24 hours. 

Use it once or twice a day for indoor use or if you notice the scent isnโ€™t strong enough to keep flies away anymore. 

My fly repellent recipe in a clear spray bottle with a blue rubber base on a wooden railing.

Safety Considerations

  • Keep the fly spray out of reach of children and pets. 
  • Avoid eye contact. In case of accidental contact, see medical attention.
  • Do not ingest. Seek medical help if the spray is swallowed.
  • Spray in a well-ventilated area to minimize inhalation risks.
  • Conduct a patch test on a small surface area to ensure it doesnโ€™t cause any damage or staining.

Additional Fly Control Measures

  • Use window screens and close windows and doors when you can. 
  • Keep your house clean! Flies love food prep areas, so wipe up spills, keep your trash cans clean, and deodorize your garbage disposal frequently.
  • Cover your fruit bowl. Fruit flies are so annoying! A simple towel or mesh cover should do the trick.  

And that’s all there is to this recipe. A fantastic homemade fly spray for your home that works great as a repellent to keep flies, gnats, and mosquitos away. 

Just remember, while this recipe works great, it’s always best practice to take measures to deter flies from coming around in the first place, which means keeping a tidy living space and picking up any leftover crumbs and spills.

If you made this recipe and loved it, I would love for you to leave a review below! And if you are looking for more great DIYs, check out one of these next.

5 from 4 votes

Homemade Fly Spray for Home

Prep: 5 minutes
Active: 5 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
Yield: 12 ounces
Banish flies with a DIY solution! Discover my homemade fly spray recipeโ€”it's eco-friendly, non-toxic, and leaves your home smelling gorgeous too.
Save This Recipe!
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Ingredients 

  • 1 cup (8 oz) water
  • ยฝ cup (4 oz) isopropyl alcohol
  • 15 drops lemongrass essential oil
  • 10 drops cedarwood essential oil

Instructions 

  • Mix the water and isopropyl alcohol in the spray bottle. Give it a gentle shake, so it mixes well.ย 
  • Add the lemongrass and cedarwood oils to the bottle.
  • Secure the sprayer nozzle and shake well to throughly combine the ingredients.
  • Spray the mixture in areas where flies frequent, such as the kitchen, patio, and near trash bins or along window sills. Pay extra attention to entryways, windows, and other access points where flies might enter.
  • Reapply the spray as necessary, fairly frequently, particularly after house cleaning or if the scent starts to fade and you see flies coming in!

Video

Notes

Please note, this is intended to be used as a fly repellent, not a fly killer.
Be mindful that lemongrass tends to attract bees. It is important not to use this spray for the purpose of harming bees.
Keep the fly spray out of reach of children and pets.ย 
Conduct a patch test on a small surface area to ensure it doesnโ€™t cause any damage or staining.
Iโ€™ve includedย step-by-step imagesย in the post above for visual guidance. If you would rather watch, Iโ€™ve included the complete step-by-step video tutorial here in the recipe card!
Tried this recipe?Mention @our_oily_house or tag #ouroilyhouse!
This recipe is for your own viewing pleasure and is not meant for healing purposes. Readers must perform their own research and tests before making any recipe.

About Laura

Welcome to Our Oily House, Iโ€™m so glad youโ€™re here! Explore DIY cleaners, homemade soaps, skincare and hair care recipes, fragrance-free solutions, and sustainable laundry tips for a naturally inspired home.

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5 from 4 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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6 Comments

  1. Sandra says:

    5 stars
    Itโ€™s that time of year! Weโ€™ve got flies and mosquitoes out on the patio near our pool. I just read your post and made a bottle of the fly spray. It is absolutely amazing! In less than five minutes all, all the flying pests are gone. Thanks! I will make more bottles for my family.

    1. Laura says:

      Wow, that’s great! Thank you for sharing with us!

  2. Fay says:

    Hi I made this recipe, was super easy and fun to make and smells so good!
    But looks like my flies and bugs like the smell too.. where did I go wrong?

    1. Fay says:

      5 stars
      Update:
      I tried it again, following directions a little better, I sprayed it earlier in the day before it got dark rather than once it was already dark and it worked phenomenally!! My door that is usually covered in flies when it gets dark is fly-free now!

      1. Laura says:

        I love to hear that! Thanks for sharing!

  3. Marie says:

    I can’t use isopropyl alcohol, would vodka or suchlike be ok?