Homemade Fly Spray Recipe | The Prairie Homestead (2024)

161 Comments | Jill Winger | Last Updated: May 26, 2020

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Learn how to make your own homemade fly spray recipe. This is a wonderful natural fly spray that will help prevent flies around your homestead and while you work with your livestock. You can relax knowing that it’s made with natural and safe ingredients instead of unknown chemicals.

Homemade Fly Spray Recipe | The Prairie Homestead (1)

You know how in the book of Exodus, one of the ten plagues was massive amounts of flies?

When I was younger, I always thought “Well, that one wouldn’t be THAT bad…”

I take it back.

A few years ago, we had massive amounts of flies. It was a constant battle to keep them off of my animals, out of my food, and off of my baby… (It got so bad, I even got bug nets for the playpen!)

Of course, the typical solution is to use hardcore chemicals and sprays to drive the flies away.

I just don’t feel good about doing that anymore.

Especially when I’m milking my cow.

I know from experience with my horses, whenever you apply fly spray, it gets everywhere. On your hands, on your clothes, in your mouth. I don’t want thosechemicals floating anywhere near my lovely raw milk.

So I started experimenting with homemade fly spray recipes. Last year I tried a few white vinegar/dish soap/mouth wash concoctions. While they sorta worked, I wasn’t super impressed with any of them.

This homemade fly spray recipe with essential oils works much better.

More Natural Fly Control Tips for Your Homestead

I kinda feel like a pro when it comes to natural fly control these days. We deal with them. A lot. So I’ve written about my natural fly control strategies plenty of times.

Here’s some more tips for you:

  • Need insect repellent recipes for the humans in your life? I’ve got ya covered. Here are 20+ recipes to keep the bugs from biting.
  • I don’t use homemade fly spray on my chickens, BUT, I do a variety of things to control flies in my chicken coop.
  • Got flies in the house? Try using my homemade fly trap which is easy to make and works really well.
  • Want to reduce the flies around your homestead? Try implementing these 4 natural strategies for farm fly control.

Homemade Fly Spray Recipe | The Prairie Homestead (2)

Homemade Fly Spray Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups raw apple cider vinegar (where to buy raw apple cider vinegar)OR make your own vinegar
  • 20 drops rosemary essential oil (where to buy my favorite essential oils)
  • 20 drops basilessential oil
  • 20 drops peppermint essential oil
  • 2 tablespoons liquid oil (olive oil, canola oil, or mineral oil will work)
  • 1 tablespoon dish soap (Like this one)

Directions:

Mix together in a spray bottle. Apply to the animals frequently (give it a good shake before applying). And be careful, it smells strong. Whew!

The final verdict?

It works. But if you are expecting your homemade fly spray to be like conventional fly sprays lasting for several days, you will be disappointed.

From my observations, it repels the flies, it doesn’t kill them. I had to apply 1-2x per day for maximum effectiveness,but at least it provided temporary relief without chemicals. I will definitely beusing it during my milking routine and on my horses and goats, too.

Notes:

  • If you don’t have access to raw apple cider vinegar, you can still use pasteurized apple cider vinegar or white vinegar. I just think the raw goodness packs an extra punch.
  • Speaking of vinegar, if you have any glass quart-sized vinegar jars hanging around, often you can screw on a spray top for a cool glass spray bottle.
  • If you don’t have these exact essential oils, no worries. There are TONS of oils that repel insects including lavender, tea tree, pine, citronella, arborvitae, thyme, etc. Feel free to play around and mix and match.
  • Try this really cool Mason Jar Lid Sprayer Cap in order to mix up this spray in any old mason jar you have laying around! (affiliate link)

Watch Me Make This Homemade Fly Spray!

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Homemade Fly Spray Recipe

Homemade Fly Spray Recipe | The Prairie Homestead (3)

A natural homemade fly spray recipe that will prevent flies around your homestead. Made with safe, non-toxic ingredients!

  • Author: Jill Winger

Ingredients

  • 4 cups raw apple cider vinegar (where to buy raw apple cider vinegar)OR make your own vinegar
  • 20 drops rosemary essential oil (where to buy my favorite essential oils)
  • 20 drops basilessential oil
  • 20 drops peppermint essential oil
  • 2 tablespoons liquid oil (olive oil, canola oil, or mineral oil will work)
  • 1 tablespoon dish soap (Like this one)

Instructions

Mix together in a spray bottle. (This really cool mason jar lid sprayer cap would do the job!)

Apply to the animals frequently (give it a good shake before applying). And be careful, it smells strong.

Notes

  • If you don’t have access to raw apple cider vinegar, you can still use pasteurized apple cider vinegar or white vinegar. I just think the raw goodness packs an extra punch.
  • Speaking of vinegar, if you have any glass quart-sized vinegar jars hanging around, often you can screw on a spray top for a cool glass spray bottle.
  • If you don’t have these exact essential oils, no worries. There are TONS of oils that repel insects including lavender, tea tree, pine, citronella, arborvitae, thyme, etc. Feel free to play around and mix and match.
  • In the market for a spray bottle? This lid allows you to mix up this spray in a regular old mason jar, plop the lid on… and you’re good to go!

Homemade Fly Spray Recipe | The Prairie Homestead (2024)

FAQs

What is a homemade fly killer remedy? ›

Apple cider vinegar fly trap: A few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, a few drops of dish soap, and a tablespoon of sugar can be mixed in a bowl and placed in an area where flies are commonly seen such as the kitchen, bathroom, or indoor garden.

Does spraying vinegar keep flies away? ›

Vinegar attracts, not repels flies; however, a container with vinegar and dish soap will function as an attractant trap as the vinegar lures flies to enter the trap and the dish soap will cause the flies to sink and die. Oils like lavender, mint, lemongrass, clove, rosemary and eucalyptus may help in repelling flies.

How to get rid of flies in a farm house? ›

  1. Keep It Clean. Flies thrive in decaying material, including trash, compost, lawn thatch, grass clippings and manure. ...
  2. Dry It Out. ...
  3. Treat Animal Injuries. ...
  4. Screen Them Out. ...
  5. Plant Fly Repellants. ...
  6. Opt for Traps. ...
  7. Consider Chemicals.

What smell do flies hate the most? ›

Cinnamon – use cinnamon as an air freshner, as flies hate the smell! Lavender, eucalyptus, peppermint and lemongrass essential oils – Not only will spraying these oils around the house create a beautiful aroma, but they will also deter those pesky flies too.

How to get rid of flies in the house quickly with vinegar? ›

Vinegar Fly Trap

Fill a cup or small bowl with white vinegar or apple cider vinegar for flies, then add a few drops of dish soap. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and secure it with a rubber band. Poke holes in the wrap to create entry points for the flies.

What is the best fly remedy? ›

One common treatment uses cayenne pepper steeped in water as a spray treatment. Spritz in doorways and around windowsills and the sharp odor will keep the flies away. Pepper spray is non-toxic, but the smell may be unpleasant to some people. Consider using common garden plants to repel flies.

What kills flies on contact? ›

Some common insecticides for killing flies include pyrethroids, which are synthetic versions of natural insecticides found in chrysanthemum flowers, Johnson says. These chemicals inhibit flies' nerves when they touch them, causing paralysis and death. Imidacloprid is another chemical often used in bait fly traps.

Does pine sol keep flies away? ›

This DIY pest repellant should be a staple in the Southern home. Pour equal parts water and Pine-Sol in a spray bottle to spritz on outdoor furniture, the deck, and indoor areas where flies are most likely to flock, such as kitchen countertops.

How do I get rid of flies on my patio? ›

These are the primary approaches for how to get rid of flies outside:
  1. Eliminate their food sources.
  2. Seal up cracks around buildings.
  3. Encourage natural predators like birds, bats, and frogs.
  4. Trap the flies with cone traps or resin sticks.
  5. Use fans as a deterrent.
  6. Light candles since smoke is a repellant.
Apr 22, 2023

What smell do house flies hate? ›

In addition to making your house smell minty fresh, herbs like spearmint and peppermint can also keep flies at bay. Mint grows quickly and makes an excellent addition to your backyard garden or your windowsill. For those who lack a green thumb, spearmint or peppermint essential oils can also prevent fly infestations.

What household spray kills flies? ›

Laundry Detergent – Dilute a few drops of laundry detergent or dish soap in water and use the mixture as a spray. This works particularly well against flies when you spray the mixture into any areas where you have noticed flies or other insects.

What is the strongest fly repellent? ›

What Scent Repels Flies the Most? The ingredients that best repel flies include oil of lemon eucalyptus, lemongrass, catnip, citronella, and cinnamon. Essential oils can be toxic for pets and cause allergic reactions in people so use them with caution.

Is there a fly spray that actually works? ›

NAF Off DEET Power Performance

Contains 19.6% DEET. We tested this fly spray and found it to be a good all-rounder that is effective in many situations, from protecting from pests out hacking, to using just before a competition on a summer day or applying on exposed areas prior to turnout.

What is the best natural fly repellent for humans? ›

Olive Oil. Olive oil is not only a staple in cooking but can also be used as a natural fly repellent. A study conducted by the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene found that mixing olive oil with essential oils like citronella, eucalyptus, or tea tree oil can create an effective insect repellent.

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