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

Homemade Fly Spray Recipe | The Prairie Homestead? ›

To make this repellent spray, you'll need ¼ cup of witch hazel, ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar, and 30-60 drops of eucalyptus essential oil. Once you have all the ingredients, mix the witch hazel with the apple cider vinegar. Shake well, and then add the eucalyptus oil drops.

What is the best homemade fly repellent? ›

To make this repellent spray, you'll need ¼ cup of witch hazel, ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar, and 30-60 drops of eucalyptus essential oil. Once you have all the ingredients, mix the witch hazel with the apple cider vinegar. Shake well, and then add the eucalyptus oil drops.

What is the recipe to keep flies away? ›

Ways to get rid of flies. Some ways to get rid of flies are as follows: Homemade fly repellent spray: A mixture of dish soap, water, baking soda, and vinegar can be filled into a spray bottle. The mixture should contain a few drops of dish soap and a tablespoon each of vinegar and baking soda per cup of water.

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.

What is the strongest fly repellent? ›

Compare
ProductsProduct LinksValue
Best Overall: Off! Active Insect Repellent I$55 at Amazon5/5
Best Long-Lasting: Natrapel Picaridin Tick & Insect Repellent Eco-Spray$22 at Amazon5/5
Best DEET- Free: Coleman SkinSmart Insect Repellent$8 at Amazon5/5
Best with DEET: Sawyer Controlled Release Insect Repellent$11 at Amazon5/5
5 more rows
Feb 27, 2024

What is the best fly deterrent for outside flies? ›

Use Fans or Light Candles

The constantly moving air confuses flies, who prefer to fly in still air. Citronella candles, while more commonly used to deter mosquitos, can effectively keep common flies at bay as well, especially when used in small spaces.

What liquid kills flies instantly? ›

Choose from either chemical sprays, household cleaners, or hairspray. Chemical sprays kill flies instantly upon contact, though they contain harsh chemicals. You can also spray the flies with household cleaners, like Windex or Formula 409, or with an aerosol like hairspray. All of these sprays will help you kill a fly.

What is the mixture that kills flies? ›

Use a shallow dish bowl and fill it with an inch of apple cider vinegar and a tablespoon of sugar. Next, add some fruit-scented dish soap. You can leave the dish uncovered or tightly covered with plastic wrap. Make sure to poke a few holes in it to attract the flies.

Can I make my own fly spray? ›

The most basic and easiest homemade fly spray recipes has only 3 ingredients: Water. Apple Cider Vinegar. A few teaspoons of dawn dish soap.

What home remedy kills flies in your house? ›

✔️Mix apple cider vinegar and dish soap.

Ideally, the dish soap will have a fruity smell. “The fermented smell from the vinegar can attract flies,” Pereira says. “But the soap is really what will kill them.” The detergent in soap will destroy the flies' digestive tract and can also break down their cell walls, he says.

Does Pine Sol keep flies away? ›

Flies seem to HATE pine-sol. To make the fly repelling spray, mix the original Pine-Sol with water, at a ratio of 50/50 and put it in a spray bottle. Use to wipe counters or spray on the porch and patio table and furniture to drive the flies away.

What home remedy kills flies indoors? ›

A mixture of apple cider vinegar and dish soap can help you trap flies and kill them. Mix about an inch of apple cider vinegar and a few drops of dish soap in a tall glass. Cover the glass with plastic wrap, secure it with a rubber band, and poke small holes in the top.

Does spraying vinegar keep flies away? ›

Does Vinegar, Dish Soap, Essential Oils Repel Flies? 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.

How do you make fly spray with Dawn dish soap? ›

2 tsp Citronella. 1 c White Vinegar. 1 tsp Dawn liquid dish soap. Water.

What can I spray on my porch to get rid of flies? ›

Essential oils: Flies are often repelled by the strong scent of certain essential oils. Peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, lavender oil, and citronella oil are known to be effective fly repellents. Dilute a few drops of the oil in water and spray it around the door or create a sachet using cotton balls soaked in the oil.

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