Flies! These germ-carrying insects definitely put a damper on summer fun – but you can keep them under control without exposing your family, pets and the environment to harmful chemicals. Here are some tips for quelling these pests with effective, all-natural remedies.

1. Sachet them away. Mint deters flies, is easy to grow and comes in many varieties. Harvest some of the fresh leaves, crush them, and tie them up in small squares of cheesecloth. Place these sachets around your outdoor sitting areas (as well as inside the house) to discourage flies from hanging around. Bay leaves and cloves work well, too.
2. Essential oils. Add a few drops of eucalyptus oil to a scrap of cloth and leave it in an area where flies are a problem.
3. Outdoor dining. When setting a picnic or umbrella table for a meal, use a small bowl filled with sweet basil and clover as a centerpiece. Keep an open container of the mixture near your pet’s food dish, too.
4. Stick ‘em up. Flypaper may not be pretty, but it works! To make your own, dip strips of brown paper in a mixture made from ¼ cup corn syrup, 1 tablespoon granulated sugar and 1 tablespoon brown sugar. Let the strips dry overnight, then hang them with thread around your porch or deck.
5. Shoo them out. Flies in the house? Once it’s dark, turn off all the lights and open a single door to the outside. Turn on an outside light – the flies will be attracted to the light and fly out of the house within a few minutes.

Keep flies under control with our best-selling pest problem-solvers!

80678 Flies Be Gone: Hang this handy fly trap about 30 feet away from the outdoor area where people gather—it protects an area about half the size of a football field.

86864 Mosquito Net for 9’ Umbrella: Drape this fine mesh net over your patio umbrella so pesky flies, mosquitoes and bees can’t bug you or your food!

64234 Instant Bug Screen: Keep bugs out with this instant screen door—no need for tools or drilling holes in your wall!

5202 Buhach Insect Powder: Mother Nature’s organic insecticide! Repels spiders, ants, fleas, roaches, flies and mosquitoes without harsh chemicals.

82767 Racquet Bug Zapper: Battery power “zaps” flying pests—no sprays, no chemicals!