Flies may be small — typically around 6 mm — but the problems they bring are disproportionately large. Unlike mosquitoes, they don't bite, but they more than compensate for that with persistent buzzing and an indiscriminate habit of landing on food, surfaces, and anything else in their path. A single housefly can carry hundreds of different bacterial species on its body, picked up from waste, decaying matter, and animal droppings before landing on your kitchen counter. Getting rid of flies isn't just about comfort — it's a reasonable hygiene measure, especially during the warmer months when fly populations peak across Europe.
Prevention: The Most Effective First Step
Flies don't enter a home without reason. Before reaching for any repellent or trap, it's worth addressing the conditions that attract them in the first place. Food left uncovered, overflowing rubbish bins, and damp organic waste are the primary draw. Keep bins sealed and lined, empty them regularly, and never leave food — including fruit — exposed on kitchen surfaces for extended periods. In summer, even a small amount of spilled juice or pet food can attract flies within minutes.
Physical barriers are also underrated. Window and door screens are one of the most reliable long-term solutions for keeping flies out while maintaining ventilation. Check existing screens for gaps or tears — flies can exploit surprisingly small openings.
[tip:Pay particular attention to the area around your kitchen bin and compost container. Rinsing them with a mild disinfectant weekly significantly reduces the odour signals that attract flies.]Natural Deterrents: Herbs and Essential Oils
Flies have a highly developed sense of smell, and several plant-based scents are strongly aversive to them. Growing basil, lavender, mint, or rosemary on a windowsill serves double duty — culinary herbs that also keep flies at a distance. For a more immediate effect, essential oils offer a convenient and pleasant-smelling solution.
Lavender, eucalyptus, peppermint, lemongrass, and geranium essential oils are among the most effective natural fly deterrents. A few drops added to a diffuser, applied to cotton balls placed near windows, or diluted in water as a surface spray can noticeably reduce fly presence in a room. Lemongrass oil in particular has been well-documented for its insect-repellent properties. The advantage over chemical solutions is obvious: these oils are safe around children and pets when used as directed, and they improve the scent of any space rather than leaving a chemical smell behind.
[products:bilovit-lavender-essential-oil-10-ml, bilovit-eucalyptus-essential-oil-10-ml, bilovit-peppermint-essential-oil-10-ml, bilovit-lemongrass-essential-oil-10-ml, bilovit-geranium-essential-oil-10-ml]For a ready-made room diffuser blend, combine 3–4 drops each of lavender and lemongrass in a diffuser with water, or add the same oils to a spray bottle with 100 ml of water and a teaspoon of alcohol to help the oils disperse. Reapply every few hours for best results. Explore our full range of single essential oils and find combinations that work best for your space.
Physical Traps and UV Devices
When flies are already inside in numbers, passive deterrents need backup. Several mechanical options work without chemicals:
- Sticky fly traps — adhesive strips or flat boards that capture flies on contact. Effective and inexpensive, though best placed out of direct line of sight. Replace when full.
- UV light traps — electric devices that attract flies with ultraviolet light and trap or eliminate them on contact. More expensive upfront but effective across a larger area and suitable for kitchens where food hygiene is a priority.
- Fly paper near entry points — hung near windows and doors, these intercept flies before they reach the rest of the room.
Placement matters: position traps near natural light sources and away from competing light, and keep them away from food preparation areas if using UV devices that eliminate flies electrically.
Outdoor Protection: DEET-Based Repellents
If flies are disrupting time spent outdoors — in the garden, at a terrace, or on a camping trip — a personal insect repellent is the most direct solution. DEET-based sprays and roll-ons are the most thoroughly tested insect repellents available and are effective against flies, mosquitoes, and other biting and nuisance insects. They work by masking the human scent signals that insects use to locate a host.
Products are available in different DEET concentrations: lower concentrations (around 9–20%) are suitable for shorter outdoor activities and for use on children, while higher concentrations (50%) are better suited for prolonged outdoor exposure or areas with high insect pressure. Apply to exposed skin and clothing as directed, and reapply after swimming or heavy perspiration.
[products:mugga-spray-9-5-deet-insect-repellent-75-ml, mugga-roll-on-20-deet-insect-repellent-50-ml, mugga-roll-on-50-deet-insect-repellent-50-ml, mugga-spray-50-deet-insect-repellent-75-ml] [warning:Do not apply DEET-based repellents to broken skin, near eyes or mouth, or under clothing. When using on children, apply to your own hands first and then onto the child's skin, avoiding the hands, which children frequently put in their mouths.]Combining Methods for Best Results
No single method eliminates flies entirely, but a layered approach comes close. Start with hygiene and physical barriers — sealed bins, covered food, and window screens. Add essential oil diffusion in rooms where flies tend to gather. Use sticky traps or a UV device for existing infestations. And for time spent outdoors, keep an insect repellent spray or roll-on to hand.
For a complete overview of available insect protection options, browse our insect and tick protection range and our insect repellents — all shipped quickly from within the EU.
[note:All Medpak products are dispatched from within the EU — no customs delays, fast delivery across Europe.]
