Summer is here, bringing sunshine, barbecues, and unfortunately, those pesky flies buzzing around your trash can. If you dread waking up every morning to a swarm of insects invading your kitchen area, you’re not alone. But what if I told you that two everyday spices could help you reclaim your space and enjoy a truly peaceful summer?
These natural remedies are not about killing flies with harsh chemicals. Instead, they work by confusing and repelling them with powerful scents that flies just can’t stand. Let’s explore this surprisingly simple trick that will keep your trash bin fly-free and your kitchen smelling fresher.
Why flies love your trash can and how to stop them naturally
The warmer temperatures and increased humidity of summer turn your trash can into a hotspot for flies. As garbage ferments, odors become stronger, acting like a beacon to all sorts of unwanted insects. Even if your bin has a tight lid, flies are ingenious at finding their way inside.
The solution is to make your trash can less appealing without using sprays or traps packed with chemicals. Flies rely heavily on their sense of smell to locate food and breeding sites. By masking or irritating their nose sensors, you can keep them at bay.
That’s where two common spices come into play. They emit strong smells that flies want to avoid, but humans find manageable—or even pleasant. These aren’t just random choices; their natural properties include antifungal effects and irritants that deter insects.
The dynamic duo: cinnamon and cayenne pepper for a fly-free home
The first spice to know is cinnamon. Its sweet, warm aroma effectively masks the foul odors coming from your garbage. While it’s soothing to us, flies find it overwhelming. Cinnamon also has antifungal traits, helping to fight any mold or yeast growth that might attract flies.
Next up is cayenne pepper. This spice packs a punch with a molecule that irritates flies’ legs, antennae, and mouthparts the moment they land. It’s an instant signal to take off and never return. The combo of these two spices creates a natural, harmless defense barrier around your trash.
Using them couldn’t be easier. Each time you change your trash bag, sprinkle a small pinch of cinnamon and cayenne pepper along the bottom of the bin over a dry surface. You can even dust the edges or the lid for extra protection. Just remember, a little goes a long way!
Some people like to add a bay leaf or a cotton ball soaked in white vinegar to boost the effects. This triple-layered approach can be a strong deterrent, especially during the hottest months when flies are most active.
Simple habits to amplify your kitchen defense against flies
From personal experience, the spices alone helped me cut down on flies around my garbage by more than half during a scorching July. But combining this trick with a few extra habits truly made a difference.
For example, I started taking out the trash more frequently—even if the bin wasn’t full. This meant I never gave flies a chance to settle in. Also, wiping out the bin regularly, especially if moisture had accumulated, kept the environment less inviting.
Another key move is to wrap particularly smelly scraps like fish or meat in newspaper or sealed containers before tossing them out. This reduces the stew of odors that initially attracted the flies.
Most importantly, keep your trash can firmly closed at all times. It sounds simple, but I’ve seen plenty of garbage bins with lids almost left open or loosely placed. Every gap is an invitation to flies.
Do you have any unusual kitchen or home hacks to keep flies away? What’s your biggest summertime insect annoyance? Share your thoughts below—we’d love to hear what works for you. Try this spice trick and these extra tips this summer, then let us know how your fly situation improves!
For Many years I have stored my garbage in plastic produce bags in the Freezer. Scraps. bones. anything that attracts flies inside or scavengers out SIDE. No Flies No Skunks No Racoons etc. Put Frozen garbage out on trash day.
I learned this from a summer camp that chilled a room to eliminate bees in their garbage.
This is a common practice on Coronado Island, California. Smart and classy 😎
Yes !!!! You took my advice l learn that years ago and it works very well . My issue now is the fruit flies even though l don’t keep lots of fruit around , their even go in my refrigerator ! I took everything out and thoroughly clean out my it, and found dead ones make sure you don’t have any spills that draw them ! I found using the apple cider vinegar n dish soap traps them l keep little containers throughout my house in every room to eliminate them it works great 😃
Yes or a little oil in a small container traps all buugs even flies but zevo works wonderful top and traps all bugs and flies
What type of oil? I though cinnamon or cayenne pepper but that will reply flies not attract them them to the oil, which I presume is meant to trap them.
I have not had good luck with Zevo. Knats driving me crazy. Tried apple cider vinegar, with dish soap, tried bombing the kitchen with biological spray. Using an electric tennis racket looking tool that works pretty good but not perfect. Have not tried oil. Also I poured boiling water down my drains. Pesky knats still show up.
My dad was a plumber and became a teacher. He taught plumbing, heating and air conditioning. He taught me to never put boiling water down your drains because it will cause your drains to burst. It will cause the connections to loosen also which will cause leaks.
I did this last year when banana gnats reproduced better than rabbits in my kitchen. I had a little spider that played hide and seek with me in the half bath. I decided one night to try putting the jar of vinegar and a banana slice, loaded with gnats that would not die, into the bathroom just before lights out time. Next morning, gnats gone, spider ran behind mirror again, but was a little bigger. Tried this same trick every night for a week or so. The spider got pudgy and my gnats were gone. I promise this happened. I looked up the spider species. It was a cellar spider, as in up north. I live in the south, in the fastest growing city around, so somebody brought us a new species of gnat catchers. Thanks northerners.
Try a ripe piece of banana in a ceramic bowl then place a piece of plastic fitted tightly around it and poke a few holes in the top with a sharp pencil. The gnats go in but can’t get out, then I smash them against the bowl. I’ve caught so many using this technique.
So my exterminator says put Rid Ex down the drain at night just a teaspoon full leave overnight
Good for septic and sewer pipes
Definitely a reduction
Don’t forget shower and bathroom
Gnats.
Put saran wrap over a cup w/ apple vinigar or beer, w alittle water abs a drop of soap….shake it up then poke a dime sixe hole in the middle. The longer it sits, the more attractive.
If you have some diatomaceous earth, even better…..put a light dusting on top of trap.
Those drain flies will disappear in a couple weeks FOR GOOD!
I did in a pile of ants with xevo you have to get them directly
Yes I finally realized gnats come from the garbage disposal a lot of time so I pour dishsoap and baking soda down the disposal and run it after doing dishes more often and spray out my sink with bleach water and wipe counters with bleach water at night bf bed every day also helps A LOT! Hope this helps!!
Their insane.
I just got a small UV light zapper ($10 on Amazon) and the fruit flies go for it! It has greatly reduced/almost eliminated all the fruit flies and also gets mosquitoes and small pantry moths, as well. I’m thinking of getting another one–it works so well.
I took an old gallon vinegar bottle, cut out the bottom and fitted to the end of a shop vac. Fruit flies suck up easy and don’t survive the hose trip like house flies. I’ve used this trick to greatly reduce populations of fruit flies. And it’s kinda satisfying.
I put a Zevo plug-in blue night light in every room. The gnats, flies, and mosquitoes just can’t resist that blue light. They fly straight to it. It’s the most peace I’ve had since doing this. I hope it works for you.
I think dish soap and the apple cider vinegar works like Dawn! I need to ask my friend but she had a son to be murdered a couple of weeks ago. Trying not to bother her with the small stuff 💙
Fruit flies nest in sink drains. Lavender Fabulouso in the drain and let it stand fir a bit takes care of their proliferation.
How much of each? And do I need a certain type of container, to help trap them? Or is it ok to use a simple open container with these two ingredients combined?
You need to pour beach water through your drains at end of day whe you clea out your sinks at night otherwise they will just breed in your drains and come out overnight.
I leave the same thing out, just in case kinda thing since I had tons of them one yr. Good luck this yr!!
I do the same thing. Once the bag is frozen, I take it out on trash day.
Yup, problem solved!
Same Jim! I’ve been doing this for years. Although I came about this idea the hard way when I went out of town for a week & forgot to take the trash out before I left. Came home to maggots inside & outside of the kitchen garbage can. Now I have a dedicated shelf for scraps in the freezer for this very reason!
Awesome thanks
I have a spray bottle filled with 91% rubbing alcohol. Flies die FAST if you spray it on them. The plus is it evaporates fast and your not using chemicals in your kitchen.
I soak cottonballs and put pure lavender on them and tuck them in the siding around my door. No flies .
Yep, this is the best one, for sure!
Used in Commercial restaurants kitchens. In some places it is even the law and code.
Like you said, totally and completely eliminates the problems, especially good at keeping rodents away!
Which one are you referring?
I use bleach spray or windex to kill flies. When they are on your windows hit them with the windex, then clean the glass as a bonus. Jeff uses the spray where it covers a wide area in the kitchen with bleach spray, i like the stream setting to shoot them. Hit them directly and they die fast. Better than poison sprays.
I do the same! No shrimp shells or bones in my garbage. And old grocery bag and freezer works wonders
That’s what I do ,I even put used cooking oils in a baggie freeze,many people dispose their oil down the drain ..Not good . Does not take space in freezer, also when I use paper plate I rinse before putting in trash can..
Jim, We do the same thing, have for years! My husband used to think I was crazy, but having garbage that stinks is not an option for me!
I find doing that is very beneficial for keeping pest away that like to raid the garage can until garage day. I have a special shelf in my freezer just for it.
I do the same, but put in a container in fridge. I use my beverage cups that get thrown in the trash. Recycle all I can. Very little waste in my house. Things like veggy peels get collected in a bag and I cook for my dog and mix in with food(dogs 18).
I opted for “bag” trash service vs container. So much cheaper, but I am home on trash day to take out any food contaminated items like paper plates, pizza boxes, bones, packaging. I also rinse the thing that collects the juice under meat with soapy water and squeeze it out/place in disposable cup in fridge. Rinse the container(recycle + trash)
I wonder if cinnamon and cayenne pepper would help keep flies out of the home if placed near a door?
The will keep fly’s out. Jill
Where would you place it? I live in an apartment and have a dog. Any ideas on how to strategically place it so she won’t get harmed?
I have cats if I sprinkle it in my front porch will it hurt them?
Absolutely! I put a little of both on window sills anddddd they don’t even bother around my wayyy lol lol lol 🤣
Try using half a lemon with cloves studded into it! Put it by your window the flies won’t come in I guarantee! They gate the smell! You will have to change the lemon every few days when it dries out, but it really works 😃
Put pure lavender soaked cotton balls around your entry way and in the trash outside. Definitely keeps the flies away.
Fabulous tip and I always have these ingredients in. Can I’ use in my indoor trash even though I never put food scraps or bones from meat without putting in closed container. The only trash bin we have outdoors is a dumpster, which is disgusting this time of year. Wish you had a solution for that . Guess I’d need gallons of those spices for that, yes? LOL. Thanks
I planted spearmint. It took off and grew wild. Absolutely no flies or mosquitoes
Wonder if I cd plant spears mint all over our kitchen & bathrooms!🤔
Could you plant some and put it right beside your door to keep them out of the house?
You could actually make your own spray by boiling water and steeping those spices. Transfer to a spray bottle and spray it around the edges, top and wherever else flies seem to gather. You could mist the top every few days, and that may just work! (You may have to experiment with dilution rates, and use or re-use an empty spray bottle to save money, too)
Or just buy essential oils where you only need a few drops in water
Which essential oils please?
Spearmint or lavender
Ur advise, Pat is I think much more Practical…! I’ll take it. Thnx much. Happy day.. U, madam!
Great 💡 idea
Thank You for sharing, I have fly problems and 🐝 Bees, mosquitos can You help me out with Them “?, .
Don’t harm the bee’s they do a fantastic job. As for others you can buy citronella candles or oil to spray. I found they don’t like clove or peppermint so you could make your own spray
Bay leaf cell – cycle arrests all germs in waterways!
I make spray with peppermint oil and water in a spray bottle.I used it for ants in my house,got rid of them.Added bonus was we had mice in and out.I sprayed my bottom cabinets with it and no more mice.
FLY TRAP for outdoors at Walmart. It’s a bag with attractant iside that stinks so bad when you put a little water inside. You’ll have hundreds trapped. The old sticky traps hanging from ceiling work great For inside they also make sticky clear sheets for windows where they hang out.
Yes I finally realized gnats come from the garbage disposal a lot of time so I pour dishsoap and baking soda down the disposal and run it after doing dishes more often and spray out my sink with bleach water and wipe counters with bleach water at night bf bed every day also helps A LOT! Hope this helps!!
I prefer not to have strips w dead flies hanging all over my house but maybe in a barn would be great for keeping flies away from animals, or garage would be good 👍
Have found the fly trap you mention from Walmart seems to lure flies, possibly from nearby properties. We had FEWER flies before putting up the bags. Plus the smell is really horrible after just a short time. Tossed everything. Got to be a better way!
Thank you for the tips. After moving to the foothills I have every flying insect God created.
I can’t get rid of our flies🪰 or ants🐜 !! I am seriously at my wits’ end!!! I feel like I’m living in a jungle!
Good Morning
Thank you for the excellent ideas to get rid of the fly menace.
I live in Sr Lanka
Can we use black pepper instead of Cayenne pepper?
It wd be great if you use your wisdom to get rid of nasty dance mosquitoes in our garden. Whenever I go to garden whether it’s morning or evening, I get bitten by nuisance mosquitoes- not Dengue 🦟.
Much love & blesdings
Dr Latha
Get some ‘Skin So Soft” oil by Avon! Smells good and mosquitoes hate the smell.
Someone said to plant spearmint to deter them. U cd give that a try! Good luck!
I used to soap up my arms and legs before I went to garden then just hop in the shower when I am done, works like a charm without chemicals
Female Mosquitos are the ones that seek out our blood to feed on for the purpose of feeding their offspring. The mass majority of them feed at dawn/morning and again near dusk hours, though they can strike at any time. They have a nose for a certain sent that they can pick out even one mile away! Those who have blood type “0” are like a magnet and are more at risk of being a target 🎯 especially if you’re sweating 😓 or your heart rate is up like if your trying to hurry to finish a project you are working on, like finishing weeding in the garden, raking the grass, etc. in the morning, the best thing to do is enjoy your Bible or a good book, magazine or do some knitting and enjoy a good cup of tea or coffee until later in the day and get done all you can by late afternoon/early evening and get back indoors. I have tried many deturants that don’t work. I have yet to try lume/mando products to find out if they work to keep those pests away.
Thanks for sharing.I haven’t done that before but I think I will give it a go because my trash can is always stood outdoor.
Take care.
I sure do need this help. Flys are taking over. Thx
YES THEY ARE EVERY YEAR ST THIS TIME I ALWAYS HAVE FLIES!! IT’S SEEMS LIKE THEY ARE HAVING A CERTAIN TIME TO COME IN. AND I KEEP MY HOUSE CLEAN AND I MAKE SURE MY TRASH IS OUT!! THERE COMING IN SOME HOW!! AND I KEEP MY DOOR CLOSED AT All TIMES!! AND MY WINDOWS ClOSED TOO!
Why all caps?
Get over it davie
If you have a slider check the top and bottom where the hinges are.i was getting them from there.buggers are smart.beem around for thousands of years.
Will it work in an outdoor dog run and be safe for pets to walk on?
There natural herbs and spice so won’t harm your animals, don’t ever give them garlic though.
Garlic does not hurt your dog’s. Not unless they ate a wheel barrel full. However do not let dogs near cayenne or black pepper.
Garlic is toxic for dogs!!
I don’t think cayenne pepper would be a good thing if it got in your dog’s eyes.
Thank you for the tip. Ammonia and black pepper helps with flies too.ix together and add water. Put it in an empty spray bottle.
I can’t stand knats and mosquitoes. I stay inside more this summer than last summer.
What will repel red wasps?
Buy some.
Cheap fruit juice in a 2 liter bottle Then mix a little bit of boric acid with powdered sugar. And dump that into the fruit juice, then transfer that into any type of can fill it half way and put a stick in there set them out around your property up high where they won’t be disturbed, The wasp will go down the stick Drink the liquid, take it back to the nest and kill the entire colony. There’s videos on youtube about it. Works on carpenter bees too, but honey bees which are beneficial it doesn’t affect because they’re not attracted to it..
Works great! I also sprinkle a little Black Pepper in the window sill in kitchen and edge where countertops meet the wall which keeps pesky ants away!
I just wish they didn’t like crawfish. Tons of cayenne that they happily ignore in my trash.
Best thing I do to stop the flies is to twist and force a knot in the garbage bag opening. Also, if you can smell the garbage, in your house or outside, you can be sure the flies smell it too. All ideas prior to mine excell and I use some of them. I plan to buy cinnamon & cayenne on my next shopping trip.
Thanks for sharing
I’m not seeing many comments about the extremely toxic levels most of these spices and natural scents like lavender etc…are to pets and other
animals. I rarely use chemicals so it is very challenging. Especially here in Florida. I will use fly strips if safely placed and have even gotten Venus fly traps..ugh! It’s the pets I worry most about. Good old fly swatters are always close, lol. Good luck, everyone!
Is there anything that I can spray on myself to keep the flies and mosquitoes off of me
I need this information also.
I sprinkle Ajax or Comet cleanser in the outside bin and a bit in each bag,works great
I use peppermint oil and add water to a small spray bottle and spray around my trash can lids. I also spray on my door screen so they won’t fly in.
I can fly for free this summer!
Some great ideas EXCEPT. For use of Essential Oils! Poisonous to pets especially cats !!!
DO NOT use essential oils. Please!
Sprinkle dried used coffee grounds outside to repel mosquitoes. But use only near acid loving plants.
Flies hate the smell of Irish Spring soap. Grate chips of the soap and place in a sachet bag to hang where you don’t want flies.
Josie,, Are you kidding . Maybe your flies are tame.. But shopping I’m going. Simplist trick I’ve heard yet. Might even have in cabinet. My Goodness. Thanks
For fruit flies, I have had great success with Terro Fruit Fly traps. So much easier than when I tried all of others methods with poking holes in Saran Wrap over bowls of water with dish soap, fruit, etc
Looks like a sm apple with holes on top. Put in solution that comes with it…throw it away when done! Easy!
To repel gnats I put a small amount of vanilla extract on a cotton ball and place it somewhere around my face.
I hang a bar of Irish spring soap in my garage to keep the flies out and it really works
I use all the essential oils. They work great! Just put them on your ankles or wrists. The vinegar with dish soap in a small bowl on sink works great for attracting knats. My dog doesn’t bother any of it. I empty trash daily. Never put food in there. ( I freeze it until walk to dumpster). 🤞
We have used small packs of moth balls ( buy in a box at hardware store) and put 2-3 in an old nylon. Tie the nylon to the garbage can handle with the nylon inside the can. Keeps flys out all summer. Replace the bag as necessary.
Please identify “acid-loving plants”
Have you tried Diatomaceous Earth as insect control? It’s not an instant result, but it works long term. The WHITE, FOOD GRADE should be used. Big box stores now carry products with DE AND POISON! Please read the ingredients! Amazon and other online retailers sell Food Grade DE. The Harris brand from Amazon also contains a hand bellows applcator that is awesome!
It took me 3 weeks to COMPLETELY eliminate flys, ants, and 99% of the cockroaches in my kitchen and bathroom.
I also used sticky clear paper for windows that I cut into strips that I place in strategic locations that occasionally capture a roach ir 2. Also the Roach Motels really work well. My 3rd approach is to use little roach water traps from Walmart that are a long term solution.
After 3-4 weeks of my strategy, i walk into my kitchen and experience QUIET! It’s SO nice! The roaches main access is my kitchen sink and garbage disposal. I keep the cap in the drain on, but i discovered today that they can slither between the metal sink and my marble countertop! Guess what I’m caulking today!
All-in-all, I’m very pleased with my bug elimination work, and now just do maintenance. The DE does need to be reapplied about every 3-4 weeks or so, as room moisture takes the sharp edges off the DE, rendering it less effective. No biggie, just a tad bit reapplied.
Since I’m chemically intolerant, this has been a life saver!
Can this also be used on a plate on the table outside since they “flys” love a good BBQ they land on the table during the festival?
Same Jim! I’ve been doing this for years. Although I came about this idea the hard way when I went out of town for a week & forgot to take the trash out before I left. Came home to maggots inside & outside of the kitchen garbage can. Now I have a dedicated shelf for scraps in the freezer for this very reason!
I make my own spray for mosquitos and flies. Water, a few drops of peppermint oil and a few drops of tea tree oil and put it in a spray bottle. I spray my ankles and my patio. Sometimes i make peppetmint tea then let it cool and then pour it into the spray bottle. I watch mosquitos fly around me and leave. They won’t land on me like they use to.