How to get rid of flies in your house with a cucumber – 'flies abhor the chemicals'

Flies are a nuisance at any time of year, but as the weather warms up you may be noticing their presence more and more around your home, particularly in your kitchen.

While commercial, chemical products are often lauded as the best way to banish them, did you know that you can actually get similarly effective results with a humble cucumber?

Here, our entomologist shares his tips on using this salad staple to deal with these common indoor pests, for an affordable, non-toxic, eco-friendly solution that's safe to use around food, pets, and children.

How to deter flies with cucumber

Questioning why you have so many flies in your house? Before you reach for strong sprays to keep flies out of the house, why not take a look inside your fridge vegetable drawer instead, says Tony King, founder of Pied Piper Pest Control, for a home remedy to get rid of flies.

'Flies abhor the natural chemicals in the skin of cucumbers,' he explains. 'Cucumber scents – particularly from the skin – contain chemicals such as trans-2-nonenal, which insects dislike.

'It is also believed that the very high water content and acidic nature might interfere with the sensory receptors of the flies.'

To use cucumber to get rid of cluster flies or to keep flies out of a garage, Tony recommends slicing cucumbers thinly and placing them where flies congregate, such as window sills, trash cans, or kitchen countertops, where getting rid of fruit flies can be particularly tricky.

You can use a mandolin for this, such as the bestselling PrepSolutions Mandolin Slicer available at Walmart, but your usual kitchen knife will, of course, work just as effectively, too.

'Some people also grate the cucumber and place it on a plate or small plate to emit a stronger scent,' adds Tony. 'Another method is to rub slices of cucumber on surfaces to leave a thin layer of the natural oils.

'Fresh cucumber should be used daily for best performance since the scent evaporates quickly.'

Is using cucumber an effective fly-deterrent?

As Tony says, while this is an 'entertaining and innocuous' way to discourage flies, it's, importantly, not the most effective method when used alone.

'You might use it as an auxiliary option, especially if you'd rather use organic means of repellence, but my recommendation would be to couple it with more vigorous fly control strategies for bigger infestations,' he says.

'Products like TERRO Fruit Fly Traps available at Walmart or Aunt Fannie's FlyPunch Fruit Fly Trap available at Amazon can work very well to use indoors in the kitchen, and for something outside or more chronic indoor problems, I suggest something like the RESCUE! Outdoor Disposable Hanging Fly Trap available at Amazon. It's non-toxic, and uses attractants to lure flies away from your living space.'

You can also use fly repellent plants, sticky tape, or citronella candles, such as the bestselling Mainstays Citronella Scented Metal Bucket available at Walmart, as eco-friendly ways to bolster the deterrent effects of your cucumber.

What to shop

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Meet our expert

Tony King

Tony is the owner and manager of The Pied Piper, a leading pest control service with a legacy spanning over 25 years, and leads a highly-trained team of pest exterminators.

FAQs

Does vinegar attract or repel flies?

A mixture of equal parts vinegar and water, when left out in a dish, can work to repel flies. Apple cider vinegar is particularly effective. You can also try cleaning with vinegar to the same effect.

Are you aware of the mistakes to avoid when getting flies out of the house? For example, never ignore the root cause of your issue or infestation, and always avoid overusing chemical sprays.