Did you know this common household cleaner can successfully deter flies both indoors and out this summer?

It's usually reserved for polishing floors and disinfecting surfaces, but did you know you can also use Pine-Sol for flies?

It's strong, clean scent can repel flies, making it a surprisingly multi-functional essential for your cleaning routine. Plus, it’s an easy, affordable pest control method that smells a whole lot better than most bug sprays.

However, while it works well as a short-term deterrent, there are some caveats to using Pine-Sol as a home remedy to get rid of flies. Here’s what the pest experts want you to know.

Does Pine-Sol deter flies?

The short answer is yes, Pine-Sol can be an effective, short-term solution to keeping fleas out of the house. The main draw to using this essential cleaning supply is the fact that it can be used to both keep flies away outside and inside the house without making the house smell musty.

Mihail Velev, pest control technician at Fantastic Services, explains, ‘Pine-Sol is a strong-smelling cleaner with a pine scent and active disinfecting agents that many flying insects, especially common houseflies and fruit flies, tend to avoid. The strong aroma can mask attractants and irritate their sensory receptors, making treated areas less appealing.’

As an EPA-registered disinfectant, Pine-Sol, available at Target, is ideal for use as part of regular home disinfection, removing some of the bacteria that may attract flies. However, as Mihail warns, ‘It doesn’t kill flies on contact or disrupt their breeding cycle, so it’s best used as part of a broader pest control strategy.’

How to use Pine-Sol for flies

Pine-Sol can be used as both a homemade bug spray and to get rid of drain flies.

For indoor pests and keeping flies away from patios, Tammy Sons, plant expert and CEO of TN Nursery, shares, ‘I dilute Pine-Sol with equal parts water in a spray bottle [glass spray bottles, from Walmart, are easy to clean out and reuse for household cleaning], and use it to wipe down countertops, floors, or spray lightly on drains or garbage cans.

'Of course, you have to ensure it's safe for the surface you are spraying, and that your pet isn't going to lick it. I've even wiped down patio furniture or sprayed it near doors to keep flies from congregating outside.’

To get rid of gnats around drains, Mihail adds, ‘To use Pine-Sol effectively indoors against drain flies, start by focusing on where they breed, which is typically in drains, especially in kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry areas.

'Mix a solution made of equal parts Pine-Sol and warm water and pour it directly into the drain. Let it sit for at least 30 minutes before flushing it with hot water. This doesn’t kill larvae deep in the pipes, but it helps clean away the organic film that drain flies feed and breed in.

‘You can also spray the diluted solution around sinks, countertops, and baseboards as a repellent, avoiding contact with food-prep surfaces.’ We recommend using sponge cloths, available at Walmart, to clean surfaces. They can be quickly refreshed in a dishwasher between uses to avoid cross-contamination around your home.

The caveat

Although Pine-Sol can deter flies in the short term, it does nothing to tackle the surprising things attracting pests to your home and does not target larvae or get rid of maggots.

While the good news is that it is unlikely you will need to call professional pest control for flies, for existing pests, you will need to pair Pine-Sol deterrents with DIY gnat traps, Mihail warns.

He explains, ‘Keep in mind, though, that while Pine-Sol can help reduce fly activity temporarily, it won’t eliminate the root cause. For drain flies, the key is to physically remove the organic slime layer in the drainpipes using a stiff drain brush, enzyme drain gel, or foaming drain cleaner.

'For outdoor control, address moisture and clean organic buildup from any nearby drain grates or overwatered soil. Pine-Sol is best treated as a supplementary tool in an overall pest control management plan.’

What to shop

FAQs

Will spraying flies with vinegar kill them?

While cleaning with vinegar can help deter flies and clean up the things drawing them in, spraying flies with vinegar is an ineffective method for killing them.

Instead, create a vinegar trap with apple cider vinegar, from Walmart, and a drop of dish soap (such as Dawn, also from Walmart) to draw flies in and drown them.

Meet the experts

Mihail Velev

Mihail Velev has been with Fantastic Pest Control team for over 2 years, and specializes in comprehensive rodent and insect treatments.

Tammy Sons

Tammy Sons is a plant expert, garden writer, and educator. Tammy is the CEO and founder of TN Nursery, a thriving online plant nursery based in Altamont, Tennessee. She is also a prolific writer, sharing her knowledge through articles on various gardening topics, including plant care, sustainable landscaping, and pest control.

Although Pine-Sol may be safer than many commercial fly and bug sprays, it is not non-toxic, and is considered a product of concern by the EWG for its potential environmental impact and lack of transparency around ingredient disclosure.

If you are looking for a more natural approach to pest control, or have pets or young children at home, consider some natural pest control methods instead, such as making your own pine vinegar for cleaning.