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Instructions:
- Fill the Bag with Water: Start by filling your plastic bag with water, making sure to leave enough room at the top so it doesn’t spill. Aim for filling it about halfway or three-quarters full.
- Add the Coins: Drop in the shiny coins. Pennies, dimes, or any reflective coin will do, as their metallic surface helps reflect light and adds to the shimmering effect. The more shiny surfaces in the bag, the more effective it will be.
- Seal the Bag: Carefully zip the bag or tie it off with a string to ensure it’s sealed tightly. You don’t want the water to leak out!
- Hang the Bag: Hang the water-filled bag in a visible location where flies tend to congregate. This can be near doorways, over picnic tables, or near outdoor seating areas. You can hang it from a hook, a tree branch, or even on a clothesline.
- Let the Magic Happen: Once the bag is hung, sit back and watch as flies slowly avoid the area. The shimmering effect will confuse their vision, and they’ll move on to find a quieter, less chaotic spot.
Why It Works
Flies are attracted to outdoor spaces where there’s food, moisture, and warmth. They have a highly developed sense of vision, but their eyes are sensitive to bright, reflected light. The water-filled bag and its reflective surfaces create a visual disturbance that flies find disorienting and unpleasant. As a result, they steer clear of the area, allowing you to enjoy your outdoor activities without the constant interruption of buzzing.
Additional Tips for a Fly-Free Yard
If you want to take things a step further, here are a few more ways to keep flies at bay in your outdoor spaces:
- Use Essential Oils: Flies dislike certain scents like lavender, eucalyptus, peppermint, and citronella. Try diffusing essential oils in your outdoor space or creating DIY fly repellent sprays by mixing water and a few drops of your favorite essential oil.
- Create Fly Traps: You can easily make a fly trap using a jar or bottle. Fill it with a sweet liquid like apple cider vinegar, then create a funnel out of paper and insert it into the jar. Flies will be attracted to the scent, but they won’t be able to get out once they’re inside.
- Clean Regularly: Flies love to hang around food and garbage. Keep outdoor eating areas and trash cans clean and covered to reduce the attraction for flies.
- Plant Fly-Repellent Herbs: Consider planting herbs like basil, mint, or bay leaves around your patio or garden. These plants naturally repel flies, and their fragrance adds a lovely touch to your outdoor decor.
The Bottom Line
Flies are a common problem when we spend time outdoors, but with this easy and natural trick, you can reduce their presence without chemicals or costly devices. The water-filled plastic bag method is a simple, effective solution that will help keep your outdoor space more enjoyable and less fly-infested. Give it a try at your next outdoor gathering and see just how well it works — you might be pleasantly surprised by how quickly those pesky flies disappear!
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