How to Get Rid of House Flies with Cloves

Co-authored by Brandon Runyon

Last Updated: June 22, 2023 Approved

While there are many deterrents used to get rid of pesky house flies from your home or other surroundings, cloves are among the most popular. To get rid of house flies with cloves, simply poke 20 to 30 whole cloves into an apple, place the apple in the middle of the area, and watch the flies disappear shortly thereafter. This fix should work both indoors and outdoors.

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You will be amazed to see how all of a sudden all the flies disappear in a short time. They simply hate the subtle smell of the cloves^{[3]
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Would this work for fruit flies?

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Yes.

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Can I use an orange instead of apple?

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Orange has citric acid, but an apple is something different. Therefore, the result would be something different.

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Where can I get cloves?

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Buy them from your nearest grocery store or farmer's market.

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Tips

Clove oil can be used when cleaning as another source of repelling houseflies indoors.^{[4]
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Whole cloves can also be wrapped in small squares of cheesecloth and tied up, then hung wherever the flies are entering the house or hovering, such as in doorways or windows. To release more of the scent, simply squeeze the package now and then.

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There is a fly in your house and you want it out! As the sun goes down, turn off all the lights in the house and turn on the bathroom light. The fly will go to the bathroom where you can swat it.

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