Affective Fly spray

[ridincenta]

Hi guys does anyone have a recipie for an effective fly spary???

[Anine]

I've used the following recipe.

make a strong solution of rooibos tea. the stronger the better. let cool
add about 1 part vinegar (white) to every 4 parts rooibos tea.
add 'some' finely ground cloves (I add 5ml to 500ml liquid)
Add about 2ml of citronella oil
Add about 2ml of eucalyptus oil
(you can add tee-tree oil too if you want)

smell the mixture. if it doesnt smell strong enough add some more of the oils

shake the mixture vigorously before applying.

it does work very well. the vinegar just bleeches patches in draco's coat so I cant use it

[totilla]

I just take a small bottle of Citronella Oil and put in a 750ml spray bottle and top up with Apple Cider Vinegar. Very effective and incredibly cheap.

[RhiannonOset]

Apparently Yarrow is useful too - not sure if one can get it in SA - but I suppose a plant shop would be able to help.

"To repel ticks, mosquitoes and black flies, try a diluted tincture of yarrow (Alchellia millefolium) flowers directly on all exposed skin. A recent U.S. Army study showed yarrow tincture to be more effective than DEET as an insect repellent."

I'm assuming if it repels 'black flies' that means other buggies too.

www.ashtreepublishing.com/Book_City_Herbal_Yarrow.htm

some reading (ps this is if you're avoiding citronella for allergies or whatever reason ... it does make me sneeze a bit)

*flounces off to look into aquiring Yarrow ... a plant my cats might actually NOT eat!*

[Anine]

interesting!
www.ageless.co.za/herb-yarrow.htm

maybe one can get the essential oil at health shops?

[Moonie]

I use a lavender mix. U buy some lavender oil at a health shop/ chemist and mix it with water. It must smell quite strong. Put it in a spray bottle and shake before u use it. It works quite well! I use it on moon

[bee]

OK silly question, where I can buy citronella oil?

[*HorsePower*]

I bought some from Dischem. It's in a glass bottle.

[thelwell]

I must just tell you all, that yesterday 18/11/05 i was so fed up with the flys bothering my horse, that i mixed together Citronella oil and Vinegar, put it onto a very wet sponge , and started spongeing down my horse, within seconds he went mad, through himself down in the stable, started to bite himself, kick lash out, the whole works, I managed to get him under a hosepipe and wash thoroughly, but he came out in hives, and lumps all over, even today the swellings are still there, moral of the story is I wont do that again in a hurry???

[tarrynac]

I got a recipe from an English magazine and modified it a bit, works much better than the regular sprays as it lasts a while and stops the biting flies from actually biting, so no lumps and bumps on oyur babies.

15drops lavender oil (must be the expensive one)
15 drops tea tree oil (any kind)
1cc Equiworld dip
mixed with very strongly made rooibos tea

Shake bottle each time you intend to spray as it separates when sitting on shelf.

[lindy]

Hi
Lemongrass smells like citronella, but works better. Some say lemongrass is citronella. Could be true, but some of the cheaper citronella contains more citrus - and can cause irretation.
Just a thought.
Lindy

[Egypt]

Did I read somewhere a while ago on this site about a product called Buzzoff??(is that the name?) saw my friend use it and I want to read the article again.

[evie]

Hi Egypt

Buzz off works extremely well on flies, but unfortunately attract the muggies. It will still be sold to be used on dogs, or on horses in the winter time when the muggies are inactive, but it shouldn't be used on horses in summer.

[lizzy]

I use buzz off works like a bomb!!!!!!!!! Another idea is a fly mask and fly boots also helps alot!!!!!!!!

[~*Spessy Messy*~]

Fly boots
I'm also using buzz off, but I dont find it works that well! The flies just DONT go away!!