Dealing with flies buzzing around when you’re trying to relax or eat outdoors can be incredibly annoying. If you’re looking for effective ways to keep these pests away without resorting to harsh chemicals, you’re in the right place. This guide explores a surprisingly simple yet effective method using items you likely already have at home: pennies and water. We’ll dive into the “penny fly trick,” explain how it works, and explore other natural and easy solutions to ensure your outdoor gatherings are peaceful and fly-free.
Discovering the Penny Fly Repellent Secret
Imagine enjoying a lovely outdoor meal, only to be constantly bothered by flies. This common summer nuisance led to a fascinating discovery. A simple conversation with a friend revealed an unexpected solution – the penny fly trick. Initially skeptical, the idea of using pennies and water to repel flies seemed too good to be true. However, curiosity and the desire for a peaceful, fly-free outdoor experience led to trying this intriguing method.
The setup is remarkably easy: fill glasses with water, drop in a few pennies, and place them around your outdoor dining or relaxation area. The results were astonishing. Flies that were previously persistent in landing on food and buzzing around suddenly seemed to avoid the area. They would approach, notice the water with pennies, and quickly fly away. This firsthand experience confirmed the effectiveness of this simple hack and sparked the desire to share this knowledge with others seeking a natural way to deter flies.
A clear glass filled with water and several copper pennies sitting at the bottom, demonstrating a simple fly repellent method.
Two Easy Methods Using Pennies to Repel Flies
There are two main ways to utilize the power of pennies and water to keep flies away from your outdoor spaces. Both are incredibly simple and require minimal materials. Choose the method that best suits your needs and outdoor setup.
Method 1: Water Glasses with Pennies
This is the most straightforward approach. It involves using glasses of water with pennies as a natural fly deterrent.
What You’ll Need:
- Pennies (a few per glass)
- Clear Glasses filled with Water
Step-by-Step Guide:
- Fill Glasses with Water: Take several clear glasses and fill them completely with fresh, clean water.
- Add Pennies: Drop 4-5 pennies into each glass of water, letting them settle at the bottom.
- Placement: Strategically place these glasses around your outdoor table, picnic area, or any space where you want to keep flies away. You can even position them close to food dishes.
Close-up shot of a hand dropping a shiny copper penny into a clear glass full of water, illustrating the first step of the penny fly repellent method.
A fully glass of water with pennies at the bottom
Method 2: Water Bag with Pennies
The water bag method is similar to using glasses but offers more flexibility in placement, especially in areas where you might not want to risk spilling glasses of water.
What You’ll Need:
- Resealable Plastic Bag (sandwich or quart size)
- Water
- Pennies
- Mason Jar (optional, for easier filling)
Step-by-Step Guide:
- Prepare the Bag: If using a mason jar, place the plastic bag inside it to hold it upright.
- Fill with Water: Pour water into the bag until it’s about ¾ full.
- Add Pennies: Drop several pennies into the water-filled bag.
- Seal and Distribute Pennies: Seal the bag tightly, ensuring no water can leak out. Gently spread the pennies around inside the bag for even distribution.
- Hang the Bag: Hang the bag in the area you want to protect from flies. Ideal spots include near picnic tables, patios, or porches.
Filling a plastic bag with water
Dropping pennies into a bag of water
Pennies in a bag of water
A bag of water hung up to repel flies
A picnic table full of food
Does the Penny Trick Really Work to Repel Flies? Personal Experience
The effectiveness of the penny and water trick was quite remarkable in personal testing. Setting up glasses of water with pennies resulted in a noticeable reduction in fly activity. It was estimated that fly presence decreased by as much as 90%. Instead of swarming around food, flies were observed lingering on the periphery, seemingly deterred from approaching the protected area.
This simple method created a significant difference, allowing for a much more enjoyable outdoor dining experience. The visual of flies seemingly “staring” at the food from a distance, unable to bother it, was almost comical. This experience led to consistently using the penny trick for every outdoor meal since its discovery, confirming its reliability as a natural fly repellent. It was also noted that increasing the number of water glasses with pennies further enhanced the fly-repelling effect.
Clip art of flies on a balcony
A child eating at a picnic table
Understanding How the Penny Trick Might Work
The exact science behind why pennies in water repel flies is not definitively proven, but there are a few compelling theories. One popular explanation is related to fly vision. Flies have compound eyes, which are highly sensitive to movement and light reflection.
It’s theorized that the combination of water and pennies creates a visual distortion that is unsettling or confusing to flies. The shimmering reflection of light off the water’s surface, combined with the copper pennies, may create an image that resembles the multifaceted eyes of a larger predator insect. This perceived threat could instinctively deter flies from approaching the area. Another related idea is that the reflective properties might simply disorient flies, making the area less appealing to them. While the precise mechanism remains a bit of a mystery, the anecdotal evidence and personal experiences strongly suggest that the penny and water trick is an effective, natural fly repellent.
Close-up image focusing on copper pennies at the bottom of a clear glass of water, highlighting the key elements of the penny fly repellent trick.
Frequently Asked Questions About Outdoor Fly Control
Here are some common questions about keeping flies away outside, addressing various methods and concerns.
What Natural Plants Act as Fly Repellents?
Certain plants are known for their natural fly-repelling properties. Incorporating these into your outdoor space can be a beautiful and fragrant way to deter flies. Consider placing potted herbs near your outdoor dining area or planting them in your garden. Effective fly-repelling plants include:
- Sweet Basil: A versatile herb that not only repels flies but also mosquitoes.
- Lavender: Known for its calming scent for humans, but disliked by flies and many other insects.
- Rosemary: Another fragrant herb that is effective at keeping flies and mosquitoes away.
- Mint: Grows easily and its strong scent is a natural deterrent for flies, mosquitoes, and even ants.
- Wormwood: A more potent plant, known for repelling a wide range of insects, including flies.
Does the Type of Penny Matter for Fly Repellent?
There’s a suggestion that older, more tarnished pennies might work better for repelling flies. The idea is that the tarnish could enhance the reflective properties or visual distortion that deters flies. While not scientifically confirmed, if you find the trick less effective, experimenting with older pennies could be worth trying. However, standard modern pennies have been observed to work effectively as well.
Can Old CDs Really Keep Flies Away?
Yes, using old CDs is another surprisingly effective method for repelling flies. The principle is similar to the penny trick – it relies on light reflection. CDs, with their shiny, reflective surfaces, bounce sunlight in various directions. This scattered, bright light is believed to be irritating to flies, causing them to avoid areas where CDs are hung.
To use CDs as fly repellents, simply hang them with the reflective side facing outwards around your outdoor space. The sunlight reflecting off the CDs can create a fly-free zone.
Amazing Trick for Repelling Flies at your next outdoor picnic or party using just THREE common household items! via makinglemonadeblog.com
What to Do If the Penny Trick Isn’t Enough?
For situations with particularly persistent flies or large amounts of food attracting them, you might need additional fly control methods. Here are a couple of effective, toxin-free options:
- Food Tents: These mesh tents are designed to cover food dishes, creating a physical barrier that prevents flies from landing on the food while still allowing air circulation. Food tents are ideal for picnics, barbecues, and any outdoor dining where food is left out.
food tents for repelling flies outdoors on food
- Battery-Operated Fly Repellent Fans: These fans feature soft, reflective blades that rotate to deter flies. The movement and reflection are bothersome to flies, encouraging them to stay away. Battery-operated fans are portable, safe, and effective for keeping flies away from tables and seating areas.
battery operated fans for getting rid of flies outdoors
Explore More Natural Bug Repellent Solutions
Beyond flies, if you’re interested in repelling other types of bugs naturally, there are many essential oils known for their insect-repelling properties. Essential oils can be used to create DIY bug sprays effective against mosquitoes, ticks, and other pests.
Final Thoughts on Keeping Flies Away Naturally
The penny and water trick is a surprisingly simple and effective way to manage flies in your outdoor spaces. Combined with other natural methods like fly-repelling plants, CDs, food tents, and repellent fans, you can create a truly enjoyable and fly-free environment. Give the penny trick a try and see the difference it makes for your next outdoor gathering!
Amazing Trick for Repelling Flies at your next outdoor picnic or party using just THREE common household items! via makinglemonadeblog.com
Recommended Tools for Fly Control
Affiliate links are included in this section for your convenience.
