maybe that's why it didn't work for me....our back deck is completely shaded.

We've tried this at the country home....get an ziplock bag & fill with water,,hang it up with paperclip (or whatever u have) and hang above window sill or front door. Don't know why but it sure has ease up a lot!

Once when my late Landscape Architect hubby wanted to
re-landscape out back yard, he yanked out my big bed of mint
that I loved. Suddenly the flies came in droves to join me in the
kitchen and all over the house. With Dobermans and kids by the
dozen running around, it was horrid. So I replanted a huge pot of
mint and put it beside the back door. That kept most of the horrid
things out, but not all. Grandma back in the hills used to plant mint
around the barn to keep the flies down somewhat, and we both
love Preying Mantis for fly catchers delux!

Hubby's sweet old Portuguese mother told me to paint the under
side of the porch roof blue. That back in Portugal her family could
not afford screens in the early 1900s, so painted whole houses
blue to protect them from flies. It did work some, worth painting
it and it looked nice.

For inside windows, I hate to wipe up smashed flies, so use a
Dust Buster for catching them. Cleaning out the bag isn't so bad
wearing rubber gloves.

We don't get many flies in the house, when its hot out you can't hardly sit outside because they land all over us. When patio has shade they really like to be there. Working with cement or when its going to rain they start biting. They really like the wet cement. I stay in the house alot.

Last year I visited my family in Germany and it is obligatory that I visit the old ladies in the bakery. (Family friends) This visit they had made a lovely cream cake that actually used to be one of my favorites. I decided to have a piece and while it was not what I remembered from years gone by, it was pretty yummy. However, it was a sweltering HOT day and the cake stood in the hot sun alongside the cream and soon some of those fat green shimmery flies descended on the cake top. They literally ran tracks in the powdered sugar. ...and I seemed to be the only one bothered by it. Everyone else kept eating. I claimed that the cake was too rich for my delicate stomach. YUK!

Haven't much trouble with flies but ANTS!!! We have those little "sugar" ants that are so small that they come right through the screens! I've tried every thing possible and probable and STILL can't keep the things off the sink, table, bathroom counter, you name it!! And unfortunatly fly swaters are not an option. They even climb up on top of my parrot cage and get into his treat bowl! Sprays are not an option either.(alergic cat)Anyone have a solution I might not have tried yet??

Cayenne pepper around window and door sills, wipe countertops down with vinegar water and for bird cage, try a little vaseline or grease around the pole

My grandmother grew a hop plant ( the kind you make beer with) on her front porch to keep flies and mosquitoes away. It's a large vine so would need support.

here is a good non toxic list of ways to control them.

http://www.thefrugallife.com/ants.html


when i get them, i go on a cleaning frenzy..with bleach and water. and put ant bail traps inbetween the main door and the screen doors. plus a few behind couches and on the back steps inside my house.
Jerry Baker, who uses non toxic way for bug removals, has always said to use borax.
Good Luck!

I heard, the bag of water also but with a penny in it.

How are the mouse trap glue boxes working?
Did you have to put a piece of hamburger on them?