DIY Pest Control That Doesn’t Smell Like Regret

Every summer, store shelves fill with sprays, foggers, pellets, coils, traps, and mysterious liquids that promise to “eliminate pests.”

The simplest fly control method I know is airflow. Flies dislike strong moving air. A basic fan on a porch or patio often discourages them better than expensive gimmicks hanging in decorative packaging nearby. BryanChavezPhotography/Shutterstock

There’s a particular smell that tells you summer has officially arrived. Not fresh-cut grass. Not sunscreen. Not barbecue smoke drifting through the neighborhood.

I’m talking about that sharp, chemical cloud that settles over patios, garages, and occasionally entire ZIP codes once people begin attacking bugs with the enthusiasm of a medieval siege.