Does Ziplock Bags Of Water Hung Outside Keep Flies Away?

Bourn · Oct 3, 2011

I have heard if you fill a large Ziplock Bag of water and hang it outside it prevents flies. Does this work? Couple of questions for those who know.

1. How much water do you fill in the Ziplock? Halfway? 1/4?
2. I've also heard to put a penny in the bag. Any truth to this?

Any advice is much appreciated as we have about 20 flies out my back door all having sex and multiplying.

Dante · Oct 3, 2011

never heard of it ...I have heard of the garlic wards off vampires though

Bourn · Oct 3, 2011

Dante said:
never heard of it ...I have heard of the garlic wards off vampires though

Just Googled it. TONS of articles on this. Here's just one

Annoyed by the household fly? Turns out all you need to deal with that pest is a plastic bag or two. Photo by brookage.
Reader RickyC wrote in to tell us that he recently visited a lakeside restaurant and noticed some clear plastic bags filled with water hanging from the railings. When he inquired about the bags, a waiter explained that they were used to repel flies.
Question-and-answer web site The Straight Dope gives more detail on why this trick works:

Evidently, houseflies, being highly edible and defenseless, are nervous types, and don’t like to sit still when they see something moving nearby, because it could be a predator. The water bag acts a bit like a lens—try it some time—in which the movements of people in the area are reflected. Even if the fly is too far from the action to see it directly, it can see a shifting of light and dark in the water bag, which it interprets as nearby movement, and it will fly away from the bag.

So, next time you have a fly problem, grab a few plastic bags, fill ‘em up, and let us know how this trick works for you. Likewise, share how you keep unwanted insects out of your backyard—including whether or not you’ve tried this method before—in the comments.

chrishansen · Oct 3, 2011

yes it works great.. fill up about 1/2...

Bourn · Oct 3, 2011

Diana Litras
July 18, 2009 at 2:21 AM
We live in the Seattle, WA. area.
After a recommendation about the zip locks
filled with water……..we tried it. Looks
silly perhaps, but it WORKS! Thoughout the
past month, and it has been warm and doors
have been open, we have had no flies since
hanging the bags above the doorways (2) in
separate rooms. We are amazed & delighted.

)

Bourn · Oct 3, 2011

Arlene
September 14, 2009 at 12:42 PM
We attend a barn dance this time of the year
every year. Everyone brings a dish to share and
the sponsor has BBQ pork and other meats.
Never fails as soon as the food is put out
thousands of flies appear. Of course, considering
it is a hay mow, in a barn, on a farm that is also a given. However, this year we found baggies half full of water with 5 pennies nailed to the walls. When we asked about them she told us about them repelling flies. WELL! IT WORKED!!!!
We did see a few flies but not like previous years
Amazing! I heard several philosphies of why they work but I just care they that it works. Yea!

Bourn · Oct 3, 2011

I only put 1 Penny in each bag. Gonna go put 4 more in!!! I will keep you guys updated on this.

lax_gunman · Oct 3, 2011

I know someone who swears by this, but I never actually tried it. She owns a restaurant and has them at each doorway. Each bag has one penny.

Dante · Oct 3, 2011

In Dracula, van Helsing uses garlic to protect Lucy from the vampire Count by placing it in her room and around her neck:

We went into the room, taking the [garlic] with us. The Professor's actions were certainly odd and not to be found in any pharmacopeia that I ever heard of. First he fastened up the windows and latched them securely. Next, taking a handful of the flowers, he rubbed them all over the sashes, as though to ensure that every whiff of air that might get in would be laden with the garlic smell. Then with the wisp he rubbed all over the jamb of the door, above, below, and at each side, and round the fireplace in the same way.
It all seemed grotesque to me, and presently I said, "Well, Professor, I know you always have a reason for what you do, but this certainly puzzles me. It is well we have no sceptic here, or he would say that you were working some spell to keep out an evil spirit." "Perhaps I am!" He answered quietly as he began to make the wreath which Lucy was to wear round her neck.

LAMatty · Oct 3, 2011

this does work very well. 1st seen it in Jacksonville. went to get some shrimp at the pier at a warehouse. walked up and saw this bag with the penny. asked the guy and told us what was going on. looked around and all this fresh fish out and not 1 fly.

Bourn · Oct 3, 2011

Dante said:
In Dracula, van Helsing uses garlic to protect Lucy from the vampire Count by placing it in her room and around her neck:
We went into the room, taking the [garlic] with us. The Professor's actions were certainly odd and not to be found in any pharmacopeia that I ever heard of. First he fastened up the windows and latched them securely. Next, taking a handful of the flowers, he rubbed them all over the sashes, as though to ensure that every whiff of air that might get in would be laden with the garlic smell. Then with the wisp he rubbed all over the jamb of the door, above, below, and at each side, and round the fireplace in the same way.
It all seemed grotesque to me, and presently I said, "Well, Professor, I know you always have a reason for what you do, but this certainly puzzles me. It is well we have no sceptic here, or he would say that you were working some spell to keep out an evil spirit." "Perhaps I am!" He answered quietly as he began to make the wreath which Lucy was to wear round her neck.

I'va also done this. I've never been bit. Not even once.

Doug · Oct 3, 2011

interesting

Doug · Oct 3, 2011

How did somebody come up with this idea ?

Was it science based or did some eccentric redneck hang bags of water on the clothesline ?

Bourn · Oct 3, 2011

Africa

trytrytry · Oct 3, 2011

good thing they invented ziplock bags..unless your a fly that is

Bourn · Oct 3, 2011

I live in a gated community and have a very nice 4500 sq ft home...media room blah blah. I'm waiting on my asshole neighbor to call my ziplock bags of water in with the HOA. My neighbor and i have already gotten into several arguments over my gf's 17 yr old son and his constant friends coming over. Loud music, beer cans etc. Last Sunday, i told him and his two sons to go fuck themselves and quit calling the fucking cops every time we have people over. The MF'er doesn't own the street. So, what did my girlfriend do? She went out and bought 2 wind chimes at $300 a pop. If you saw them you would laugh your ass off. LOUD as fuck and hung them on his side where we have a side patio. They are harmonically tined by some dude who makes organ pipes or some shit. They weigh 40lbs each lol. They are so loud it's ridiculous. He hates us. Kept talking about how he saved all this money to live in this neighborhood and by god he isn't gonna move out. I told him well mother fucker our house is free and clear so our ass isn't going anywhere. We have a neighbor feud going on. When i finish a beer i just chink it in his backyard. He throws it back. Kinda comical. He called the cops last night on us again. Thing is we know all of them and the Sheriff. Anyway.....just had to rant for a minute.

Bourn · Oct 3, 2011

For the record the ziplock bags of water work!! I put 5 pennys in each and hung 3 ziplock 1Gallon freezer bags halfway filled with water. Nailed them up with a 3inch penny nail.

SoCal · Oct 4, 2011

Careful dude. You might be dealing with a looney tune. People have snapped for much less. Between the wind chimes and throwing beer cans in his yard, you are definitely pushing his buttons. Just sayin'

Bourn said:
I live in a gated community and have a very nice 4500 sq ft home...media room blah blah. I'm waiting on my asshole neighbor to call my ziplock bags of water in with the HOA. My neighbor and i have already gotten into several arguments over my gf's 17 yr old son and his constant friends coming over. Loud music, beer cans etc. Last Sunday, i told him and his two sons to go fuck themselves and quit calling the fucking cops every time we have people over. The MF'er doesn't own the street. So, what did my girlfriend do? She went out and bought 2 wind chimes at $300 a pop. If you saw them you would laugh your ass off. LOUD as fuck and hung them on his side where we have a side patio. They are harmonically tined by some dude who makes organ pipes or some shit. They weigh 40lbs each lol. They are so loud it's ridiculous. He hates us. Kept talking about how he saved all this money to live in this neighborhood and by god he isn't gonna move out. I told him well mother fucker our house is free and clear so our ass isn't going anywhere. We have a neighbor feud going on. When i finish a beer i just chink it in his backyard. He throws it back. Kinda comical. He called the cops last night on us again. Thing is we know all of them and the Sheriff. Anyway.....just had to rant for a minute.

wolfie_cr · Oct 4, 2011

SoCal said:
Careful dude. You might be dealing with a looney tune. People have snapped for much less. Between the wind chimes and throwing beer cans in his yard, you are definitely pushing his buttons. Just sayin'

+1, when dealing with these situations you have to play it smart, make him go crazy without you actually doing anything that can be used against you , he is probably at the part where , if you actually greet him.....he will know you are actually saying "fuck you"

(regardless of the past, if I had someone throwing beer cans at my yard, I would film it and then proceed to either beat the crap /raising physical hell or send him a lawyer that makes in an hour what he makes in a month....to shut him up )

btw this ziplock water thing, has to be one of the stupidest things I have heard...where people actually claim it works

Bourn · Oct 4, 2011

wolfie_cr said:
+1, when dealing with these situations you have to play it smart, make him go crazy without you actually doing anything that can be used against you , he is probably at the part where , if you actually greet him.....he will know you are actually saying "fuck you"

(regardless of the past, if I had someone throwing beer cans at my yard, I would film it and then proceed to either beat the crap /raising physical hell or send him a lawyer that makes in an hour what he makes in a month....to shut him up )
btw this ziplock water thing, has to be one of the stupidest things I have heard...where people actually claim it works

First of all, it were the kids throwing the beer cans and it was only once. I told them to stop. Secondly, our household income is probably 7 times what his is. (in the 200k range) My best friend is a Lawyer and would represent me for free. The neighbor peers over his fence because his lot is higher and can see in our back yard while shining a flashlight. He is a borderline stalker. Next time he does that i'm gonna spray him down with my water hose. The sherriff, whom i'm friends with, gave me this idea. Thirdly, I would whip the shit out of him and his two sons at the same time. They want no part of me....trust me on this. Lastly, the ziplock bags work. And what is stupid, is for you to claim they don't work when you have never tried it.