Will Irish Spring Keep Flies Away?
WouterOne of the most popular questions online is, “Will Irish Spring keep flies away?” While some soaps, including Irish Spring, may have a repelling effect on insects, the soap is not a repellent itself. Rather, all soaps contain a mixture of oils and fats saponified with an alkali. The main difference between soaps is the type of fat used.
Although Irish Spring Soap may work in repelling insects, it does not work on horse flies. Horse flies are the biggest true flies and tend to bite humans and animals the most. Unlike mosquitoes, which release a mild anesthetic, horse flies do not. This makes them one of the most annoying flying insects.
In a recent viral TikTok video, a woman was shown using Irish Spring soap to repel mosquitoes. She shredded the soap using a cheese grater and sprayed the mixture around the area. Irish Spring soap does have many uses, including keeping flies away from your body, so make sure to read labels carefully and use a registered product if you’re looking to use it as a repellent.
One of the main ingredients in Irish spring soap is tallow. While the soap contains the same ingredients as commercial insect repellents, there are many different types of fat. Some soaps contain lard or olive oil, which have a more gentle effect on skin, while others use coconut oil to produce a more luxurious lather.
