How to Get Rid of House Flies

Keeping flies away often requires a combination of strategies to ensure you eliminate them from both your indoor and outdoor spaces. While you want to rid your home of pesky flies, you also find ways to deter them from entering your home, too.

There are steps you can take to keep flies from entering your home.

• Wash dirty dishes or place them in the dishwasher after eating. Dirty dishes left in the sink can attract these flying pests.
• Clean up after your pet when they’ve finished eating. Flies are attracted to accessible food sources. A dog dish filled with scant food particles is an attractive draw to a fly.
• Make sure your trash cans stay covered and take out the trash as soon as it’s full.
• Sticky and sugary substances are attractive to flies. Ensure you wipe up any spills like wine, juice, soda, etc., especially before they have a chance to set.
• Empty your cat’s litter box on a regular basis, at least once a day, preferably twice a day for good hygiene and to keep the flies away. Flies are always searching for something to eat, even in places you may not think of.
• Create airflow in rooms by turning on fans. Flies struggle to fly in windy conditions.

Flies also inhabit areas where there’s standing water, like leaky pipes and drains. Here are a few ways you can alleviate water issues.

• Regularly clean your drains to remove buildup.
• Repair any leaky faucets or pipes to eliminate excess moisture.
• Remove standing water in plants or plant saucers.
• Check mop buckets for any standing water. Even a small amount of water is an invitation for flies.
• Repair faulty toilet seals. These leaks create a damp area that’s attractive to flies.
• Dry any other area that holds standing water, especially if it contains organic matter.

Fly traps and other fly control measures can hinder fly activity in your home. Several options are available, so consider using different types of products to find a solution that works. Consider these options:

• Fly paper is coated with a sweet, sticky substance that attracts flies. When they land on it, they’re trapped. Fly paper is also available in stick/tube form. The flies are attracted to the product’s colors. Once they land on the sticky tube, they’re stuck for good.
• Plug-in traps emit a UV or blue light that attracts flies and traps them inside on a sticky disposable cartridge. Once the insecticide-free cartridge is full, it’s replaced with a new one.
• A fly swatter, which has been around for years, is still an old-fashioned option that never fails to kill a fly or two.
• The electronic bug zapper is a high-tech swatter (that’s safe for humans and pets), which resembles a tennis racket, zaps flies on contact with a small jolt of electricity.

Flies can spread disease-carrying organisms that are harmful to humans and pets. To lessen the chances of being exposed to these organisms, there are other options you can use, including chemical pesticides, as well as organic or natural products to rid your home of flies.

• To make a homemade solution that gets rid of flies on contact, make a simple spray by adding two cups of water and five to seven drops of dishwashing liquid in a spray bottle. Shake well to combine the mixture. Spray directly on the flies. Be sure to shake the bottle thoroughly before each use.
• Another homemade option requires mixing one part white or apple cider vinegar with one part water in a spray bottle. Add a few drops of dishwashing liquid and shake well. Spray directly on the flies. Shake thoroughly before each use.

Create effective fly deterrents by using everyday items you have in your home. Try one of these methods:

• Combine white or apple cider vinegar and dish soap in a bowl and cover it with plastic wrap. Poke holes in the wrap. Flies will be attracted to the vinegar but will sink once they enter the solution.
• Fill a spray bottle with water and cayenne pepper. Spray it around your lawn and garden. This repellent is nontoxic to humans, but the smell can deter flies. Wear eye protection and gloves to avoid irritation, particularly on windy days. If using the repellent around pets, be sure to supervise them as the mixture can be harmful.
• There are plants that naturally repel flies including: marigolds, lemon balm, chrysanthemums and eucalyptus. Lavender, bay leaf and mint also have strong odors that keep flies away. Venus flytraps are carnivorous plants that eat flies.

There are many strategies for getting rid of house flies so you can create a plan that’s just right for your home. Start at the source. Identify whatever is attracting the flies, inside or outside, to determine the best course of action. To learn more about keeping your home free of pests, check out our pest-control guide.

The answers to these questions will help you rid your home of flies.