In the warmer months, swarms of flies can be seen in our yard and even inside our homes. If you’re wondering how to get rid of flies, then this article is for you. We’ve listed a few methods that we have found effective. You can try a few of these methods to see which one will work best. Flies may be harmless but they are also gross, carrying dirt, germs and bacteria into your home which you may ingest. They can cause food-borne illnesses and spread diseases.
In the U.S., houseflies (Musca domestica) are very active during warm months between April and October. They have very fast reproduction rates and their population can blow up in just a matter of days. A female housefly can lay as many as 500 eggs over her 15-25 day lifespan. The eggs turn into mature flies in just a week.
To get rid of houseflies, here are the methods you can implement:
1. Eliminate the source.
Flies love decaying organic matter like compost, rotting food or animal waste. Getting rid of any food source is key to keeping your property fly-free. Trash bins should be regularly cleaned out using a bleach solution, compost bins should be covered and animal waste should be disposed of right away.
2. Use Pine Sol.
Flies don’t like the scent of pine which is why we’re recommending that you swab it on your deck, porch and around your property. Do this every few days to deter them from going near your home.
3. Attract natural predators to your property.
Frogs, birds and bats feed on flies so if you want to keep them out of your yard, one of the things you can do is attract these critters to enter your property. For example, you can place a bird bath or bird house or a bat house.
4. Use fly traps.
For outdoor infestations, you can use fly traps using powder or liquid from a putrescent that attracts flies. Once the flies touch the surface of the trap, they can no longer get away. You may need to put new traps every few days.
5. Use essential oils.
This works pretty much like Pine Sol – flies detest the scent of oils like lemongrass, eucalyptus, lavender, rosemary, mint and citronella. Simply spray on your deck, patio, tables and chairs to keep the flies away.
6. Light candles or use fans.
If flies swarm your outdoor dining area, you can place a powerful fan to drive them away. Additionally, you can light some citronella candles (or other essential oils) to keep them at bay.
If nothing works, you may want to consult with an exterminator like Western. These pest control services may use a combination of methods to get rid of flies and other annoying insects in and around your house. They may use insecticides to exterminate an existing fly population, including baits, fogging and other products. They may also use fly lights with distinctive UV spectrums to trap these creatures.
Check out these cleaning hacks to help get rid of house flies: