Flies are one of the most frustrating insects to deal with inside the home. They’re often drawn to rotting food, pet waste, and organic matter in garbage cans and drains. They can multiply fast, especially if pet feces, moisture, or leftover food are available.
While you can try using essential oil sprays or homemade fly repellents like a spray bottle filled with vinegar, these may only work for a short time. Tools like light traps, fly ribbons, or store-bought insecticides can help catch adult flies, but they won’t fix the problem at the source if flies are breeding indoors. Knowing what’s attracting flies in the first place is key.
If flies keep coming back, it might be time to look beyond DIY and speak with our pest experts. Identifying the source and removing it is the only way to get control and help protect your home.
Using a professional fly control service is the most effective way to remove flies from your home or business. If you’re looking for the best approach on how to get rid of house flies, your Ehrlich expert will follow the ERDM approach to help ensure your long-term protection:
Flies in the house or on business sites are a nuisance and a health risk. Flies carry diseases such as typhoid, E. coli, and Salmonella. Luckily, Ehrlich Pest Control is there for you to help keep flies where they belong – outside.
While the most effective way to get rid of flies is enlisting the help of professional pest control services, there are DIY methods that might help. Homemade fly traps are a simple, cost-effective way to combat flies, although their effectiveness varies. Here are some traps you can make with common household items.
You can make a simple fly trap using a soda bottle. Start by thoroughly cleaning an empty bottle. Using a sharp knife or scissors, carefully cut off the top third of the bottle, ideally near where the label used to sit. Pour a sweet liquid, such as sugar water or fruit juice, into the bottom portion of the bottle. Then, take the top third, flip it upside down to form a funnel, and insert it into the bottom part.
This design lures flies in with the sweet scent, but once inside, they have difficulty finding their way back out.
Take a small bowl and pour in a little apple cider vinegar. Add a spoonful of sugar and a few drops of fruit-scented dish soap.
You can leave the bowl open or cover it with plastic wrap. If you cover it, poke a few holes so the flies can get in. The sweet smell pulls them in, and the soap traps them in the liquid. bottle used to catch flies
Paper fly traps, often called flypaper, are long strips coated with a sticky, sweet-smelling substance that attracts flies.
These traps are usually hung near areas where flies are active, such as windows, doors, or near garbage cans. Once a fly lands, it gets stuck and cannot escape. The traps are inexpensive and disposable, making them a simple option for reducing fly numbers.
Flypaper works best when placed close to fly activity, but doesn’t draw flies from far away.
Sticky fly traps work similarly to paper traps, but they often come in different forms, like boards, sheets, or clings that attach to windows or walls. Unlike hanging strips, these can be placed on flat surfaces or directly in problem spots such as around sinks or next to windows. Some are even designed to blend into indoor spaces, making them more discreet.
These traps are effective for monitoring fly activity and catching house flies in high-traffic areas. Still, they won’t target the root of a fly problem if there’s a breeding site nearby. If flies keep appearing, it’s best to contact our pest control services for a more complete solution.
The most effective way to eliminate flies is through professional fly control services. However, there are simple and eco-friendly methods you can try to keep flies at bay. While natural remedies may not offer a permanent solution, here are three natural treatments you can try to repel flies.
If you’re looking to remove flies outdoors, garden plants do wonders when it comes to repelling flies. Here are some outdoor plants that keep flies away.
This plant doesn’t require much work to maintain and can survive in any climate.
Bay laurel grows great during the warmer months and can be brought indoors.
Hanging lavender in bundles around your home or yard, or simply letting it grow in your yard can make a difference to the number of flies in your yard.
This flower keeps more than just flies away; it also repels aphids, most beetles and squash bugs. It also promotes the growth of other plants, which is why many gardeners plant nasturtiums along the edges of gardens.
Grow mint near windows or other openings in your home to help keep away flies, mice, and ants.
Even with the right plants, natural methods can only do so much. When fly activity becomes persistent or widespread, professional treatment is the most effective way to get lasting results.
Homemade traps are a simple solution to repelling flies. But, if flies start to become a constant nuisance, it’s best to call a pest control professional who can perform integrated pest management services to eradicate the fly infestation. Our fly experts can identify the type of fly species, therefore guiding them to fly breeding sites and areas of fly activity. Just because you're seeing adult flies does not mean you have found the breeding site. It is essential to locate the breeding site to fully eliminate the infestation.
Your Ehrlich pest expert will inspect likely breeding sites such as drains, broken tiles, and other areas that collect moisture. Once the survey of your premises is complete and the breeding site has been identified, your Ehrlich technician will recommend a fly control treatment program specially for your needs. Depending on the type of fly that is infesting your property,treatment may include one or a combination of the following:
Used in conjunction with exclusion, restriction, and monitoring practices listed at the top of this page, we will help protect your home or business from flies.
Don't take a chance on DIY fly control solutions. These will only prolong your fly problem and add to your stress. Contact us to have a pest technician come out to your property.
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