While house flies may be a lot more active during the summer months, they can be an all-year issue due to their quick reproduction cycle (did you know they can lay up to 500 eggs over three days?!) and, let's be honest, as soon as you see one buzzing about you immediately want to squish it.
There are a number of ways you can get rid of house flies, indoors and outdoors, which doesn’t involve running around with a fly swatter like a headless chicken. From DIY remedies to fly zapping gadgets, here’s how you can banish those pesky flies from your home once and for all...
How to get rid of flies in the house
Remove any ‘fly food’
There are a number of items that house flies are particularly drawn to, such as fruit, meat and vegetables, so make sure you keep these packed away. Fruit flies enjoy more sugary substances and will feed on soft drinks, fruit and alcohol, so try not to leave these out on the side and clean up any drink spillages.
How to get rid of house flies with vinegar
Flies love the sweet smell of apple cider vinegar, so it's great to use when making your own fly trap. Follow these steps below for your very own DIY fly trap using vinegar.
- Get a glass (or glass bowl) and mix an inch of apple cider vinegar with a few drops of washing up liquid.
- Secure your glass with some cling film and punch some holes in the top. Make sure they’re big enough for the flies to fly through.
- The flies will be attracted to the smell of the cider vinegar and fly through the holes, but the washing up liquid will prevent them from being able to land and feed on the vinegar, causing them to drown.
AmazonBuy a light trap
These are brilliant at getting rid of house flies, simply plug in, switch on and let the blue LED light lure in the flies. A word of warning, some fly light traps can make a very loud snapping sound when a fly is caught, so if you have pets make sure to look for a quiet one.
AmazonThis fly light trap is waterproof and suitable for indoors and outdoor use. Itu2019s super quiet, so you wonu2019t be surprised by any loud u2018zappingu2019 noises when a fly is trapped and also comes with an extra bulb and brush for cleaning out the flies after use.
Verified customer review: “I have to say for the price I was sceptical. But to my surprise this thing is brilliant. I can’t fault this product. If you suffer with bugs/moths in the garden I’d highly recommend buying this. Easy to use and clean. Easy to set up. Plug, go, zap!”
How to get rid of flies in the garden
Plant fly repelling herbs
Flies hate the strong smell of lavender, basil and mint, which is great because to us they smell beautiful! Plant plenty of this around your garden to stop flies from passing through.
Keep it clean
Flies love faeces, compost bins and garbage, so keep your wheelie bin as clean as possible, put a tight lid on your compost and make sure you clean up any animal waste as soon as possible.
Mow the grass regularly
Flies like to lay their eggs in long grass, because it offers them moisture and protection. Make sure you keep your grass short and tidy (especially during the warmer months) to prevent this from happening.
Light a citronella candle
Citronella is another scent flies can’t stand, so it makes for a brilliant fly repellent, plus flies tend to stay away from flames and smoke. If you have a big garden, one candle probably isn’t going to do it, so you may need to buy a few, but for a small garden one may be enough. Light, place on your garden table and relax in your sweet smelling, fly free garden.
AmazonEnjoy the aroma of this citronella candle, which has notes of fresh citrus and lemon. With three wicks and a burning time of 28 to 32 hours, this candle is sure to deter flies from entering your garden. Itu2019s also made from natural soy wax and doesnu2019t produce black smoke.
Verified customer review: “They looked stylish on our bbq tables and kept the bugs away whilst providing a nice scent.”
Buy fly strips
These sticky rolls of paper are great for hanging from trees and bird feeders. They’re coated in a sweet fragrance which will attract flies to them, but as soon as they land the glue will give them no chance of escape.
AmazonThese non-toxic fly strips are easy to use - simply pull out the sticky paper slowly from the tube and either hang indoors or out in an area where you notice the most flies. The paper is waterproof, so you donu2019t need to be concerned if it rains and you get 16 papers in a pack.
Verified customer review: “Very effective fly strips, but be careful they're VERY sticky, so don't touch them with your fingers.”