To quickly get rid of flies, use DIY traps (apple cider vinegar/dish soap, sugar/water cone), physical removal (fly swatter, sticky traps, hairspray), and immediate sanitation (seal trash, clean spills, cover food) to eliminate attractants, then maintain cleanliness and seal entry points to prevent recurrence, targeting breeding spots like drains or rotting organic matter for long-term control.
A sudden influx of flies usually means they've found a nearby breeding ground, like rotting food in trash, pet waste, or even a dead animal in a wall/attic, or they're entering through open doors/windows seeking shelter. To stop them, first identify and eliminate the source (clean garbage, remove carcasses, seal gaps), then maintain strict sanitation and block entry points with screens and sealed cracks to prevent future infestations, especially by cleaning drains for drain flies.
Flies hate strong, pungent smells, especially essential oils like lavender, eucalyptus, peppermint, and lemongrass, due to compounds like linalool that overwhelm their senses; other scents they dislike include strong herbs like basil and rosemary, and even things like cinnamon and citronella. These natural scents can be used in diffusers, sprays, or by planting them to create a fly-free zone, as flies prefer filth and are repelled by these clean, sharp aromas.
Fly strips, fly swatters, and fly ribbons stand out as the best indoor fly trap options for efficient and targeted fly control. Fly Strips, The Most Discrete Fly Killer Indoor Solution: Our fly strips are a hallmark of effective indoor fly control.
Use on Flies, Gnats, Mosquitos and More - Zevo Flying Insect Spray is a versatile insect killer that can be used for targeted pest control. Spray it as a gnat or fruit fly killer, or to kill mosquitos or house flies on contact. Fast Acting Formula - This solution is the perfect bug spray for home use.
Vinegar and Dish Soap - Fill a bowl slightly with apple cider vinegar, wine or honey with some dish soap (washing up liquid). Cover the bowl with plastic wrap with punctured holes or leave uncovered. Flies will be attracted to the smell and will get stuck within the liquid.
Natural Sprays That Repel Flies:
Fill a spray bottle with ⅓ hydrogen peroxide and ⅔ water. After shaking the mixture, spray it on surfaces on which flies tend to typically linger. It works wonders!
While there is no definitive scientific evidence that directly links dryer sheets with repelling flies, some users swear by their efficacy. Similarly, the question of “do dryer sheets keep spiders away?” remains somewhat controversial.
Take vinegar, liquid dishwashing soap, sugar in a bowl. Cover it with plastic film, poke a few holes and leave it near the fruits, on your dining table or the kitchen slab. Watch the fruit flies fall in the trap that they will never be able to escape!
A fly infestation can last from a few weeks to several months, depending on the species, food source, and environmental conditions, with the life cycle taking 1-6 weeks; immediate, thorough cleaning to remove breeding sites (like decaying matter) and proper trash disposal are key to stopping them quickly, otherwise, new adults keep emerging from eggs laid in the infestation's source. House flies live 15-25 days, but can lay many eggs, creating recurring problems.
In either case, flies may enter rooms by crawling under baseboards and attic doors, around window sills, through window pulleys or damaged screens, or through electrical fixtures. They are usually found in window sills and other out of the way places, moving sluggishly.
The unclean areas of a home are a buffet for flies. Dirty dishes in the sink, food left sitting out, trashcans that need emptying, and other such things are all an invitation to flies.
Several factors can contribute to a sudden increase in flies in your home: Decaying organic matter: Flies are attracted to rotting food, garbage, and other decomposing materials. These substances serve as ideal breeding grounds, quickly leading to infestations.
Fill a disposable container with water, sugar, dish soap, and a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. Stir the sugar water solution together, then place it near a fly-infested area. The flies will be attracted to the solution and drown as soon as they touch the water. Repeat this process until all the flies are gone.
Vinegar attracts, not repels flies; however, a container with vinegar and dish soap will function as an attractant trap as the vinegar lures flies to enter the trap and the dish soap will cause the flies to sink and die. Oils like lavender, mint, lemongrass, clove, rosemary and eucalyptus may help in repelling flies.
The Downside To Dryer Sheets
Towels can become less absorbent and some studies show it can make flame retardant treatments in kids' clothing less effective. Dryer sheets can leave a coating of residue inside your dryer. The residue can get on your dryer's sensors and interfere with its ability to properly dry.
Vanilla extract, pine, or lavender oil repels biting black flies and mosquitoes too. Herbs like anise, basil, cedarwood, coriander, lemongrass, and mint may work to repel black flies and can be planted in flower boxes or pots and around the edges of your yard. Garlic plants are also reported to have a repelling effect.
While some may have been using this antidote for years, experiments by researchers revealed scientific evidence that Bounce fabric softener dryer sheets either directly or indirectly repel adult fungus gnats under laboratory conditions.
Cinnamon – use cinnamon as an air freshner, as flies hate the smell! Lavender, eucalyptus, peppermint and lemongrass essential oils – Not only will spraying these oils around the house create a beautiful aroma, but they will also deter those pesky flies too.
September's daytime temperatures usually sit in the 70s and 80s, with cooler nights in the 50s and 60s. These mild conditions are perfect for flies to reproduce quickly without the stress of extreme heat. Add in the humidity from late-summer thunderstorms, and you have moist environments ideal for fly eggs and larvae.
Some have said it magnifies the pennies resembling another insect's eyes, scaring the fly away, while others say the clear liquid looks like the surface of a body of water, which the flies perceive as a place they don't want to land.
Why It Works: The strong smell of Irish Spring soap is off-putting to flies and even deer. The scent in the air acts as a natural deterrent, keeping flies away from you. Extra Tips 1. Gardeners often use soap shavings in nylon stockings to protect plants.
The best homemade fly killer is often a DIY fly trap using apple cider vinegar (ACV) and dish soap, placed in a jar with a funnel or plastic wrap with holes, because the ACV attracts flies with its fermented scent, while the soap breaks the water's surface tension, causing them to drown. For larger areas or different flies, a plastic bottle trap with bait like meat/fish scraps, sugar, and vinegar, plus dish soap, works well for houseflies and wasps.
Yes. Mixing vinegar with dish soap is usually safe for cleaning. While the dish soap works to remove grease and grime, the vinegar disinfects and deodorizes naturally. When it doubt, always do a cleaning spot test to ensure there's no damage or discoloration to your surfaces.