Flies are the most commonly encountered pests in many households. Even though these notorious pests seem innocent, they are disease-causing nuisances you should get rid of. So, do you want to free your home of these harmless-looking troublemakers such as flies?
Thankfully, you can get rid of flies quite easily. Not sure how? We’ll tell you! In this article, we will share some sure-fire ways to keep your home fly-free. Follow these simple tips, and not only will you be able to get rid of flies from your indoor areas, but you will also keep these pesky pests from returning.
Telltale Signs of a Fly Infestation in Your Home
First things first – you need to correctly identify that there is a fly problem in your home. This is not too difficult because you will notice visible populations of flying insects around your house. Flies are not too discreet. You will see them hovering around certain spots like garbage piles or bins. If you need more hints, look for maggots around your premise. Hot spots for larvae breeding include the floor, tiles, drainage, and grease or gully traps.
However, don’t worry too much! First, identifying a fly infestation is the most essential step to controlling it. After that, all you have to do is follow a few easy fly-control tips.
7 Tips to Keep Flies Out of Your House
Keep Your Home Clean
When it comes to pest control, there is no better way to prevent an infestation than to keep a clean home. If you keep your home neat and clean all the time, you may never have to worry about houseflies. But, unfortunately, cluttered homes are more likely to attract fly infestations. In fact, houseflies are also commonly known as filth flies.
Surely, houseflies may occasionally sneak into a neat home through open windows or doors. However, they will not stay there for long.
Clean your house diligently and regularly. Wipe grease, spills, dirt, or grime immediately. Be sure to store food and ingredients in containers. When cleaning, do not ignore the pet areas, as they are very prone to attract flies.
Limit Food Sources for Flies
Flies love feeding on decaying organic substances and spilt food. This is why they often also lay eggs on these. So, the first change you should make is to eliminate unwanted organic substances or spills around your house.
Make it a habit to always cover food and clean spills immediately. Do not leave dirty dishes for too long. Clean them as soon as possible to avoid flies buzzing around the sink. Another tip to attain a fly-free home is using covered garbage cans and regularly throwing trash away. This way, you can avoid food waste from decaying in the garbage and keep flies away.
Did you know flies like moisture too? Yes, houseflies can make a home in your personal space if they find easy access to water. Remove excess moisture by fixing drips and leaking faucets. Also, remove all standing water and try to keep your place dry.
Seal Entry Points to Prevent Flies from Entering
No matter how much you try, flies may still find your home attractive. Even if you cannot identify what attracts these insects to your house, you can indeed block them from entering. Yes, simply keep all entryways shut to avoid flies from entering.
Keep windows and doors closed, especially kitchen doors, as flies are most attracted to kitchens. Install insect mesh and fly screens so that you can open windows and doors for aeration without allowing entry to flies. Also, apply adequate door proofing and seal gaps, cracks, and crevices to limit pest entries.
Grow Insect-repellent Plants
Want a natural tip to keep flies away? Plant some fly-repellent plants around the house. Yes, some herbs and flowers can deter not only flies but also other bugs.
Common bug-repelling plants include citronella, marigold, lavender, basil, mint, rosemary, and nasturtiums. Plant them in pots and place them around windows and doors. This will prevent pests from invading your home.
Spray Insect-Detering Fragrances
If you spray specific natural scents that flies are repelled by, flies will not enter your home. Use essential oils as natural repellents. You have several options too. Choose from natural oils such as citronella oil, eucalyptus oil, lavender oil, neem oil, peppermint oil, lemongrass oil, or a mixture of some of these.
You can make a natural repellent by mixing essential oils of your choice with water or rubbing alcohol. Pour the concoction into a spray bottle and spray it all over the house. In addition to getting rid of flies, these oils will also spread a beautiful aroma.
Alternatively, you can tie orange peels in a cloth and hang them in your kitchen. Flies also dislike the smell of ginger, so you can add dried ginger powder to water and use it as a fly-repellant spray.
Fly Traps for Indoor Flies
You can consider implementing mechanical methods to eliminate flies if all else fails. You may choose from different types of fly traps. The most commonly used fly traps include electric and indoor fly traps.
Indoor fly traps are sticky papers you can place around the house. The glue on the trap will capture the flies but will not kill them upon contact. Electric traps are bug zappers that can electrocute flies and kill them upon contact. Fly traps are great for killing flies before they even get the opportunity to reproduce and infest your home.
Appoint a Pest Control Company
In case the fly population in your home has gotten out of hand, and you are unable to control it with the tips mentioned above, you can seek help from professionals. Appoint a reliable pest control firm. They will visit your property frequently and guide you on how to manage the situation. Based on the level of infestation, they would be able to suggest either eco-friendly or synthetic pest control techniques or a mix of both. Moreover, they will take preventive actions to discourage future fly infestations.
Conclusion
Use these tips, and you can bid farewell to indoor flies that have been pestering you for so long. You will be surprised how something as basic as keeping the house clean can ward off annoying insects like flies. Cover food, remove standing water, and throw out the trash regularly.
Embracing an overall hygienic approach to home maintenance can help attain a fly-free home. In case you need something extra, you can use fly traps, fly-repelling plants, and natural insect sprays. Finally, you can always rely on a professional pest control company when matters get out of hand.
