Flies are nuisance insects that are often found indoors, especially during the rainy season. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to reduce these insect nuisances at home. Get rid of flies from inside the house with fly traps and swatters, insecticides, essential oils and natural herbs, and clean the places where flies feed and breed, as well as prevent more flies from coming into the house.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Using Traps
Step 1. Use the light trap to catch the big fly
UV trap lights are suitable for catching house flies as well as other large species of flies and nuisance insects. The fly will be attracted to the light, and then get trapped on the glue board or die from electrocution.
- Place this light trap about 1-2 meters above the floor level.
- Place the light trap so that it is not visible from the outside and will attract flies outside.
- Be sure to use room-specific light traps as high-voltage insect traps can make your room dirty.
Step 2. Use paper fly glue
Paper fly glue or fly repellent is a simple and effective tool for catching many adult flies. Buy one or more rolls of this glue (such as Elephant Cap Fly Glue) and hang them in a place where flies are frequent.
Do not hang this glue right where you cook or eat food. Flies or fly carcasses may come off and fall off the glue
Step 3. Use vinegar or wine to catch fruit flies
Fruit flies are easily attracted to fermented fruit products such as red wine and apple cider vinegar. You can use these products as bait to attract and kill adult fruit flies:
- Pour some apple cider vinegar into a bottle or jar and cover with a plastic layer. Use a rubber band to secure the plastic layer. Make a small hole in the plastic layer so the fruit flies can smell the vinegar and come closer. The flies won't be able to get out of the jar and end up drowning in the vinegar.
- Pour some vinegar into a bowl and add a few drops of dish soap. The dish soap will reduce the surface tension of the vinegar so that flies will drown if they land on it.
- Place the bottle of red wine that still has some of its contents open. Flies will get into the bottle easily. However, it is difficult to get back out.
- You can also buy ready-made traps like Methylat to catch fruit flies.
Step 4. Hit the fly with an electric racket
An electric racquet is a cleaner tool than a regular fly swatter. This racket kills flies and other insects instantly upon contact, so you don't have to crush the fly's body and litter the room.
This insect killer electric racquet is quite safe to use. However, it could make you slightly electrocuted. So, you should keep it out of reach of pets and children
Method 2 of 4: Using Insecticides
Step 1. Spray pyrethrin at the entrance
Pyrethrin is a natural insecticide sourced from chrysanthemum flowers and is relatively safe to use. Pyrethrins are also synthetic forms of chemicals found naturally, namely pyrethroids. Spraying pyrethrin at entrances can help keep flies from entering your home.
Step 2. Kill the fly directly with a pyrethrin spray
In addition to the entrance, you can also directly spray pyrethrin on the fly to kill it quickly. However, be careful. Do not spray pyrethrin around food or where you cook. Although relatively safe, pyrethrins are still harmful to humans and animals when ingested or inhaled in large amounts. Follow the safety instructions on the packaging carefully.
Step 3. Use insecticide in the form of bait
There are many fly trap baits available in the market. Flies will eat this bait and experience poisoning due to the insecticidal compounds in it. These baits can be purchased in the form of traps, pellets, or solutions that can be given where flies often swarm.
- Common fly trap baits include Fly Bait and Agita. This bait can be sprinkled in places that are often visited by flies such as roads or windows. Furthermore, the flies will die if they eat it.
- This fly trap bait is dangerous for pets and children. So, make sure to follow the safety instructions listed on the packaging and only sprinkle it in a place out of reach of children and pets.
Method 3 of 4: Using Natural Fly Repellents and Killers
Step 1. Use essential oils to kill and repel flies
There are many plants that produce natural insecticides and insect repellents. The essential oils from these plants can be used to safely kill and repel flies from the house. Thyme, clove, geranium, lavender, lemongrass, and peppermint essential oils all have fly repelling and insecticidal effects.
- Spray the essential oil in areas where flies are frequent.
- Pour a few drops of fly-repelling oil into the diffuser, then place it in a room where flies frequent.
Step 2. Plant fly repellent herbs at home
Basil, bay leaf, rosemary, and lavender are some examples of plants that flies avoid. Placing this plant in the kitchen window is very effective at keeping flies away. On the other hand, you can also use it for cooking.
Step 3. Use diatomaceous earth to kill flies
Diatomaceous earth is a non-toxic insecticide, but it can dry out and damage the insect's exoskeleton. Just sprinkle a small amount of diatomaceous earth powder on plants, trash cans, and other fly-infested areas.
Method 4 of 4: Keeping Flies away from Home
Step 1. Immediately clean food and food waste
Flies are attracted to mostly organic matter which is a food source and nest for their eggs. So make sure to keep food, trash and compost away from flies.
- Store your food and pet's food in the refrigerator in a tightly closed container.
- Wash dishes immediately after use.
- Clean up food spills as soon as they are found.
- Dispose of leftover food waste in a closed trash can or trash filter in the sink.
Step 2. Try to always close and keep the trash can clean
Place trash and compost in tightly closed containers, and dispose of them regularly. Check for fly eggs or maggots under the lid and lining of the trash can. Wash trash cans and compost bins regularly with soap and hot water.
Step 3. Dispose of used diapers and animal waste
If you have a cat, change the litter frequently. Diaper bins can also be very attractive to flies. Therefore, dispose of garbage containing human or animal waste as soon as possible.
Step 4. Clean kitchen utensils
Clean under and around refrigerators and other kitchen utensils, especially in damp areas. Use soap and warm water. After cleaning the area, rinse and wring out all the mops, rags, or sponges you used and then hang to dry. Keep in mind that flies can also breed in wet washcloths and mops.
Step 5. Clean the drains
Accumulation of organic matter in sewers can attract several species of flies. Use a toilet vacuum or a drain cleaner to get rid of the blockage inside, then proceed to scrubbing with a stiff brush.
- Chlorine bleach and commercial drain cleaners such as Drano are not effective enough to clean fly nests in drains.
- If scrubbing alone isn't enough, try using an antibacterial drain cleaner like Bio-Clean. Be sure to choose a product that fits the exhaust system in your home. Products like these generally have to be used several times over several weeks to be effective.
- Use the mild insecticide S-hydrophen (Gentrol) in waterways to prevent the development of fly larvae into adults.
Step 6. Install mosquito nets on doors and windows
Flies are very easy to enter the house through open doors and windows. If you often open your doors and windows to let fresh air in, be sure to put mosquito netting there. Thus, nuisance insects cannot enter the house. Check for holes in this wire and patch any damaged parts.
Step 7. Install the mosquito net on the ventilation of the house
Flies can enter through roof and attic vents and through small holes that connect the inside and outside of the house. You may need to attach mosquito netting to these vents so that air can still flow smoothly, but flies don't get in through them.
Step 8. Patch holes, crevices, and cracks around the pipe
If you suspect that flies have entered your home through cracks and crevices in your home, patch up the damage with cement, caulk, or pliable foam.
