How to Kill Flies

Flies are not only a common household nuisance, but they also transmit pathogens by contaminating food and many other surfaces. Some flies like deer flies or buffalo flies can even bite! Let them know who is the host by using traps, repellents and chemical sprays. Once you’ve eliminated the flies, you can find ways to prevent them from returning to your home by clearing out trash and other sources of infection. By applying these measures regularly, you can make your home less of an attractive target for flies to flock to in search of food and shelter.

Table of Contents

Trap and catch flies

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Use a vacuum cleaner to catch flies in the room quickly. A regular fly swatter is difficult to catch flies, but a vacuum cleaner can catch them easily. Attach the end of the hose to the vacuum cleaner, point it at the flies and watch them get sucked into the machine. This method is quite simple and will save you from having to run around the house all day to smash these very fast insects. ^{[1] X Research Source}

If you don’t have a good vacuum cleaner, you can also use an electric fly catcher. Electric fly traps are more effective than conventional fly traps and can also be used outdoors. When you approach the fly with the electric grid, it will be shocked by the electric shock and you will remove it.

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Set up soapy water traps if you need to lure flies. Choose a shallow container with a wide mouth like a saucer or small cup to let those annoying flies fall directly into the trap. Pour into the dish at least one tablespoon (15ml) of apple cider vinegar, add about 3 drops of dishwashing liquid. The soap will break the surface tension of the water so that the flies can’t get out once they’ve fallen into the trap. Vinegar has the effect of attracting flies, and the smell of apple cider vinegar will attract them to come in large numbers. ^{[2] X Research Source}

If you don’t have apple cider vinegar available at home, you can use fruit-flavored dishwashing liquid. Replace the vinegar with an equal amount of water.

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Make a funnel trap to prevent small flies from escaping. House flies and fruit flies can’t resist the allure of sweet treats. Pour about 1/3 cup (80 ml) of water into a tall glass or food container, and mix it with about 1 tablespoon (5 g) of sugar. Put a plastic funnel over the top of the jar and watch as uninvited guests crawl in but have no way out. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Sweet foods and drinks can also be tempting treats if you don’t have sugar. Try honey, wine, even overripe fruit. You can also add yeast to lure the flies.
Make a homemade funnel by cutting a piece of paper into a circle, then cutting a wedge-shaped opening in the circle. Fold the two cut ends together to create a cone with an opening about 1 cm in the bottom. Use tape to stick the two edges together to hold the cone in place.
Another way to make a funnel is to cut a soft drink bottle in half, put bait in the bottom half of the soft drink bottle, unscrew the top half cap, turn it upside down and place it in the bottom of the bottle.

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Hang fly traps if you want to prevent flies from landing. Flypapers are strips of tape that you will hang in open areas where flies tend to roost, such as around fans and door frames. When the flies are tired, they will land wherever they see. A stuck fly will attract other flies, so you just sit there and wait for them to get caught in the trap. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Fly paper is very sticky; You should be careful to avoid sticking to the hair. Try to keep these bands as visible as possible.
Discard the trap when it is full of flies. These pieces of fly paper look a bit gross, but to get rid of the flies, the price is not worth it. You can re-hang new traps to continue catching flies.

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Install fly trap lights to kill flies. You will need an electrical outlet to plug in the fly trap. Hang lights in the house and let the light attract flies that hang out nearby. The flies will fall on the drip tray below, which you can take out and wash. Hearing the sound of flies caught in a trap is also fun, but you don’t have to move your hands or feet. ^{[5] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source}

The fly trap light will make a rather loud crackling sound when the fly lands on it. If you are not used to it, you may feel a little uncomfortable.
There are some light traps that work very well outdoors that the manufacturer will clearly indicate on the packaging. This type of trap is most effective when you are nearby. When the fly trap is no longer needed, it should be removed to avoid attracting more flies.
You can also buy UV lamp traps. UV lamp traps make less noise than electric traps. Flies will land on glued boards that you can remove and replace as needed.

Repel and smite flies

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Mix water with cayenne pepper for a natural repellent. Like many other insects, flies can’t tolerate spicy food and won’t hang out in places where it smells. Pour 1 cup (240 ml) of water into a spray bottle, add 1 tablespoon of cayenne pepper, and spray areas such as entryways and window sills to deter these intruders. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

You can mince or grind fresh cayenne pepper or use dried paprika as a repellent. Dried cayenne pepper is stronger and more effective, but loses potency faster. Continue spraying more when you can no longer see the smell of chili in the air.
Ginger is also a pungent spice that repels flies. You can use ginger instead of cayenne pepper powder.

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Plant herbs like thyme near home entrances. To naturally repel flies and also use it for cooking, look no further than scented plants. Plants like lavender, lemongrass, and mint are just a few of the herbs you can grow. Plant a garden plot near places where flies tend to congregate, such as near doors, windows, orchards, and areas with calm water. You should also plant these plants in places where you often spend time outdoors. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Grow herbs in neutral soil or potting soil. You can grow plants in pots, in small planters, or in the ground. Make sure the planting area has well-drained soil and 6 hours of sun a day.
These plants are non-toxic so you don’t have to worry. You can even place small boxes of herbs on the windowsills to keep flies away.

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Make herbal aroma bags to protect kitchen cabinets. Buy several small bags or scented sachets and fill them with your favorite herbs. Cloves are a good choice, but other herbs like thyme and lemongrass are also effective. Place the scented sachets in places where you want to keep flies away, such as the snack drawer. This method is most effective when you use it in an airtight place so that the fragrance does not go away. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Replace herbs in sachets as they begin to lose potency. When the herb has lost its aroma, throw it away and stuff a new batch back into the bag.

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Blow away the flies outdoors with a powerful fan. These annoying little flies won’t stand the strong wind from a high-powered fan. For example, when there is a party at home, you can place a fan around the guests and the food table. If the flies came, they wouldn’t be able to keep their balance in the air. ^{[9] X Research Source}

This also works well at home. You can try turning on a ceiling fan near where flies usually congregate. The only problem here is that you will only get rid of the flies, not them, so you should use a trap or vacuum cleaner to get rid of the flies.

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Use chemical sprays for serious infestations. Chemical sprays kill flies quickly and effectively, but more or less they are toxic to people and pets. For best results, choose a product containing pyrethrum and spray it on areas where flies tend to congregate. Wear a respirator before spraying to ensure safety. You may need to repeat this process up to 2 weeks to get rid of flies in one area. ^{[10] X Trusted Source World Health Organization Go to Source}

Since insecticides are quite strong, you will need to clean up the area you plan to spray. Do not let people or pets get close for several hours after spraying.
If there are only small and easy flies to deal with, you should consider making your own trap first. For example, you can handle fruit flies fairly easily with sugar water and a little patience.

Clean and protect the house

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Put trash in a sealed bag and close the lid of the trash can. Garbage is the number one food source for flies, but keeping a home free of litter is not an easy task. Take the trash out of the house as soon as possible, put it in a bag and put it in a trash can with a tight-fitting lid. That way the flies will know they’re not trying to mess with you! ^{[11] X Research Source}

Know which foods attract which flies. For example, fungus-eating flies that live on waterlogged plants, large fruit flies that hover over overripe fruit, humpback flies that breed from garbage and organic matter, and house flies that appear in landfills or from outside outside in. ^{[12] X Research Source Joshua Bloom. Pest Contrp Specialist. Personal interview. May 8, 2020.}
To keep the landfill safe, you should put the garbage bag in the trash to make it cleaner. Take out the trash when the bag is full and empty the trash can when it becomes dirty.
When washing the trash can, you also need to check around to see if the trash has fallen out. Sometimes food falls on the ground without you noticing. If you see flies swarming around your cleaned and covered trash can, it could be because food crumbs are stuck somewhere.

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Store food in sealed containers and discard when food spoils. The food is yours, so let the flies know they are not welcome. Store food in airtight containers and place in the refrigerator or kitchen cabinet, depending on the type of food you want to store. When food starts to spoil, throw it away as soon as possible before the flies find it. ^{[13] X Joshua Bloom Research Source . Pest Contrp Specialist. Personal interview. May 8, 2020.}

Beware of leftovers! Flies will flock to sweet drinks and rotting food. These are also very effective traps, so you can take advantage of this opportunity!

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Wipe up food and drink spills every time you see them. Spilled drinks are usually easy to spot and wipe up with a tissue, but don’t forget about spilled food either. Many times, food crumbs fall into hidden places where you can’t see them. Take some time to check places like under the kitchen to see if something fell from last night’s dinner. If you clean up right away, you will eliminate many food sources that attract flies before they detect them. ^{[14] X Research Source}

Flies prefer to live in damp areas where food is rotting. You should check for moisture and food crumbs inside drains, dishwashers, and underneath electrical appliances. Clean regularly so that these areas do not become a breeding ground for flies.

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Repair insect nets and seal holes in the house. To prevent flies from visiting, find out how they get into your home. No matter how beautiful your home looks from the outside, cracks can form in walls and insulation. Inspect the home for openings, then seal them with sealant, gap rubber bands, or mesh. ^{[15] X Research Source}

Regularly inspect insect screens and windows around your home, and repair any cracks or openings right away. ^{[16] X Research Source Joshua Bloom. Pest Contrp Specialist. Personal interview. May 8, 2020.}
Pay special attention to the adjoining positions between the walls. These places are usually the most prone to openings. Use putty to fill these gaps.

Advice

Flies often live on rotting food and garbage. Dealing with these problems will help prevent a fly infestation.
If you have the opportunity, you often look closely at the flies to see what species they belong to. The shape or color of the fly can help you find an effective way to deal with the problem.
Identify the source of the infection by looking for spots where flies normally congregate. For example, fruit flies often hang out near kitchen sinks, but green flies often congregate around corners where animal carcasses or animal waste are nearby.

Warning

Insecticides are poisonous, so you have to be careful when using them. If you must use chemical sprays, do not let people or pets get near them until the area is well ventilated.

Things you need

Trap and catch flies

Vacuum cleaner
Dishwashing liquid
Jar or bottle
Fly Trap Paper
Fly trap (optional)
Apple cider vinegar (optional)
Fruit or sugar water (optional)
Paper funnel (optional)

Repel and smite flies

Aerosol
Water
Woodland
Planting box
Flies spray (optional)
Cayenne pepper (optional)
Scented plants such as lavender, thyme, and mint (optional)
Flowers (optional)

Clean and protect the house

Soap
Water
Clean rags
Vacuum cleaner
Trash cans with tight-fitting lids
Garbage bag
Glue the gap

Steps

Trap and catch flies

Repel and smite flies

Clean and protect the house

Advice

Warning

Things you need

Trap and catch flies

Repel and smite flies

Clean and protect the house

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