We wait for the warmer weather all year, dreaming of days spent with the windows wide open and evenings al fresco. But these summers can quickly be spoilt by flies that enter your home and just won’t buzz off.
And while there are so many ways to stop flies from entering your home in the first place, what do you do if they’ve already arrived? Well, you’ll be happy to know that it’s not a lost cause, and you don’t just have to grin and bear it.
Below, you’ll find various expert-approved ways to get rid of flies in the house, so you can quickly and efficiently remove these pests and enjoy everything else the summer months have to offer.
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1. Use a fan
Flies tend to be most active during the warmer months of the year, which is typically when you’ll have your fan on anyway. So, using a fan to get rid of flies is a win-win situation.
This is echoed by Rachael Kiss from Alliance Online, who explains, ‘Flies are weak fliers and dislike strong air currents. By placing a fan near where flies congregate, you can create an environment with increased air circulation which makes it more difficult for the flies to fly and land on surfaces.’
It’s also important to be strategic about where you position a fan, to ensure you’re optimising the spots where flies will enter the room. Ideally, you want to position the fan in the middle of the room, facing towards the window to encourage them out of the house.
However, you could also use a dedicated fly fan – like these Fretech Fly Fans (£16.99 at Amazon) if you need more targeted fly repellent while you’re eating. Or if you want to utilise it outside in the garden, too.
2. Make a natural fly trap
Although you can buy ready-made fly traps like these 16 Pesticide Free Fly Paper Fly Catchers (£8.99 at Amazon), it’s also possible to make your own using items you already have in the cupboard.
One of the best ways to get rid of flies is to take advantage of the natural sweetness of apple cider vinegar. This is particularly handy if you want to get rid of fruit flies.
Sophie Thorogood from pest prevention specialist Pelsis Group agrees, saying, ‘Fruit flies are drawn in by the smell of fermentation. Place the substance in the bottom of a glass, cover it with clingfilm, seal the edges with a rubber band and poke tiny holes in the top.’
She adds, ‘The smell will draw the flies in and trap them in the glass, preventing them from flying around your home.’ To make this even more effective, you can also add some washing-up liquid to the mix.
3. Burn coffee grounds
If you can’t start your day without your caffeine fix, you’ll be happy to know that you can use your leftover coffee grounds to get flies out of the house.
All you have to do is pop the grounds into an oven-safe dish and bake them for about 15 minutes to create smoke that forces flies to retreat. And as James Copley, Chief Executive Officer of Copley Pest Solutions, says, ‘Flies heavily rely on their sense of smell, so the smoke will deter them.’
And as coffee is one of the strong scents that flies hate, this hack works overtime to get rid of flies.
In fact, when our House Manual Editor, Lauren, tried this for herself, she found that the annoying flies that had been buzzing around her house for days left within minutes. It worked extremely well for a few hours, too.
4. Move your plants
Flies are highly sensitive to smells, and strong-smelling plants are included in that. Because of this, moving these plants from fly-free areas of your home to problem areas can repel the flies and force them to flee your home.
Polly Shearer, Kitchen Expert at Tap Warehouse says, ‘The herb basil is known to repel flies and mosquitoes, making it a great kitchen plant option. Not only will it stop flies, but it’s also great to use in plenty of recipes!’
If you’re happy for the circle of life to take over, there are more carnivorous options that you can use to your advantage, too. Keira Kay, Plant Expert at Bloom and Wild says, ‘If your kitchen often suffers from flies and pests, then a Venus flytrap would be perfect for you.’
‘As the name suggests, this plant lures in flies and other bugs, traps them in their spiny mouths and eats them. While it won’t completely rid your kitchen of flies, it’ll definitely help and look impressive at the same time!’
5. Use water and coins
For this hack, all you need is a clear sealable bag, such as a sandwich bag, water and a few shiny coins. Then, take your clear bags and fill them halfway with water before adding the coins.
As flies have compound vision – which means that they see things in multiples – they’ll see a lot of water and a lot of reflections. This will make flies reluctant to stick around, meaning they should leave your house.
Once you have a fly-free space, it’s well worth adding a couple of these bags at entry points just to make sure they don’t come back.
FAQs
What is the fastest way to get rid of flies?
A fly spray generally offers the fastest way to get rid of flies, and you can spray these aerosols into the air for quick and effective fly removal.
However, for a more natural alternative, setting up a trap with something sweet – like apple cider vinegar covered in cling film with a few holes in the top – can work just as quickly.
What are flies attracted to?
Flies become a nuisance because your home is too appealing to them. And flies are attracted to many smells and home items, including:
- Fizzy drinks
- Overripe fruit
- Rubbish and bins
- Moisture
- Any rotten or decaying matter
Because of this, you should aim to remove as much of this as possible if you want to get flies out of the house – and keep them out.
Don’t let flies ruin your summer!
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