To get rid of house flies indoors, use a multi-pronged approach including sanitation, exclusion, and traps or insecticides.
Sanitation and Exclusion
- Remove any food sources and breeding materials to cut off fly reproduction possibilities.
- Seal or caulk openings where flies could enter your home.
Traps and Natural Remedies
- Make a trap with apple cider vinegar and dish soap: mix them in a bowl (half full), cover with plastic wrap, poke holes so flies enter but can't escape, and flies get trapped in the soap liquid.
- Use natural fly repellents like essential oils (eucalyptus, lavender, peppermint) on cotton balls placed where flies enter.
- Scattering orange peels or using citronella candles and fans can also keep flies away naturally.
- Venus flytraps placed indoors can catch flies naturally.
Insecticides and Aerosols
- For quick results, use pyrethrin-based aerosol sprays; these kill flies swiftly but have no lasting residual effect.
- Residual insecticide sprays can be applied to sunny surfaces where flies rest, such as walls and eaves.
- Insecticide dusts can be applied in cracks, crevices, and voids where flies may hide.
Other Methods
- Light traps use light to attract flies and trap or kill them electrically.
- Sticky fly paper captures flies that land on it.
- Avoid multiple light sources near light traps for effectiveness.
Overall, the best effectiveness comes from combining good sanitation, sealing entry points, and using traps or insecticides when necessary.
