To kill flies in your house effectively, you can use a combination of natural remedies and insecticides:
Natural Methods
- Vinegar and Dish Soap Trap: Mix equal parts apple cider vinegar (or wine/honey) and water in a bowl, add a few drops of dish soap, and optionally a pinch of sugar. Cover with plastic wrap with small holes or leave uncovered. Flies are attracted to the vinegar smell, enter the trap, and get stuck or drown due to the soap breaking their surface tension
- Sticky Fly Paper: Hang sticky strips in areas where flies gather. Flies get stuck and die on contact. Replace strips as needed
- Herbs and Flowers: Plant or place basil, marigold, lavender, or parsley near windows or doors to repel flies naturally
- DIY Bottle Trap: Cut a plastic bottle, fill the bottom with sugar water, and invert the top to create a funnel. Flies enter but cannot escape and drown
- Venus Flytrap: Use carnivorous plants indoors or outdoors to catch and digest flies naturally
- Cayenne Pepper Spray: Steep cayenne pepper in hot water, strain, and spray around doorways and windowsills to repel flies (non-toxic but may stain)
Chemical and Mechanical Methods
- Pyrethrin-based Insecticides: Use indoor-safe pyrethrin sprays for quick knockdown of flies. Follow instructions carefully and ventilate the area
- Light Traps: Install UV light traps about 5 feet off the ground and away from windows/doors. Flies attracted to the light get zapped or trapped on glue boards
- Fly Paper and Fly Strips: Easy to use sticky traps that catch flies on contact
Additional Tips
- Keep your home clean by removing garbage regularly and sealing trash cans tightly to avoid attracting flies
- Remove or relocate mulch and decaying organic matter away from your home, as these are breeding grounds for flies
- Use insecticidal sprays or foggers for severe infestations, but note flies can develop resistance and these are not long-term solutions
Using these methods in combination can help you effectively kill and reduce flies in your house. Natural traps like vinegar and soap are safe and easy, while insecticides and light traps provide faster results for larger infestations
