With the rising temperatures of summer, it isn’t just your pets that want to get inside. Unfortunately, all manner of critters are vying to get in out of the heat, and that certainly includes flies.

Once they’ve established themselves inside your home, the infestation can be quite a nightmare to get rid of. The good news is, Lawn Pest Control has you covered. 

This season, the word on the street is that flies- both outdoors and in- are quite a pestilence in the North Texas region. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of preventative measures, as well as remedies, to help you achieve and maintain a fly-free home. 

Read more about how to get rid of outdoor flies. 

How To Keep Flies Out of the House: 

• Make sure your home is sealed. This includes the weather stripping around your doors (and windows, if applicable), as well as the placement of fly screens around your windows. A quality, well-sealed fly screen will allow you to let in the breeze without welcoming unwanted pests. 
• Make sure your trash is sealed. Trash cans, recycle bins, and indoor composting bins need to be tightly sealed to prevent flies from getting in and laying eggs. If one or two do get in while the door is open, the last thing you want is to offer them a good place to reproduce (like the trash bin). 

 

• Keep litter boxes and pet cages clean. Just like with trash receptacles, any form of pet waste also provides an opportune environment for flies to lay eggs. Make sure you’re scooping and cleaning these areas regularly. 

• Avoid standing water. Check under your sinks, around the toilet, and next to the hot water heater to be sure you haven’t got any standing water where insects can lay eggs.

• Keep drains and disposals clear and sanitized. Anywhere there may be a buildup of organic material, you may be risking a new breeding ground for flies. Keep your disposal fully clear, and keep your sink drains as clean and sanitized as possible. 

• Practice good cleaning habits in general. Small spills that go unnoticed, crumbs collecting in the corner, these sorts of things will attract flies and other insects by their scent. During fly season, be sure you’re keeping the floors and surface areas of your kitchen and bathroom as clean as possible.

• Get some carnivorous plants. Pitcher plants and venus fly traps are only two of several attractive carnivorous plants that can survive indoors and eat flies.
• Get some fly-repellent plants. Basil, mint, catnip, lavender, and citronella are fantastic, fragrant choices for repelling flies. Just be sure you check the amount of sunlight needed before picking one out and bringing it home. 

 

 

• Spray the outer doorways with cayenne water. This repels flies for the same reason it stings our tongues- capsaicin! The chemical becomes somewhat airborne when mixed with water, which can help keep flies away from your entryways. Just be very careful!

 

How to Get Rid of Houseflies: 

• Hang some fly strips. They’re unattractive, but incredibly effective. Fly strips will only attract fully matured adults, but once they land, they are definitely stuck. Hang them around the areas where you’re having the most problems, and make sure they are well out of reach of pets and children. 

 

• Set out some honey paper. This works the same way as fly paper, but you can make it yourself and it’s a bit trickier to hang. Once again, be extra careful about where you set them so they don’t get attached to a pet or a hand!
• Set a funnel trap. There are a few different ways to do this, and multiple different substances you can use to kill the flies.
  • You can fashion a funnel out of foil and tape it to a small dish.
  • You can cut the top off of a water bottle and invert it, so the spout faces downward. 
  • Mix some vinegar (preferably apple cider vinegar) with dish soap. 
  • Mix a dash of dish soap with sugar water or fruit juice.
  • Simply pour some sweet wine into the funnel trap. 
    

 

 

• Use a bug bomb. If you feel like you need to resort to harsh chemicals, make sure you read and follow all the directions, and heed the warnings listed on the label. Typically, commonly used surfaces will need to be covered, and anything edible (including pet food) should be put away. Many bug bombs require the area to remain evacuated for at least four hours (again, this includes all pets). 

 

Conclusion

Fly infestations are disgusting, intrusive, and irritating. With this list of solutions and preventative measures, hopefully you feel better prepared to face this unfortunate issue this summer. 

 Got more questions about pest control? Contact us by email.