Houseflies can be one of the most annoying yet ubiquitous house pests around. These flies are in the Diptera insect order and they’re commonly referred to as “nuisance flies and rightfully so. They have a distinct gray-colored body and typically measure about ¼ inches long.
They love to travel to different places where people live and have been known to lay eggs on all kinds of things, from organic matter to garbage and animal feces. This is what makes them a harbinger of disease and that’s why they should be avoided at all costs.
The good news is that there are many natural ways to get rid of house flies and prevent them from even coming to your house. Keep reading to learn more!
“He who has a why to live can bear almost any how. – Friedrich Nietzsche
Are House flies Actually Dangerous?
In addition to being incredibly annoying, flies can also be dangerous. They are known carriers of diseases such as Shigella, E.coli, and Salmonella.
That’s why you should never eat anything that has had a fly sitting on it, since you never know what type of disease they’re carrying around with them.
Let’s look at some solutions to make sure that you minimize your encounter with these nasty bugs as much as possible.
Here are some tips on how to get rid of house flies:
Pest Control and Flypaper
One way to keep pesky flies away is to install some flypaper that is available for sale at most grocery stores. It’s one of the best ways to trap and kill flies so they don’t end up bringing diseases to your home.
Here’s how to make a DIY fly trap:
You’ll need a jar, a paper funnel, and some sugar water. All you have to do is pour sugar water into the jar, and place the funnel on top of the jar while ensuring that its wide side is facing up.
The flies will be attracted to the sweet liquid, flying into the jar. Then, the funnel will serve as their landing strip into the trap, from which they won’t be able to fly out of.
Another method that’s widely utilized by green pest control companies is to attract the flies into a bag.
How does it work? Well, they hang a “bag from the ceiling with a scented solution that attracts bugs and house flies within hours, making it easy to get rid of them.
How to Get Rid of Flies from the Porch
There are many home remedies for house flies that can keep flies from even entering your house in the first place. One way is to plant herbs and flowers that naturally repel flies.
This includes marigolds and basil, which will look fantastic on your porch and add to your home’s curb appeal. Venus flytraps are another great way to get rid of these pests, as are sticky traps.
The problem with using insecticides is that flies will inevitably develop a tolerance to them over time, so while it can be a good temporary solution, it won’t really solve your problem.
Home Remedies to Prevent Houseflies
It’s a well-known fact that the nicer your home smells, the less likely it is to attract flies, so from here on out we’ll explore a few home remedies that will prevent and get rid of these annoying bugs from your home.
Lavender
Lavender is a plant that flies hate because of its scent. They’re great to grow outside and you can harvest them regularly so you always have a fresh bouquet available from your yard to bring into the house.
Alternatively, you can burn lavender oil or lavender candles near the windows to keep your home smelling amazing while repelling flies at the same time. It’s a win-win!
Pine
For some people, pine oil is the best way to get rid of house flies because it’s very effective and a little goes a long way.
All you have to do is pour a few drops of pine oil onto a cheesecloth or soak a few cotton balls in the oil and put them in an area that’s frequented by flies.
Cloves
One of the most popular home remedies to repel flies is fragrant pomanders. This is a very easy idea with ingredients that most people have at home, and it lasts for quite a few days before you need to replace.
Here’s how to do it:
Simply get a citrus fruit (it can be a lemon, orange or any other citrus type) and place cloves inside it by poking holes. Put it on a plate and place it on your kitchen counter. That’s it!
Basil
Flies also hate the scent of basil, which is one of the most popular herbs in the world. The great thing about it is that it’s very easy to grow and maintain, and you can also use it on your recipes in the kitchen.
You can keep it in a potted plant near the window or in your home’s entryway to prevent house flies from entering.
Citrus
Do you know why many bug repellants are scented with lemon or orange extract?
It’s because circus scent and oils are a natural bug repellant. Flies hate the scent of citrus, and that’s why it is such a great addition to a pomander.
You can get the same result by peeling some citrus and placing it in an area that’s frequented by flies. You can even enhance the scent by rubbing the peels every few hours.
Can’t seem to get rid of these pesky flies? Then contact a local housefly exterminator and request a free quote!
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