How To Naturally Keep Flies Out Of Your House
Houseflies are a major nuisance for homeowners. Orkin notes that research points to at least 65 unique human-affecting illnesses they carry, so eliminating them from the space of your home is a priority that falls within both comfort and sanitary realms. In addition, flies hatch in rapid time, requiring only part of a single day from the time their eggs are laid until new insects are buzzing around your home, according to Terminix.
Flies only live for about a month at the long end of the spectrum, but they are prolific reproducers and can wreak havoc on your house if you let them continue to grow in number. Fortunately, there are many excellent ways to prevent them from multiplying in your abode. Homeowners sometimes rely on professional services to stop fly reproduction in its tracks, but this method of last resort isn't strictly necessary unless you are dealing with a true infestation.
Instead, you can use a few common household products to create natural remedies to a new or growing fly problem in your home. With these approaches in mind, getting back to a comfortable life without the constant pestering from houseflies is simple and only takes a few minutes of your time.
Vinegar and dish soap
The simplest way to get rid of houseflies from your property is the use of a time-honored mixture. Vinegar is an all-purpose cleaning solution that can be used in many different areas around the home, and it provides an effective trap when dealing with houseflies as well. Creating a mixture of dish soap and vinegar in a bowl and then placing a layer of clingfilm over the top is all it will take to attract and capture insects that can then be released or disposed of later on (via Mindbodygreen). Poking a few holes in the cling film will grant access to this mixture in the bowl, and houseflies will flock to your creation.
This is an incredibly easy solution to a common problem that plagues just about every American homeowner. It's easy to make this blend, and you can use large or small containers placed inconspicuously around the house, situated centrally on a kitchen counter, or somewhere else where your fly problem is particularly pronounced.
Pets on Mom reports that houseflies often grow in number during the warmer months. They are attracted to light and heat and flock to the natural sugars in juices, fruits, and other standard food products that mature faster in the heat. And while flies can be a problem at any time of the year, warmer weather can bring them into your home in huge volumes if you don't carefully store food products and other goods.
Sticky traps, cayenne, basil, and insecticides
In addition to this simple mixture, there are other options that you can employ when trying to combat a particularly difficult fly issue. One easy solution that can help augment your cider vinegar and soap dishes is the addition of sticky traps. You can hang these just about anywhere in the home, and they will effectively corral any rogue flies. Flies get stuck to these traps and are neutralized.
Another option is using a simple mixture of cayenne pepper and water. Healthline reports that mixing a small amount of this spice with a spray bottle of water and misting certain affected areas of your home works as a natural repellent. When dealing with a fly problem, it's important to note that you need to eliminate existing insects and repel future pests from entering this space. Both sides of the coin are important in returning your home to a pest-free environment. Another great repellent is the use of plants like basil that incorporate natural essential oils that have been noted to repel flies as well (via Healthline).
Lastly, if all else fails, consider calling an exterminator or using an insecticide if your problem is persistent, even in the face of these natural solutions to the presence of flies.