How to Get Rid of House Flies Infestation Indoors & Outdoors Quickly

House flies are nightmares to many people across the globe. Read on to know how to free your home from the infestation of these ugly flies.
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Phyllis McMahon
Phyllis McMahon
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Phyllis teaches English Literature at a local college and loves writing in her free time. She’s also a great cook – her British beef Wellington is something the best res read more
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Chas Kempf
Chas Kempf
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Chas works in a professional pest control company and knows all the nuances of this job. Also, he’s a fantastic tennis player and loves to organize BBQ parties for his fam read more
Last updated: August 16, 2023
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House flies are annoying pests. Unfortunately, people who don’t know how to get rid of house flies are always subjected to constant discomfort. The worrisome thing about these flies is that they’re everywhere.

It’s no surprise that homeowners are always looking for how to get rid of flies in the house quickly. This article explains everything you need to know about how to get rid of house flies inside and outside of your home. Zero-cost methods on how to get rid of house flies naturally will be discussed too.

What are House Flies? 

How to Get Rid of House Flies Infestation Indoors & Outdoors Quickly

House flies are some of the most common pests you’ll find in different houses all over the world. They’re referred to as non-biting flies and are scientifically called Musca domestica. These flies are gray-colored. They’re usually about ¼-inch long, and they’re a member of the Diptera family.

They harness rotten organic material, garbage, and animal feces to lay their eggs. They’re usually delighted when they find a dirty space, And you’ll find them flying with glee as they peruse the area. Although these flies do not bite, they’re known to be carriers of diseases.

Their reputation as an agent of disease precedes them. A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Trusted Source Chapter 4: Disease Vectors and Pests | Healthy Housing Reference Manual | NCEH NCEH provides leadership to promote health and quality of life by preventing or controlling those diseases, birth defects, or disabilities resulting from interaction between people and the environment. Site has information/education resources on a broad range of topics, including asthma, birth defects, radiation, sanitation, lead in blood, and more. www.cdc.gov confirmed that there are over one million bacteria carried by each of these flies underscoring why it’s important to get rid of house flies infestation.

Signs of a House Fly Infestation

Unlike other insects, it’s easy to know if house flies infest your home. Finding these flies around your home is a common indication of their infestation. You may also notice the crawling activities of their larvae as they emerge from where they’ve been breeding. If people around the home hear the buzzing sounds of these house flies, it may also be an indicator that notifies you that they’re around.

How to Get Rid of House Flies 

There are several methods you can use to eradicate house flies in your house. We have provided you with some of the effective methods that work;

Method 1: Clean the House

How to Get Rid of House Flies Infestation Indoors & Outdoors Quickly

As you prepare for this, start eradicating murky waters in your home. These flies cannot breed without water. According to  a report by the WHO Trusted Source The house-fly : biology and control / by J. Keiding Keiding, J & World Health Organization. Division of Vector Biology and Control. apps.who.int , lack of access to water for more than 48 hours will make these flies die. If your house is brimming with accumulated debris and excessive moisture, you’re directly sending an invitation to these flies.

As you work on cleaning your house, there are certain places that you must not overlook to make this method very effective;

  • Look for cracks in wall tiles or floors
  • Check beneath appliances like refrigerators
  • Look inside garbage containers
  • Check your dirty mops
  • Look at your drains
  • Clean your shower drains
  • Remove food residue from sinks
  • Clean the floors

Knowing how to get rid of house flies outside is very important because these flies often fly in from the outside. Knowing how to get rid of house flies indoors can also help you stall their infestation. These flies can also manipulate compactors and  interior garbage rooms Trusted Source (In)Convenient Trash Bins: Constructs on Waste Disposal by Parsons Hail, Danilo Vargas :: SSRN Trash bins could tell us numerous things about human everyday activities like untold situations, practices, attitudes, and relationships with the wastes we gene papers.ssrn.com and start breeding. So, what do you do? Pay attention to these areas in your home:

  • Clean your bathroom and kitchen surfaces regularly
  • Clear out decaying food
  • Don’t be nonchalant about your trash cans; keep them clean
  • Clean up the areas where your pets eat, especially after eating
  • Ensure you shut the doors and any point of entry
  • Attend to areas with standing water in your home

Method 2: Setting up Flytraps

How to Get Rid of House Flies Infestation Indoors & Outdoors Quickly

If this house flies massively infest your home, you may want to consider using the best fly traps. Knowing the kind of flies you’re dealing with can help you decide which is best for you to buy. For instance, if you’re dealing with larger flies, it’s recommended that you use light traps that use ultraviolet light to lure and kill them. Some traps zap flies with electrical currents. Venus flytrap is another option you’ll find pleasing if you love a natural option.

Method 3: Insecticides or Fly Sprays

Insecticides and sprays may not be the best option to eliminate house flies, but they’re effective too. You can try out a pesticide called pyrethrin. It’s not a friend to insects, and it’s very efficient in combating adult flies. Combining it with other techniques will give you better results because the solution they provide alone is usually temporary. As you plan to apply these insecticides Trusted Source Frontiers | Chemical Pesticides and Human Health: The Urgent Need for a New Concept in Agriculture The industrialization of the agricultural sector has increased the chemical burden on natural ecosystems. www.frontiersin.org or fly sprays, you must take precautions. Make sure you try not to inhale them. Also, avoid exposure to your eyes or skin.

How to Get Rid of House Flies: Natural Ways and Home Remedies

Knowing how to get rid of flies in the house without using pesticides is a big flex. Foremost, it’s cost-friendly. And secondly, it’s environmentally friendly. Here are a handful of home remedy options that can help to eliminate these pesky flies.

Method 1: Vinegar and Dish Soap

How to Get Rid of House Flies Infestation Indoors & Outdoors Quickly

Many people don’t know how to get rid of house flies with vinegar, but it’s one of the easiest methods. All you have to do is to get a tall glass. Put a few drops of dish soap and an inch of apple cider vinegar inside and mix them. Afterwards, make sure you use plastic wrap to keep the glass covered. Use a rubber band to keep the plastic wrap firm and create tiny holes. The flies will perish when they fly inside the attractive holes created at the top.

Method 2: Herbs and Flowers

If you have a garden or love gardening, you’ll love this idea. Keeping flies away from your house has been made easy with herbs and flowers. All you need to do is to plant them in your home. Catnip, bay leaves, lavender, marigold, and basil are examples of herbs and flowers that can keep flies away from your home. Another beautiful thing about these herbs is that they can also serve cooking purposes.

Method 3: Cayenne Pepper and Water

How to Get Rid of House Flies Infestation Indoors & Outdoors Quickly

House flies do not find cayenne pepper to be attractive. And as a result, they’re usually repelled by them. You can create a simple solution by mixing water and cayenne pepper. Once you create this solution, put it in a spray bottle. Then, spray the areas of your home. This will repel the flies.

Prevention Tips 

Sometimes, it’s best not to wait till these flies infest your home before you start taking action. Experts believe preventing house flies infestation is the best way to manage their infestation. Ensure that you make your home less attractive to these flies. And you shouldn’t provide them with where they can lay eggs. Here are more prevention tips for you;

  • Clean up the feces of your animals immediately.
  • If you kill rodents with rat poison, clear the carcasses immediately. Flies can get attracted to these carcasses.
  • Flies find light to be very attractive. Whenever it’s possible, make sure you put off your outdoor light.
  • Decaying leaves shouldn’t be left close to your house. More so, clear out decaying grass clippings.
  • Don’t keep the counter littered with dirty glasses or dishes.
  • Make sure all your foods are properly stored in airtight containers.
  • The garbage can should have a tight-fitting lid and trash it immediately after it’s full.
  • Ensure your house vents, doors, and windows are well-sealed.

FAQ

How long does a household fly live?

The typical lifespan of a housefly is about two months. However, some species of houseflies can live up to four months under the right conditions.

How long do flies live indoors without food?

Most flies only live for about two weeks, but some species can live for up to a month without food. However, if there is no food available, flies will begin to die off within a few days. Flies can survive for long periods of time without food because they enter into a state of dormancy when conditions are not ideal. This means that their metabolism slows down and they do not need to eat as often. When food becomes available, they will wake up and resume their normal activities.

Final Thoughts

House flies cannot bite or hurt you. But even so, they’re not healthy creatures you should have around your home. Because they carry a host of infectious agents, they can inflict your home with the diseases they carry around. Skin infections, epidemic conjunctivitis, trachoma, cholera, typhoid fever, diarrhea, and dysentery are common diseases associated with these house flies. This is why you need the proper knowledge of how to get rid of house flies effectively to keep everyone in your home safe.

So, do well to employ the best techniques that works for you and ensure your home is always clean. And if you’re using insecticide sprays, make sure you take proper caution to avoid creating another damage while eliminating these flies.

References

1.
Chapter 4: Disease Vectors and Pests | Healthy Housing Reference Manual | NCEH
NCEH provides leadership to promote health and quality of life by preventing or controlling those diseases, birth defects, or disabilities resulting from interaction between people and the environment. Site has information/education resources on a broad range of topics, including asthma, birth defects, radiation, sanitation, lead in blood, and more.
2.
The house-fly : biology and control / by J. Keiding
Keiding, J & World Health Organization. Division of Vector Biology and Control.
3.
(In)Convenient Trash Bins: Constructs on Waste Disposal by Parsons Hail, Danilo Vargas :: SSRN
Trash bins could tell us numerous things about human everyday activities like untold situations, practices, attitudes, and relationships with the wastes we gene
4.
Frontiers | Chemical Pesticides and Human Health: The Urgent Need for a New Concept in Agriculture
The industrialization of the agricultural sector has increased the chemical burden on natural ecosystems.

References

1.
Chapter 4 Disease Vectors and Pests Healthy Housing Reference Manual NCEH
NCEH provides leadership to promote health and quality of life by preventing or controlling those diseases, birth defects, or disabilities resulting from interaction between people and the environment. Site has informationeducation resources on a broad range of topics, including asthma, birth defects, radiation, sanitation, lead in blood, and more.
3.
Frontiers Chemical Pesticides and Human Health The Urgent Need for a New Concept in Agriculture
The industrialization of the agricultural sector has increased the chemical burden on natural ecosystems. Pesticides are agrochemicals used in agricultural lands, public health programs and urban green areas in order to protect plants and humans from various diseases. However, due to their known ability to cause a large number of negative health and environmental effects, their side effects can be an important environmental health risk factor. The urgent need for a more sustainable and ecological approach has produced many innovative ideas, among them agriculture reforms and food production implementing sustainable practice evolving to food sovereignty. It is more obvious than ever that the society needs the implementation of a new agricultural concept regarding food production which is safer for man and the environment, and to this end, steps such as the declaration of Nylni have been taken.
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