Having houseflies in your house isn’t only annoying, it’s also a vector for various diseases, such as cholera. So, dealing with them right away is a must. But, how do you get rid of a fly infestation in your house?
Some of the ways you can get rid of a fly infestation are:
- Non-chemical traps: Baited fly traps, sticky traps, ultraviolet light traps.
- Chemical traps: Pesticide with synthetic pyrethroid.
- Repair: Repairing broken screens, cracks, and gaps.
- Sanitation: Keeping your surroundings clean.
The application of these methods will help to resolve your infestation problem and have a safe environment for your family. Let’s cover now the possible reasons why there are flies in your house.
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Why Are There So Many Flies in House?
Some form of infestation is usually the cause of the rapid increase of flies in the household. It could also be nearby your property, so it’s best to check thoroughly around your place. Seeing a swarm of flies means dozens of eggs have already hatched in or near your property.
Houseflies feed and breed in filth, such as garbage, feces, rotting items, or spoiled food. Poor hygiene together with torn screens, and unsealed holes in doors or windows may lead to fly infestation.
Flies are likely to multiply in places like a garden, garage, house, or attic. So, these places should be searched first to confirm if the infestation is coming from any of these areas.
What Attracts Houseflies to Your Home?
Decaying organic matters like feces and meat are the things that common houseflies are attracted to. Meanwhile, fruit flies are drawn to sugary substances, such as spilled soda, alcohol, and rotten fruits.
These pests are prevalent in places that aren’t properly kept, such as:
- Uncovered garbage cans
- Remains of animals in attics, walls, or any part of your house
- Overripe fruits on countertops
- Open alcohol containers and spilled soda
- Pet feces and manure
Moreover, picnics can also potentially attract these flies, especially if you’ve packed some sweets and meats.
How Serious Are Houseflies infestations?
Houseflies feed on manure, garbage, and other bacteria-loaded matters, which are harmful to humans. Thus, houseflies infestations are extremely serious.
They can transmit many types of diseases, such as:
- Cholera
- Anthrax
- Typhoid fever
- Dysentery
- Leprosy
- E.coli
- Shigellosis
Although houseflies don’t feed on areas where humans eat or hang out, they can leave their droppings which are full of bacteria. So, these pests should be taken seriously and dealt with right away to prevent serious illness.
What Causes Fly Infestation?
In general, poor sanitation is the reason behind fly infestation. So, it’s important to keep your surroundings clean all the time.
Make sure not to leave an open can of soda or beer anywhere on your property to avoid attracting houseflies. Furthermore, ensure to close your trash bins tightly and dispose of rotten fruits and meats properly.
It’s also best to regularly inspect the areas around your property for pet feces and animal remains. If found they should be cleaned up right away.
How Long Does a Fly Infestation Last?
Once their primary food source is removed, a fly infestation can last up to a few days or weeks. Just ensure to take out your garbage regularly and keep the areas of your home clean.
Signs of a Housefly Infestation
You’ll know there’s a housefly infestation in your home once you notice:
- Dark, small clusters around your garage.
- You often see flies flying around your house.
- When you’ve seen maggots in your area.
How to Solve Fly Infestation?
There are various ways to solve fly infestations. You can either opt for natural ways or chemicals.
Natural Ways
To get rid of houseflies at home naturally, you may use the following natural remedies:
Vinegar or Dish Soap
Vinegar and dish soap is good option for getting rid of houseflies in your garage. Just mix apple cider vinegar with dish soap in a small bowl, and you now have a trap.
Apple cider can attract flies, while the dish soap mixture will drown them.
Cayenne Pepper and Water
Cayenne can help significantly in repelling flies. Just mix cayenne pepper with water and spray it around your area.
Herbs and Flowers
Herbs and flowers, such as basil and marigold, are good deterrents of flies and other insects due to their strong scent.
The smells of essential oils like lavender, peppermint, eucalyptus, and lemongrass can also keep flies away. These oils have a pleasant scent for your home while being highly deterrent to flies.
Use of Chemicals and Other Repellents
For chemical methods and other repellents, you can use the following:
Sticky Traps
Sticky traps are one of the most simplistic solutions that you can use in getting rid of houseflies. You can use them by hanging or laying down in areas where flies are most frequent.
Although these aren’t too effective as other solutions, they’re a great addition to help in removing infestations. Products such as Garsum sticky traps and Stingmon fly traps are the best examples of sticky traps that you may use in your fly infestation removal.
Pyrethrin-Based Insecticides
Another option is to use using pyrethrin-based insecticides. This is a special class of chemicals with active ingredients that effectively kills pests.
However, this chemical solution isn’t ideal for long-term use as flies can develop resistance to it. Some products containing this special class of chemicals are Southern AG Natural Pytherin Concentrate and Ortho Home Defense Insect Killer.
During application, make sure to ventilate the area well and read the product direction thoroughly.
Light Trap
The light trap is one of the ideal ways to attract flies. When flies go to the light, they’ll either get electrocuted or trapped, depending on the light trap type you purchase.
Some examples of light traps are Katchy Indoor Insect Trap and Bug Zapper.
How to Prevent Flies in Your House?
Apart from using natural means and chemical ways to get rid of these pests, it’s best to make an effort to prevent them. To do this, you can follow these tips:
- Ensure not to leave any food that can attract flies.
- Make sure to secure your house vents, windows, and doors. Inspect them for holes and other damages and repair them right away.
- Ensure that your garbage cans are tightly covered and take them out regularly.
- Put your foods in airtight containers.
- Wash your glasses and dishes right after and never leave them on the counter.
- When mowing, never leave grass clippings to decay.
- Since flies are attracted to light, consider turning off your light at night if possible.
- In killing rodents, avoid using poison as much as possible as their remains will attract flies.
- Make sure to clean up animal feces right away.
How to Eliminate Fly Infestation in Garage?
To get rid of fly infestation in your garage:
Find the Cause
Before getting rid of the infestation, make sure to identify the root cause first. Inspect for possible things that attracted flies into your garage to solve the problem completely. Make sure also to clean your garage regularly to prevent flies from coming over.
Electric Light Traps
You may use light traps to get rid of flies in your garage. You’ll know that you’ve caught some when you hear a crackling sound.
Electric Fly Swatters
Another option you can use in your garage is electric fly swatters. This is one of the easiest methods to use and is most effective.
Just pick up your electric fly swatter and go on a fly-killing spree. However, when your infestation problem is too severe, this method might not be too effective but can still kill many flies.
Opt for Residential Insecticides
Opting for residential insecticides is one of your options to get rid of flies in your garage. But before that, make sure the insecticide you’re using is safe for your family and pets.
Check for Leaks
Check also for leaks as they can attract houseflies, other pests but also animals.
Houseflies are vectors for various diseases, so they must be dealt with right away. So, if you see flies roaming around your property, make sure to inspect their roots cause.