How To Get Rid of Flies

Flies have few peers when it comes to pests.

The most common fly species, is found throughout the U.S. and around the globe, can transmit more than 100 dangerous illnesses. Even those that don’t typically spread disease are more than capable of delivering painful stings to humans and animals.

Knowing which type you’re fending off can help you determine the degree of the threat.

Common house flies also carry many types of bacteria that can cause intestinal symptoms like diarrhea, upset stomach, and nausea.

The more familiar you are with flies’ habits and where they like to congregate, the easier it will be to get rid of them. Several easy household habits will greatly reduce your chance of a fly infestation. These tips will also help you keep other insects out of your home and property.

Preventative measures are important to use whether you have a fly issue or not. Knowing where the flies are most likely to congregate makes it easier to control them. But if you do have an infestation, there are some effective treatment methods you can start with:

If you don’t have the time to make your own flypaper, those available at the store are still cost-effective and there are a range of top flypaper brands for you to choose form.

Let houseplant soil dry out between watering. This prevents dampness that can attract flies as well as gnats and other insects.

Trap fruit flies by filling an open cup with old wine: the flies mistake this for food and get trapped by surface tension.

Put vinegar in a water bottle with the top cut off, turn the top over to form a funnel, and this will trap the insects inside.

Other homemade traps can be baited with decaying fruit, wine, fruit juice, or apple cider vinegar. These can be effective against fruit flies, but make sure that the trap is set up to ensure that they’ll drown inside instead of feeding off the bait. Mix a few drops of dish soap with any liquid bait you choose to get rid of surface tension. The flies will slip right into the mixture and won’t be able to get out.

Don’t forget the classic fly swatter. You can buy them for as low as $1 at drugstores, and they’re always handy to have around. Using a fly swatter is one of the messier methods of treatment, but luckily flies are so small and easy to clean up. Fly swatters do come in different shapes and sizes, so it’s still a good idea to read up on the best fly swatters. These days, there are also electric swatters that make it easier to kill flies as they’re flying.

While traps, sprays, and other DIY solutions can be an effective way to eliminate flies in some cases, often there comes a time when an infestation gets so severe that homemade options just don’t provide the results you’re looking for. When it comes to flies and the diseases they can spread, you don’t want to waste time if it means putting yourself and your family in danger.

A licensed pest control expert can identify the places where flies may be gathering, breeding, or hibernating and devise a multi-pronged “attack”— using sprays, insecticides, and traps appropriate to the type of fly you’re dealing with — to keep populations under control and stop the life cycle from continuing. To get rid flies, larvae and maggots quickly, calling a pest company can be the best option, and a top solution for preventing fly-borne diseases and health risks.