While we welcome the warmer weather, we are not so welcoming of unwanted flies drifting into our homes through open windows and doors. Discovering how to get rid of flies in the house easily and naturally means you can let the air in but keep persistent flying pests out.
Not only are flies in your house annoying, constantly buzzing around you and driving pets to distraction, they are also incredibly unhygienic – landing on surfaces, especially in areas where you prepare food. So keeping them out is a must.
Similar to keeping ants away or keeping wasps at bay, natural solutions are always the preferred methods where you can. From keeping your bins smelling fresh to making DIY traps
How to get rid of flies in the house: 8 natural tried-and-tested methods
When it comes to getting rid of house flies, prevention is key. Flies are most attracted by smell and light. So, naturally, if you clean your home often, avoid leaving food in the open, clean the kitchen after cooking, and avoid leaving lights on when opening windows or doors, far fewer flies will be interested in your home.
If you do still encounter flies in the house, rather than immediately turning to pesticides or insecticides, we recommend trying one of the harmless and eco-friendly ways to eliminate these persistent pests. Discover eight natural solutions below.
1. Invest in protective screens
While trying to cool down rooms without an AC, inevitably windows and doors are open, meaning flies find an easy way in. Therefore, similar to keeping mosquitoes away, covering open doors or windows is a must.
"Invest in a fly screen door or mesh curtain to protect your home from flies with ease," suggests Jordan Foster, a pest control expert at Fantastic Pest Control. This solution allows you to leave the windows and doors open and not be quite so restrictive with having food out on the counter inside the house.
Our Editor Kerrie Hughes swears by the magnetic fly screens she bought for her home. While these might not be the most aesthetically pleasing solution, there's no denying the effectiveness.
This heavy-duty fly screen ensures no fly can pass the threshold. The mesh screen features powerful magnets to keep the curtains securely in place. 90 by 210cm.
Maximum window size 180 by 110cm. The adjustable screen fits any smaller size. The fiberglass mesh features a magnetic strip around the frame to allow easy Installation.
2. Simple water and coin hack
This trick became a firm favourite a few years ago, with cleaning forums filled with praise for this simple yet seemingly effective fly deterrent.
The simple trick uses water to repel flies from entering the house. So how does it work? It's really quite simple, working on the basis that flies have compound vision, meaning that their two eyes are essentially the equivalent of thousands of eyes, so they see vast multiples of everything. The bag of water is multiplied in a fly's eyes and will therefore appear to be a bigger body of water to repel them from approaching.
The coins inside create a prism of colour via the reflection of the water. This effect overwhelms the fly's eyes to stop it from approaching an open window.
Having tried this method, we can attest it did appear to ward flies off from entering through the open windows, but of course, it won't work after dark.
What you'll need:
- 1 x Clear sandwich/freezer bag (We used IKEA's ISTAD Resealable bags )
- A length of string
- Several small coins
- Water
Half-fill the clear bag with water, drop in five or six coins to sink to the bottom and seal tight.Cut a length of string to tie the bag securely to hang inside the window frame - we suggest tying it to the handle of a top-opening window or suspending it from the blind or curtain pole above a side-opening window.
The bag needs to be hung to ensure the light can pass through and capture reflections of the coins inside.
3. Place plants near windows
Flowers can be the best natural pesticide because nature knows how to deal with pests. As a result, several herbs and flowers are particularly effective at preventing flies from entering our homes.
Mint and basil are commonly thought of as scents that flies dislike, meaning their presence acts as a simple repellent. If you are growing herb plants indoors, place the pots near open windows to stop flies crossing the threshold.
Simply place some basil, marigold, lavender or bay leaves around windows and doors. They will not only keep insects at bay but also beautify your surroundings.
If you don't have plants indoors but have a patch of mint or basil in the garden, pull a bunch of leaves and pop them in a glass to act as a vase and pop that by the window instead.
4. Make a harmless trap with apple cider vinegar
Flies are renowned for their love of sweet things, which is why you'll find them in the kitchen by the fruit bowl. They are drawn to apple cider vinegar for this very reason, making it the ideal natural remedy to get flies out of the house.
Making this simple trap doesn't harm flies; it merely contains them so you can set them back free in the garden and keep them out of your house. We can confirm this simple idea does work and offers a humane way to get rid of unwanted pests.
What you'll need: Apple cider vinegar, an empty jam jar or glass, clingfilm and a pair of scissors. Here's how to make one...
- Pour a small amount of the apple cider vinegar into the empty glass or jar, just enough to fill approximately an inch from the bottom.
- Cover the top with cling film to create a clear lid that won't deter them from approaching the trap.
- Next, pierce a small hole in the top of the film lid using the scissors, one that's large enough for a fly to get in but not so big that it can then escape with ease.
- The allure of the sweet vinegar will draw the fly into the glass via the hole, but once in there, it will be trapped because of the film above. When it becomes trapped, you can simply take the jar outside and remove the cling film to set the fly free.
- Pull the cling film lid back over the top and put the trap back inside again to get rid of the next fly that ventures into your house.
This affordable solution is not the most pleasant to look at but it is effective, the fine mesh window screen prevents flies from entering your home.
5. Use essential oils
Spritz a room with essential oils such as lemongrass or peppermint or use an essential oil diffuser to repel flies in an instant. These natural fragrances give off a strong smell that instantly deters flies from entering your home.
Luckily there are plenty of household sprays and aromatherapy candles containing essential oils to make it easy to fill every room in the house with an unattractive aroma to flies – but one that's delightfully scented to make your home smell good.
If you don't want to make a spritz you could try dousing a clean microfibre cloth in one of the fragrant oils and hang it directly in the window to deter flies from the main entry point.
However you decide to use your essential oils your home will be fly-free and fragrant, What's not to love about this natural method?
This zesty essential oil may deter flies, said to dislike strong citrus scents, but luckily for us, it's a delightful aroma to have wafting throughout the house.
Deter the pests with this fragrant diffuser's purposeful blend of Eucalyptus, Thyme, Lemongrass and Lavender oils.
Try out a selection of the most popular essential oil scents for diffusers to see which suits your home best – all thought to be equally repellent to house flies.
6. Keep your bin smelling fresh with baking soda
Keep your bin smelling sweet to deter flies from coming inside to explore any treats that await them at the bottom of the bin. Flies feast on decaying food waste and sugary substances, making the kitchen bin an irresistible temptation.
Keeping your kitchen bin clean and smelling fresh helps to eradicate the problem before it starts, as we discuss in our guide on how to get rid of fruit flies.
A simple trick to keep the bins fresh is to sprinkle a small serving of baking soda directly onto the bottom of your bin before placing a bin bag in. Discovered when cleaning with baking soda, this will help to catch any moisture should anything spill from the bin bag once it's in use while subtly scenting the bin in the meantime.
You could also try the viral cleaning hack of soaking cotton wool balls in your essential oils to emit a further scent that repels flies with ease. Aside from deterring flies, this is also a great way to make your kitchen smell good at all times.
7. Utilise citronella scents
Citronella-scented products are renowned for their ability to ward off flying pests, so much so that citronella candles are often touted as the best-scented candles for the garden to keep mosquitoes away – the perfect accessory when hosting a BBQ. But they are a good natural way to deter flies also.
The strong scent works as a natural deterrent, but only in a limited space, so you need to have a citronella candle for every open window and door.
These citronella-scented coils are sold in a pack of 10. The individual coils come with a handy burning container that catches residue ash. Each coil burns for approximately 6 hours.
If burning citronella is not safe or a preferred method, you can still emit the citrus scent by using a flavoured essential oil. This 10ml 100% pure natural oil is an Amazon best-seller.
Deter flies and add a touch of style with this striped-effect scented candle that's infused with citronella. It looks just as good outside as it does inside.
8. Dim the lights
Like many insects, light sources are an irresistible draw into your home. So to keep flies out of the house, try lowering the lights.
“Insects are attracted to light, so make sure that when windows are open, your lights are turned off in the evenings," suggests Adam Pawson, a window expert at Safestyle. "This is a foolproof way to make sure you’re not inviting insects and flies in."
If you are looking to keep a bedroom cool during the heat by leaving windows open, Adam offers this tip: “On warmer nights, you can keep windows open but make sure to close your curtains or blinds to prevent flies entering your home.”
The good news is that keeping curtains closed during hot weather helps to keep rooms cooler, so it's a win-win.
Which natural methods 'don't' get rid of flies
As with all hacks, there is no shortage of natural remedies recommended online - especially for ways to get rid of flies. We've tried them all to ensure they are worthy of a recommendation here.
There's a lot of talk around burning coffee as a natural fly deterrent, but unfortunately our tester Emily didn't see any significant results. She also stresses that the method required a fair amount of effort with no reward. She says: "I tried this for quite a while and found that the grounds didn't continue smoking independently, nor did they actually ignite. Which was both confusing and frustrating." We say stick to using coffee grounds in the garden instead.
I tried using the viral lemon and clove hack. I had high hopes because a lot of credible experts recommend it, but I didn't see any benefit whatsoever. If anything, I was attracting more flying pests, such as wasps.
Another 'trick' that doesn't work is using cucumbers to get rid of flies. "This hack did not work for me," Emily recalls. "There were still flies coming in and out of the house, and it didn't appear to deter them from staying around. At first, I wasn't sure if the amount of cucumber was the issue, but I refused to sacrifice any more of my food shop to find out."
FAQ
Why do I suddenly have flies in my house?
It might feel like flies appear suddenly at this time of year, but it's no coincidence that they are more prevalent in the warmer months. Here are several things that can cause flies to suddenly appear in your house at this time of the year.
The first is warmer temperatures; it means that we are more likely to keep doors and windows open much more than we ever would, meaning flies can enter your home more freely. Your house may also have gaps or openings that allow flies to enter." Consider some natural ways to deter them from entering through the windows.
"Also, if there is uncovered or decaying food in your home, it can hold a lot of attraction for flies,' says Jordan. "Food should be stored in sealed containers and spills should be cleaned up immediately. The presence of garbage and organic waste attracts flies. Uncovered or improperly sealed garbage cans can become breeding grounds for flies," Jordan warns.
"Flies are also attracted to areas with moisture and dampness. Look for leaks or standing water in your house, as these can attract flies," Jordan advises. "Leaks should be fixed immediately and areas prone to moisture should be ventilated properly."
Certain plants and flowers attract flies, particularly if they produce sugary substances, so it's worth a check to see if your best indoor plants are the problem and are attracting flies.
"It is also possible that flies are breeding near or in your house," says Jordan. "They lay eggs in rotting fruit, compost piles, or pet waste that is moist and decaying. Identify and eliminate potential breeding sites in and around your property."
What smell will keep flies away?
Flies are said to dislike the smell of essential oils like lemongrass, peppermint, lavender and eucalyptus – try putting a few drops of the best essential oils into a spray bottle and using them around the house daily to keep them away.
Flies dislike the strong smell of citrus, which is evident from the success of using citronella coils and candles to keep flies away. Flies also don't like the smell of basil, so consider popping a basil plant in your kitchen to help deter them from coming into the house.
When is it time to call in professionals to get rid flies in the house?
While natural methods are a suitable solution for how to get flies out of the house on the odd occasion, if you have an infestation, it might be time to call in professional pest control.
"All the above methods are viable only if you fight against an occasional fly that enters your household. If you have a constant and significant fly population, you’d need to call an expert to deal with the problem," explains Kameliya.
"The main task is to find the source of the infestation. Before calling a professional, though, you need to check if all your windows and doors are undamaged and that there are no holes from which flies can enter. The point of entry might be some eroded seal around doors or windows or cracks in the walls," suggests Kameliya. "If you’ve taken care of all these factors and you still have a fly problem, calling a professional is unavoidable."
