How to Get Rid of Flies

Buzz

Ngày cập nhật gần nhất: 15/4/2026

Content

Steps

Fly Traps and Catching Flies

Repel and bait flies

Clean and protect your home

Advice

Warning

Things you will need

Trapping and Catching Flies

Repelling and Baiting Flies

Cleaning and Protecting the House

Flies are not just a common household annoyance; they also transmit diseases by contaminating food and various surfaces. Some fly species, like the horsefly or the stable fly, can even bite! Show them who's in charge of the house by using traps, repellents, and chemical sprays. Once you've gotten rid of the flies, take steps to prevent their return by cleaning up trash and eliminating other potential sources of infestation. By regularly applying these measures, you can make your home less attractive to flies in search of food and shelter.

Steps

Fly Traps and Catching Flies

Use a vacuum cleaner to quickly catch flies in the room. A regular fly swatter often struggles to catch flies, but a vacuum cleaner can easily do the job. Attach the hose to the vacuum, point it at the fly, and watch it get sucked into the machine. This method is simple and helps avoid chasing fast-moving insects around the house.

If you don't have a good vacuum, you can also use an electric fly swatter. Electric fly swatters are more effective than traditional ones and can even be used outdoors. As you bring the electric swatter near the fly, it will be stunned by the shock, allowing you to eliminate it.

Set up a soapy water trap to lure those annoying flies. Choose a shallow container with a wide opening, such as a small dish or cup, to make it easy for flies to fall into the trap. Pour at least a tablespoon (15ml) of apple cider vinegar into the dish, then add about 3 drops of dish soap. The soap will break the surface tension of the water, making it impossible for the flies to escape once they land in the trap. The vinegar attracts flies, and the smell of apple cider vinegar will draw them in large numbers.

If you don't have apple cider vinegar at home, you can use a fruit-scented dish soap. Substitute the vinegar with an equivalent amount.

Create a funnel trap to prevent small flies from escaping. House flies and fruit flies can't resist the lure of sweet treats. Pour about 1/3 cup (80 ml) of water into a food jar or tall glass, and mix in about 1 tablespoon (5g) of sugar. Place a plastic funnel over the top of the jar and watch as uninvited guests crawl in, but find no way to escape.

Sweet food and beverages can also serve as bait if you don't have sugar. Try using honey, wine, or even overripe fruit. You can also add yeast to further attract the flies.
Create a DIY funnel by cutting a piece of paper into a circle, then cutting a wedge-shaped slit in the circle. Fold the edges together to create a cone with a small hole at the bottom. Use tape to secure the cone.
Another way to create a funnel is to cut a soda bottle in half. Place the bait in the bottom half, remove the cap from the top half, invert it, and place it into the bottom portion of the bottle.

Hang fly paper to prevent flies from landing. Fly paper is sticky strips that you hang in areas where flies frequently land, such as around fans and window frames. When the flies get tired from flying, they'll land wherever they spot, and one caught fly will attract others. Just sit back and wait as they get trapped.

Fly paper is very sticky, so be careful not to get it in your hair. Try to place the strips where they will be most visible.
Dispose of the paper once it is full of flies. These sticky fly papers may look a bit gross, but the effort to clear your home of flies is well worth it. You can hang up new strips to continue catching flies.

Install a fly trap light to eliminate flies. You'll need an electrical outlet to plug in the fly trap light. Hang the light indoors and let the glow attract nearby flies. The flies will fall into the collection tray below, which you can easily remove and clean. The sound of flies getting trapped can be quite satisfying, and you won't have to lift a finger.

The fly trap light will make a loud popping sound when flies land on it. If you're not used to it, the noise might be a bit startling.
Some trap lights are very effective outdoors, and manufacturers will indicate this on the packaging. These traps work best when you're nearby. When you no longer need the trap, be sure to store it away to avoid attracting more flies.
You can also buy UV light traps. These tend to make less noise than electric traps. The flies will land on sticky boards that you can remove and replace as needed.

Repel and bait flies

Make a spicy cayenne water solution to naturally repel flies. Like many other insects, flies can't stand the heat of spice and will avoid areas with strong odors. Fill a spray bottle with 1 cup (240 ml) of water, add 1 tablespoon of cayenne pepper, and spray it around areas such as entryways and windowsills to keep these pests away.

You can use either fresh chopped or ground cayenne pepper, or dried cayenne powder. Dried cayenne is stronger and more effective, but loses its potency faster. Reapply as the pepper scent fades.
Ginger also works as a spicy repellent for flies. You can use it instead of cayenne pepper.

Plant herbs like thyme near doorways to naturally repel flies. For a dual purpose of repelling flies and providing fresh ingredients for cooking, nothing beats aromatic plants. Herbs like lavender, lemongrass, and mint are just a few you can grow. Plant a small garden near places flies gather, such as near doors, windows, fruit trees, and still water areas. You should also place these plants in areas you frequent outdoors.

Grow these herbs in neutral soil or potting mix. You can plant them in pots, small planting boxes, or directly in the ground. Ensure the area has well-drained soil and gets at least 6 hours of sunlight daily.
These plants are non-toxic, so you don't need to worry. You can even place small herb containers on windowsills to ward off flies.

Create herb sachets to protect your kitchen cabinets. Buy small sachets or aromatic bags and fill them with your favorite herbs. Cloves are a great choice, but other herbs like thyme and lemongrass work well too. Place these sachets in areas where you want to keep flies away, such as in snack cabinets. This method works best when used in areas that are enclosed to keep the scent from escaping.

Replace the herbs in the sachets when their scent begins to fade. Once the herbs lose their fragrance, discard them and refill the bags with fresh herbs.

Blow away flies outdoors with a strong fan. These pesky little flies won't be able to withstand a powerful gust from a high-powered fan. If you're hosting an event, place the fan around guests and food tables. Even if the flies try to approach, they won’t be able to maintain their balance in the air.

This method is also effective indoors. You can try turning on a ceiling fan near areas where flies tend to gather. The only downside is that it will only repel the flies, not eliminate them, so you'll need to use traps or a vacuum cleaner for that.

Use a chemical spray to deal with severe fly infestations. Chemical fly sprays are fast and effective, but they can be toxic to humans and pets. For the best results, choose a product that contains pyrethrum and spray it in areas where flies tend to gather. Make sure to wear a mask for safety while spraying. You may need to repeat the process every two weeks to completely eliminate flies from an area.

Since chemical fly sprays are quite potent, you need to clean the area before spraying. Keep people and pets away for several hours after spraying.
If you're only dealing with small, manageable flies, consider making traps first. For example, fruit flies can be handled easily with sugar water and a bit of patience.

Clean and protect your home

Put trash in sealed bags and cover your trash bin. Trash is the number one food source for flies, but keeping your home free from it isn't always easy. Remove the trash from your house as soon as possible, place it in a sealed bag, and dispose of it in a covered trash bin. This way, flies will know not to mess with you!

Know which types of food attract different flies. For example, mushroom flies feed on waterlogged trees, large fruit flies hover around overripe fruit, blowflies emerge from trash and organic matter, while houseflies appear near garbage dumps or enter from the outside.
To keep the trash area clean, you should place the trash bag inside a trash bin for extra cleanliness. Throw away the trash when the bag is full and clean the bin if it gets dirty.
When cleaning the trash bin, check the surrounding area to ensure no trash has fallen outside. Sometimes food particles fall unnoticed. If you see flies hovering around a clean, sealed trash bin, the cause may be leftover food particles somewhere nearby.

Store food in sealed packaging and discard spoiled items. Food is yours, so let the flies know they're not welcome. Store food in sealed packaging and place it in the fridge or pantry, depending on the type of food. When food starts to spoil, throw it away as soon as possible before flies find it.

Be cautious with leftovers! Flies are attracted to sweet drinks and decaying food. These are also very effective traps, so you might as well take advantage of this!

Clean up spilled food and drinks as soon as you see them. Spilled drinks are easy to spot and clean up with a napkin, but don't forget about spilled food. Food crumbs often fall into hidden areas that are harder to notice. Take some time to check spots like underneath the kitchen counter to see if anything has fallen from last night's dinner. By cleaning it up immediately, you’ll eliminate potential food sources for flies before they even discover them.

Flies love moist areas with decaying food. Check for moisture and food particles inside drains, dishwashers, and under appliances. Regular cleaning will ensure these places don’t become fly breeding grounds.

Repair insect screens and seal any holes in your home. To prevent flies from visiting, find out how they’re getting into your house. No matter how beautiful your house looks from the outside, cracks can form in walls and insulation materials. Check your home for gaps and seal them with caulk, rubber strips, or mesh.

Regularly check the insect screens and windows around your house, and repair any tears or gaps immediately.
Pay special attention to areas where walls meet. These spots often have the most gaps. Use caulk to seal these cracks.

Eliminate stagnant water to remove water sources. Look for puddles formed after heavy rain. Additionally, pay attention to water containers like buckets, birdbaths, and other areas where water may collect. Clean up and drain these areas so flies have no access to water.

To dry the ground, you can adjust the slope, aerate the soil, or mix sand into it. Also, regularly mow the grass to reduce water accumulation beneath the blades.
Take note of damp areas inside the house, such as drainage pipes and leaking water pipes. Clean and repair them as needed to keep your home dry.

Clear leaves and debris near the house. You might not realize it, but flies can live in simple things like fallen leaves. In fact, they are often found there. Make sure to clean up leaves, animal waste, and other potential food sources as soon as possible. Yard maintenance is a key part of fly prevention.

Compost piles should be located at least 6 meters away from the house to prevent flies from entering.