Place your light traps approximately 4-6 feet (1. 2-1. 8 meters) above the floor. Position light traps so that they are not be visible from outside your house, so that the light does not lure new flies into your home. Make sure that you use a light trap that is designed for indoor use, as high-voltage outdoor bug zappers can create an unsanitary mess.
Do not hang fly tape directly above areas where you will be preparing or eating food. Flies or fly carcasses may become detached and drop off the tape.
Put some apple cider vinegar in a bottle or jar and cover the opening with plastic wrap. Use a rubber band to hold the plastic wrap in place. Create a small hole in the plastic wrap so that fruit flies can smell the vinegar and crawl in. The flies will be unable to escape, and will drown in the vinegar. Put some vinegar in a bowl and mix in a few drops of dish soap. The dish soap will disrupt the surface tension of the vinegar, causing the flies to drown if they try to land on the surface of the liquid. Set out an open red wine bottle with a tiny amount of red wine left in it. The flies will be able to enter the bottle easily, but will have a difficult time getting out again. You can also buy ready-made traps, like Aunt Fannie’s FlyPunch! or Terro fruit fly traps. Keep fruit flies away by keeping your kitchen clean. For example, be sure to get rid of any old fruit or unwashed bottles that contained juice, soda, or beer. [4] X Research source Joshua Bloom. Pest Control Specialist. Personal interview. 8 May 2020.
Electronic swatters are fairly safe, but they can still deliver an uncomfortable shock. Keep them away from pets and children.
A popular form of fly bait is the Ortho Home Defense Fly Killer Window Decal. These decals are affixed to glass windows. Flies eat the pesticide coating on the decal and die, typically on or near the windowsill. Fly baits can be dangerous to pets and children, so be sure to follow manufacturer safety instructions and use them in places that your kids and pets can’t easily reach.
Use an essential oil spray to treat areas where flies gather. Put a few drops of fly-repellant oil in an essential oil diffuser and place it in a room where flies are a problem.
Store human and pet food in the fridge or in tightly sealed containers. Wash dishes immediately after use. Clean up any spilled food as soon as you notice it. Dispose of food waste in a covered garbage can or a sink disposal.
Chlorine bleach and commercial drain cleaners like Drano are not typically effective for eliminating fly infestations in drains. If scrubbing is not enough, try an antibacterial drain cleaner like Bio-Clean. Make sure you select a product that is compatible with your septic system. These products typically need to be re-applied several times over a period of a few weeks in order to be effective. Treat your drains with S-hydroprene (Gentrol), a gentle insecticide that prevents fly larvae from maturing.
The best way to rid your home of flies is to seal them out.
