Your Guide To Getting Rid Of House Flies

Flies can be beneficial to the environment—but when they’ve invaded your home, they become more of a pest than anything. If you’re dealing with a house fly infestation, you may be wondering what to do next. Are you destined to share your living space with these insects forever? Definitely not, but there are some proactive steps you’ll need to take in order to get rid of the flies in your home and keep them from coming back.

Common Causes Of House Flies

It can be helpful to understand what often causes a house fly infestation to begin with. Most of the time, house flies are attracted to sources of foods ranging from animal food (and even animal waste) to organic matter. And while flies only have a life span of about three months, a home can quickly become infested, as female flies can easily lay up to 500 eggs. With this in mind, it’s easy to see how an infestation in your home can seemingly happen overnight.

How To Prevent and Get Rid of House Flies

The good news is that there are ways to get rid of house flies, reclaim your home, and prevent them from coming back.

Seal Off Points of Entry

Start by keeping additional flies from entering your home in the first place by locating their point of entry, if possible. Look specifically for common sourced, such as torn window screens or gaps around doors and windows. Take time to add weather-stripping around windows and doors, as well as caulking or repairing other small gaps around the exterior of your home as needed. While you’re dealing with flies in your home, it’s also a good idea to leave your doors and windows closed.

Use Natural Deterrents

Rather than bringing in chemicals to handle a fly problem inside your home, it’s a good idea to start with natural solutions. Consider, for example, fly paper or store-bought fly traps. These are designed to lure flies before trapping them, and can be easily placed both inside and outside your home as needed.

Another natural solution for house flies is to use plants such as lavender, mint, and basil—all of which cause a reaction in house flies and may be enough to keep additional flies at bay. You might consider keeping these plants in small pots around your home or even setting up an herb garden outside your home. You can also make your own fly-repellent spray by mixing water and essential oils such as lavender, mint, basil, or lemongrass. You can spray this mixture around your home about once or twice a month for best results.

Clean Up After Your Pets

Another important step you can take to prevent house flies in your home is to make sure you’re cleaning up thoroughly after your pets. House flies are attracted to both animal food and animal waste—and since pet food is often left out in the open, it’s a common source of house flies. Consider feeding your pets at scheduled times during the day and putting away any food they don’t eat until their next scheduled feeding. Take time to sweep and vacuum food crumbs from around their bowls regularly as well.

When it comes to pet waste, make sure you’re scooping your cat’s litter box at least once a day. Not only will this keep your home smelling fresh, but it will reduce the chances of house flies being attracted to your home as well. Outdoor pet messes should also be cleaned up regularly to keep flies away from your home.

Make Sure Food Is Properly Stored

One of the most common causes of house fly problems is poor food storage. All it takes is a few crumbs or dishes left out in the sink to attract a swarm of house flies. Avoid leaving any food out in the open, including drink glasses. Once you’ve finished drinking from a glass, rinse it out thoroughly with warm or hot water to remove any residue from the glass that could attract flies. Remember, it doesn’t take much.

When it comes to storing your food, you might want to consider moving some food items over from your pantry to your refrigerator, where they won’t be a temptation for house flies. This includes items like condiments and bread, both of which will stay fresher for longer in the fridge than they would on a shelf.

Scrub and Rinse Out Trash Cans

Over time, your home’s trash bins can become dirty with old food particles and drink spills. Take time to wash and thoroughly scrub them out at least once every few months, and consider using trash bin liners to keep them cleaner in between scrubbings.

When to Call An Exterminator

In most cases, a house fly problem can be resolved without the need for an exterminator or any heavy pesticides. Still, if you have followed all the tips here and are still struggling with keeping house flies at bay, then it may be time to call in an exterminator to assess the situation and come up with a game plan for getting rid of the flies in your home once and for all.

Schedule A Professional House Cleaning

Keeping a clean and tidy home is by far the best way to avoid a house fly problem. Of course, deep cleaning a home can be extremely time consuming and physically demanding. This is where it can be beneficial to hire a professional house cleaning service. With a deep house cleaning from an experienced professional, you can have your home cleaned from top to bottom. This may include:

• cleaning of kitchen cabinets to remove food crumbs
• thorough sweeping and mopping of floors
• thorough vacuuming of carpeted floors
• taking out of trash and recyclables
• cleaning of countertops and kitchen appliances

This deep cleaning can help to get rid of crumbs and other sources that may have attracted house flies to your home in the first place. At the same time, you won’t have to lift a finger. A professional house cleaning can provide other services as an added bonus, such as making of beds and cleaning of interior glass fixtures to refresh your home.

By following these tips, you can have a home free of annoying house flies in no time. Interested in scheduling a professional house cleaning? Maid Sailors is here to help. Schedule your professional cleaning today or find out more about our specific cleaning services offered by calling our office at (212) 299-5170. We look forward to making your home sparkle!