During the warmer months, we all hear the annoying buzzing and feel the pesky tickle of flies in our homes at an ever-increasing frequency. No matter how often we run around with fly swatters or rolled-up magazines in our hands, it seems impossible to get rid of all of the flies at once. As soon as it looks like you’ve finally won the war, the annoying buzzing inevitably returns.
The good news is, there are quite a few different things that you can do to try and control the number of flies that invade your living space. In this blog, we’re going to go over four separate strategies you can use to keep house flies at bay.
Keep both inside and outside areas clean and fresh
Flies have an acute sense of smell and are attracted to fragrances that are both pungent and sweet. You will often notice flies buzzing around both indoor and outdoor garbage containers. Pet feces in your yard, or indoors in a litter box, can be very attractive to flies. It’s important to clean up after your pets in a timely manner both in and outdoors. Flies are also attracted to cluttered areas that can develop smells over time. Be sure to keep clutter to a minimum in your yard and close all garbage receptacles tightly. If you turn a cluttered yard or home into a clean one, you’ll instantly notice a reduction in flies.
Not all fly traps are from Venus
The words “fly” and “trap” often conjure up images of insect-eating plants. While these wonders of nature do feast upon flies, there are a number of different types of fly traps that can be purchased in stores or on the internet. The majority of fly traps are designed to attract flies and prevent them from escape. In addition to store-bought traps, there are various “do it yourself” methods. Just be sure to put these traps far away from any areas you want flies to congregate.
Citronella candles
Burning citronella candles is a well-known method to keep flying insects away. They detest the smell and will vary rarely come around while the candles are burning. You can safely burn citronella candles inside or out.
Water bagging
The old-school method of hanging up a clear plastic bag of water is most effective outside. Sunlight reflects through the bag and temporarily disorients the pests. They end up becoming frustrated and leaving the area due to this confusion.
As with any household pest, there isn’t any deterrent that is foolproof. When flies become overbearing, the best move is to call a local professional pest control company to exterminate the pests quickly and safely.