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What kills flies instantly? Flies are very annoying and it’s not uncommon to be looking for an easy way to kill flies. They always start buzzing around at the most inconvenient times, usually when you’re having a meal. But more than this, flies carry diseases that can harm your family.
Flies sit on garbage and feces and then come into your home where they sit on the counters or on your food. Flies spread diseases like cholera, dysentery, typhoid fever, though most commonly, the germs they spread cause food poisoning or diarrhea. Over a three or four day period, depending on the season, the average house fly lays up to 150 eggs per day which all hatch within a few days.
In light of this, I’m sure you want to know the easiest way to kill flies or if you prefer not to kill them, how to get rid of flies in your home.
How to Get Rid of Flies in Your House Fast
There are many products available in stores but they are usually made up of poison that not only kills the flies but is harmful to people and pets too. Here are some completely natural ways to not only get rid of flies but also practical advice on how to keep them from coming back.
1. Apple Cider Vinegar, Jam or Honey Trap
What kills flies instantly? Traps. Flies love fermented or sweet foods and you can use this to easily catch house flies.
What you’ll need:
- A soda bottle
- Apple cider vinegar
- Water
- Plastic wrap
How to do it:
- Cut the soda bottle in two, the top part of the bottle should be smaller than the bottom part.
- Fill the bottom part of the bottle with water, about half will be fine.
- Add two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to the water.
- Put the top half of the bottle into the bottom half upside down so that it creates a funnel.
- You may want to use plastic wrap or clear tape to make the hole smaller. The flies will not use the original entrance as the exit.
- Put it where the flies like to go.
- The flies will get trapped and drown in this trap.
If you don’t like the smell of the vinegar, rather spread jam or honey around the mouth of the jar and add half a teaspoon of Castille soap to the water instead.
2. Fly Strips
Homemade fly strips are just as effective as the store-bought ones and safer too. It’s also an easy way to trap the flies.
What you’ll need:
- 1/2 cup of sugar
- 1/2 cup of corn syrup
- String or thread
- Paper or thin cardboard
How to do it:
- Cut the paper or cardboard into strips of about 2 inches wide.
- Make a hole at the top and attach the string.
- Mix the sugar and syrup together and coat the strips with the mixture.
- Hang your strips up in the areas the flies frequent.
Don’t hang the strips directly over food or counters as they sometimes fall off the strips. Keep the strips up until there are no longer flies buzzing around your home. It can take a few days.
3. Water Bag
If these traps are too unsightly or you prefer not to kill the flies, there are some excellent ways to deter flies. Hanging a clear bag full of water outside your doors will keep flies away. Because of the structure of the flies’ eyes, the bag resembles a spider’s web to them which they will avoid and it also tends to confuse them.
Just take clear plastic bags, fill them with water and tie them off. Then hang them outside the doors and by the windows.
4. Essential Oils
There are a number of ways that essential oils can be used to repel flies. The number one fragrance that flies hate is lavender. But they also hate these:
- Camphor
- Eucalyptus
- Mint
- Cloves
- Lemon
- Citronella
- Basil
You can buy candles that contain these essential oils or add a few drops to an oil burner. You can also make your own spray by combining a few drops of essential oil with water or alcohol (such as vodka) in a spray bottle. Spray it around the areas they frequent.
Caution: Pregnant women should stay away from camphor and eucalyptus oil, and not all essential oils are safe for pets.
5. Plants
Herbs used in cooking are great in kitchen windows and you can also plant a few pot plants along your patio or other places you entertain guests. Try these:
- Lavender
- Peppermint
- Basil
You can also place a few sprigs of lavender around your home or hang them in the windows. Use some lavender as a decoration on the table when you have guests over.
There are also carnivorous plants that eat flies:
- Venus fly traps
- Pitcher plants
- Sundews
6. Keep Your Home and Garden Clean
Here’s how to prevent the flies from coming back. Flies are always looking for food and places to lay their eggs. This means that any uncovered food, dirty dishes, uncovered bins, cat, and dog litter, and your pet’s bowl are exactly what attracts flies.
What you can do:
- Keep food covered and do the dishes immediately after you have eaten. Also, clean your pet’s food bowl.
- Keep the bin closed and take the trash out regularly. If the bin itself becomes dirty, clean it as well.
- Pick up any dog litter and clean the cat’s litter tray regularly.
7. Screens or Nets over the Windows, Doors, and Vents
During the summer there is no need to keep your windows and doors closed. You can either install nets or window screens or have somebody do it for you. Net curtains may help but the flies can fly out of the top or bottom. A screen door also comes in handy. Don’t forget the vents. You’ll then be able to leave your windows and doors open without the flies coming in.
Tip: Check for any cracks in the seals of the doors and windows, or even walls. The flies may be entering this way too.
If you have any more questions, please feel free to ask them in the comments.
Sources:
https://www.sunset.com/garden/4-fly-eating-plants-to-grow-indoors-and-how-to-keep-them-happy
http://ehomeremedies.com/flies/#tab-con-20
https://www.thebalance.com/how-to-get-rid-of-flies-1389068
Jane Scott grew up on a farm in California and is a crossover between a country girl and an evangelist for healthier living. She’s a nutritionist who preaches that healthy living need not be complicated.
She believes that by exercising regularly, eating mostly non-processed foods (with plenty of vegetables), and using home remedies for the small things and doctor’s advice for the big things, almost anybody can feel great and live a happier and healthier life. She’s excited to share her knowledge of natural remedies and healthier living on HRFL.
In her spare time, Jane enjoys cooking and watching bad rom-coms. She also loves nuts, and is a bit of a nut herself when it comes to Yoga, which she’s a little too obsessed with in the opinion of her friends and family.
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