What keeps flies out of your house


How to keep flies out of your house - Saga

Melanie Whitehouse / 13 May 2016
( 03 July 2020 )

Find out how to keep flies out of the house with our clever tips and tricks.

 

Flies can become a nuisance in the summer, when hot weather and open windows entice them into our homes

Bluebottles, house flies, fruit flies – whatever they’re called, we don’t like any of the little buzzers in our homes. House flies and bluebottles are the biggest nuisance as they carry diseases such as gastroenteritis and salmonella which they transmit through saliva and faeces. The former breed mostly in rotting organic matter, the latter in meat and cheese. 

Fruit flies are less of a hygiene threat but it’s still not nice to find them clustering around over-ripe fruit. Here’s how to keep the bugs at bay this summer.

Find out how to get rid of clothes moths

Rules of hygiene

Flies come indoors to find things to eat, so cover all food when flies are around.

Wet pet food in particular is a favourite breeding ground. Put down small quantities more often and remove the bowl when the animal has finished feeding. Out and about a lot? Invest in an automatic, battery-powered pet food dispenser that is timed to your pet’s mealtimes.

Wash dishes straight after use and don’t leave them dirty in the dishwasher for days.

Make sure the lid on your waste bin closes completely and wash it out weekly with bleach or disinfectant.

Keep ripe and over-ripe fruit in the fridge and eat it by the sell-by date. Put decaying fruit and veg in the compost bin and make sure the lid is on tightly.

Rinse out bottles and jars before putting in the recycling bin.

Store your bin out of direct sunlight to reduce smells, which will stop flies being attracted to it.

If you do get an infestation of flies, vacuum first, cleaning behind furniture and shelving because that’s where flies like to hide; then wash down surfaces with a disinfectant spray or wet wipes to pick up any fly eggs.

Man-made fly deterrents

A spray insecticide is fine but read the instructions and use in a well-ventilated area. Never use near food or the surfaces where you prepare food, avoid fish tanks and be very careful around pets, babies and those with breathing difficulties.

Flypapers are ugly and sticky but they are effective. Hang where they can’t get stuck to your face as you walk past and replace regularly or when full.

Electric, ultra-violet bug traps attract the flies, then kill them when they land (but they smell slightly of burning and make a noise).

Pick up a cheap, electric fly swat and have a work-out as you zap.

Beaded curtains or mesh screens across doorways can help – flies can’t fly through them – plus add fly screens to windows.

Read our guide to gadgets to make your home fly-free

Natural fly deterrents

Grow herbs like basil and mint on your windowsill – flies hate them - and put a few sprigs on the worktop when you’re cutting up meat or fish.

Make your own fly trap using a jar filled with sugary water and a paper cone in the top – the flies can’t escape once they’ve gone down the cone into the jar.

Boil malt vinegar to clear your kitchen fast.

Flies hate the smell of essential oils like lemon grass, peppermint, lavender and eucalyptus – put a few drops in a spray bottle and use around the house daily.

They also hate the smell of camphor (a traditional moth deterrent) which you can buy online, cloves and cinnamon.

Hang clear plastic bags filled with water on doorways, to stop flies entering. Nobody seems to know why it works but it does!

Find out how to make your home more eco-friendly

Flies only part of your insect problem this summer? Learn how to get rid of spiders, as well as how to control slugs and snails.

Saga Home Insurance provides cover that goes beyond what you might expect. For more information and to get a quote click here.


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The opinions expressed are those of the author and are not held by Saga unless specifically stated. The material is for general information only and does not constitute investment, tax, legal, medical or other form of advice. You should not rely on this information to make (or refrain from making) any decisions. Always obtain independent, professional advice for your own particular situation.

How To Get Rid Of House Flies

Vladimir1965Getty Images

Are you wondering how to get rid of house flies in your home? The common pests — with a single pair of wings and compound red eyes — are known for breeding in kitchen bins, faeces, or on piles of spoiled food. To help you prevent house flies, we've done our research and have rounded up the best advice and natural methods to try.

While house flies might be frustratingly difficult to get rid of, there are some natural ways to keep them out of your home. We speak to the experts at British Pest Control Association and Rentokil to find out more...

How to get rid of house flies

"Prevention is better than cure. The best way to keep flies away is to limit a fly's access to food and water – particularly in your kitchen," Natalie Bungay, Technical Officer, British Pest Control Association tells Country Living.

House flies have a short lifespan, but they can reproduce quickly and in large numbers. If you are worried about an infestation of flies in your home, it is advised you call the professionals. BPCA has a list of qualified and audited pest professionals on its website.

Professionals will be able to safely and effectively deal with the pests, so it's always worth asking for help if you are unsure.

"The best way to deal with a fly problem is to prevent an infestation from forming in the first place. There are some easy and practical steps you can take to help deter flies from your home," David Cross from Rentokil tells us.

Ways to keep flies away include...

      1. Make sure all food waste is correctly disposed of in a bin with a lid
      2. Keep outside bins secure with sealed lids and away from windows and doors
      3. Clean up food and water spills as soon as they occur
      4. Keep your food covered to stop flies landing and subsequently feeding off your plate
      5. Keep windows and doors closed or install fly screens to keep out home-invaders
      6. Deny flies access by keeping doors closed after dark, or block out the light with curtains
      7. Clean up after your pets, as faeces is the perfect breeding place for flies
      8. Remove any dead flies, as these can be a food source for other pests such as carpet beetles
        1. Homemade remedies to help get rid of house flies

          Homemade remedies can also be a great way to naturally keep house flies out of the home — and brilliantly, too, they are incredibly easy to make yourself.

          You can try to. ..

          1. Put a few drops of eucalyptus oil onto a cloth and hang them near doors or windows
          2. Place mint on kitchen window sills — this will also keep them away
          3. Cut up fresh orange peel and place onto a plate
          4. Citronella candles can help to keep flies away, especially in the garden
          5. Grow certain flowers that are known for repelling house flies, including marigold, lavender, bay leaves and catnip.
          6. Flies don't like the smell of pepper. One natural deterrent is to mix up a water and pepper spray and spritz it around your home
            1. Natural products to keep flies out of the home

              Are house flies dangerous?

              "Keeping flies away from your food is vital for protecting your health. The adage 'if you followed a fly for a day, you wouldn’t eat for a week' is entirely accurate," Natalie continues.

              "Flies feed by vomiting saliva onto your food, stamping their dirty legs up and down in the sick, and then sucking up the resulting liquid. The bacteria from its gut can transmit everything from food poisoning to cholera."

              CobraCZGetty Images

              What do house flies look like?

              House flies have...

              • Six legs
              • A small, oval body
              • Antennas
              • They are usually grey in appearance and display four black stripes on their chest
              • Adult house flies are about 4 to 7.5mm long
              • Female house flies are usually larger than males

                photointrigueGetty Images

                What do I do if I have a lot of flies in my house?


                Most often, if you find you have a lot of flies in your house, they are entering through small cracks in walls or doors. House flies can often be more of a problem during the summer months, especially as the weather gets warmer. As well as this, they also breed in filth (such as bins, rotting food and dirt), so one of the ways to keep them at bay is to ensure your house is clean. Seal any bins, keep surfaces sanitised and don't leave food out on the counter.

                Don't forget to:

                • Check for any food waste which could be attracting flies
                • Empty your bins regularly
                • Clean under and around your appliances

                  What attracts flies in your house?

                  "Spotting a few flies buzzing around does not necessarily mean you have a serious fly problem, although you should probably start keeping an eye out for other tell-tale signs, such as small dark clusters of spots in light areas and the presence of maggots," David Cross from Rentokil continues.

                  Common house flies are attracted to rotten items such as feces, pet waste and rotting meat, whereas fruit flies are more likely to seek sugary substances such as overripe fruit, spilled fizzy drinks, and alcohol.

                  House flies are drawn to:

                  • Dirty conditions
                  • Spilt food
                  • Sticky surfaces from drink spillages
                  • Scum at the bottom of drains
                  • Feces and pet waste
                  • Alcohol

                    vovashevchukGetty Images

                    Where do flies lay their eggs in a house?

                    House flies will commonly lay their eggs in any warm, moist material. When the weather is warm, eggs will hatch in around 12 to 24 hours.

                    Some places flies might lay their eggs include...

                    • Piles of rubbish and waste
                    • Decaying material such as grass clippings
                    • Feces

                      Are houseflies harmful?

                      Houseflies aren't harmful, but are just a nuisance. One thing to note is that they do carry bacteria and germs, so be careful if they land on your food before eating. Some of the diseases they carry include:

                      • Food poisoning
                      • Cholera
                      • Eye infections
                      • E. coli
                      • Typhoid fever
                      • Dysentery
                      • Tuberculosis

                        How to keep flies away outside


                        It's not only in the home that the flying creatures buzz around in: they regularly fly around our garden spaces (particularly if there's food involved). If you're looking for clever ways to keep flies at bay, one of the key ways of outdoor fly prevention is knowing what they don't like.

                        Florian KlaesGetty Images

                        Natural ways to keep them away outside includes. ..

                        1. Placing whole cloves into a ripe apple or a piece of citrus and placing it onto a plate
                        2. Growing lavender is also a natural way to keep flies away as they don't like the smell
                        3. Place citrus fruits and skins in a muslin cloth bag outside
                        4. Flies also don't like basil, so these are brilliant to have growing outside
                        5. Nasturtiums planted in the garden will also keep the flies away
                        6. Clean up any food spillages quickly, especially if you are dining alfresco
                          1. Browse our other handy pest control guides...

                            • How to get rid of mice
                            • How to get rid of slugs
                            • How to get rid of greenfly

                              folk remedies and effective traps

                              We live in a private house and in the summer we keep not only the windows open, but also the front doors, so that it would be convenient for children to run out to the site and run back. There are mosquito nets on the windows, and we hung tulle on the door. Bees and wasps rarely seep through the tulle, but at least the flies have something.

                              Flies constantly hang around in the kitchen, sit on leftover food if you don't close it with a lid. This in itself is unpleasant. Flies also pester at night - they run around the open parts of the body. Sometimes because of this, the little daughter wakes up and starts crying.

                              We tried sticky fly tapes, but didn't see much of a difference. A dozen flies stuck, and another two dozen continue to fly as if nothing had happened.

                              Tell me what can be done to get rid of flies and they never appear again?

                              Andrey Nenastiev

                              defeated flies in his house

                              Author's profile

                              You are not alone in your trouble: in summer, flies constantly fly into private houses and apartments. There are especially many flies in late August and early September, when it starts to get cold outside.

                              It seems that flies are mostly annoying by the very fact of their appearance: they fly, buzz, sit on people and just make people nervous. But besides this, flies also lay eggs. So they can carry dangerous diseases, such as E. coli. Therefore, it is undesirable for insects to sit on food.

                              Unlike, for example, ants or cockroaches, it is not so difficult to drive out flies. You can do without expensive traps and chemicals. I'll tell you how to do it and how I drove the flies away.

                              Fly Traps

                              Traps are one of the easiest ways to deal with flies: no chemicals are required, your apartment or house will not smell bad, and you can set the trap and forget about it for a while.

                              Traps work like this: a fly smells the bait and flies into the narrow neck of the trap, but can no longer fly out. As a bait, you can use jam, syrup, beer, honey, or anything else sweet and fluid.

                              As the trap fills with flies, it is necessary to clean it - shake out the insects along with the old bait and pour in a new one. Before updating, the trap can be washed, but some owners do not do this on purpose so that the container is more attractive to insects.

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                              How often to clean the trap depends on the number of flies and the performance of the bait: if you see that the flies are no longer interested in jam, then it's time to replace it.

                              This is a factory fly trap that also helps against wasps. The kit comes with a ready-made bait - however, in the reviews on Leroy Merlin they write that the manufacturer periodically forgets to put it in, and buyers have to fill the trap with jam themselves. And so you can make a trap from a plastic bottle yourself. In addition to being cheap, the advantage of such a trap is that you can see how many flies have been caught through the transparent walls of the bottle. However, someone will not like looking at insects, on the contrary

                              Sticky tapes

                              Sticky fly tapes are usually hung on a chandelier. Insects sit on the tape, stick to it and die. Whether flies land on the tape depends on what it is lubricated with. Manufacturers use different baits.

                              I tried three types of tape in my house until I found an effective one. I realized that it is necessary to focus on the price: if the tape is cheap, then it will hang idle, and if it is more expensive than the average, then flies will immediately stick. It was the tapes that ultimately helped me get rid of the flies.

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                              You can also make your own fly catching tape. To do this, you need to cut the paper into strips and smear these strips with rosin or resin - all this is sold in microelectronics stores, because it is used for soldering. If you add sugar, linseed or castor oil to rosin or resin, the trap will be even more attractive. Some people prepare such a mixture in a water bath so that everything mixes better.

                              The main disadvantage of stickies is their terrible appearance, especially when a lot of flies stick. The tapes are also quite long, and if the ceilings in the apartment are low, then periodically adults will stick their hair to them.

                              This Velcro in my house turned out to be useless. She hung for two weeks, and during this time only one fly was caught. Everyone else continued to quietly fly around the house We hung another tape from another manufacturer in the kitchen. When it was covered with flies, we threw it out, and we didn’t hang a new one any more: its appearance discouraged any appetite
                              This Velcro in my house turned out to be useless. She hung for two weeks, and during this time only one fly was caught. Everyone else continued to quietly fly around the house. We hung another ribbon from another manufacturer in the kitchen. When it was covered with flies, we threw it away, and didn’t hang a new one anymore: its appearance discouraged any appetite Prices for sticky tapes from flies on Ozone start at 84 R, but it’s better not to take the cheapest ones

                              Fumigators

                              Fumigators are electrical appliances , which are plugged into an outlet and exude an unbearable smell for flies.

                              It is difficult to find a special fumigator specifically for flies - most devices are positioned as fumigators for mosquitoes and flies. I tried one of these devices, and it only helped against mosquitoes, but had no effect on flies. The flies even sat right on the working fumigator and calmly rubbed their paws.

                              Also, although manufacturers write that only insects will smell from the fumigator, in fact, people also feel it. Sometimes he is quite harsh.

                              I don't recommend using this method with flies, although it is quite effective against mosquitoes.

                              At Wildberry you can find a mosquito and fly fumigator for R184

                              Sprays and aerosols

                              You can also use chemicals against insects - insecticides that need to be sprayed around an apartment or house.

                              Insecticides are very effective, but they have several serious drawbacks:

                              1. Work one time. After spraying, all the flies will die, and the next day new ones will fly in - and you have to spray again. That is, the premises will have to be processed every day.
                              2. Dangerous. Insecticides should not be used in the kitchen, and this is where flies usually accumulate. Sprays and aerosols often have a pungent odor; after applying them, you need to leave your home for 30-40 minutes to ventilate it.

                              When there were a lot of flies in my house, we used an aerosol - ordinary dichlorvos for 90 R. The procedure was quite complicated. My wife and children went outside, I sprayed dichlorvos in places where I most often saw flies. Open all windows at the same time. The smell was unbearable - my throat tickled and I began to cough.

                              /little-death/

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                              I sprayed dichlorvos for no more than five minutes, and then ran out of the house. We all returned together in about 30 minutes. There was a residual smell in the house, and all the flies were lying on the floor.

                              This insecticide "Doctor Klaus" is very powerful. If you spray a lot of it, it is better not to enter the room for at least half an hour, otherwise it will start to pinch your eyes and tickle your throat. The price in Leroy Merlin is 284 R

                              Poisons in jars

                              Poisons in jars are also chemicals, but in a safer state: powder or liquid. The powder is poured on lids for jars or saucers and placed around the apartment. You can also sprinkle the powder on the windowsills or moisten it with water and get a paste that you can use to smear, for example, the edges of tables or a kitchen set.

                              If you buy this poison, read the instructions for how to use it. Often the chemical does not kill the flies, but suppresses them: they fall to the floor and crawl. The manufacturer of the poison suggests that the owners should finish off the insects with a fly swatter or newspaper, and they write about this in the instructions. That is, "drunk" flies on the floor do not mean that the remedy does not work - on the contrary, it does just that.

                              I tried this fly jam. I bought three jars of 50 R at the pest control store Inside the jars is a jelly-like liquid. My wife expected that the flies would roll right in the jar, and I convinced them that they would eat poison and fall on the floor. Both were wrong: the flies had to be killed
                              I tried this fly jam. I bought three jars of 50 R each in a pest control store. There is a jelly-like liquid inside the jars. My wife expected that the flies would roll right in the jar, and I convinced them that they would eat poison and fall on the floor. Both were wrong: the flies had to be finished off Poison in the form of a powder can be found in Leroy for 198 R Agita is designed specifically to fight flies. Inside the granules that need to be dissolved in water, and spray the room with the resulting solution. One can of Agita on Wildberry costs 770 R

                              Flyswatter

                              Flyswatter is the oldest and most tedious way to kill flies: you will have to chase after each fly.

                              Electric fly swatters are still being sold: devices with a grid through which a current that is safe for humans, but deadly for flies, passes. Such flyswatters reduce the chance of missing even if the flycatcher touches the fly tangentially.

                              /muha-goodbuy/

                              We must take: electric fly swatter

                              Electric fly swatter is more expensive. This is an option for 590 R at Wildberry On Ozone, prices for fly swatters start from 130 R

                              Folk remedies

                              There are also folk remedies for fighting flies. They are very cheap and simple, but the effectiveness of these funds has not been proven: it works for someone, it doesn’t work for someone.

                              Essential oils. If there is an aroma lamp, add lavender, basil, eucalyptus, mint or clove oil to it. If there is no aroma lamp, a few drops of oil are dissolved in water. Before spraying the solution, open the windows so that the flies have somewhere to fly out. The solution is sprayed everywhere. This method does not last long: aromatic oils evaporate quickly.

                              Vodka. Its scent also repels flies. Vodka is poured into a spray bottle and all rooms are sprayed. You also need to open the windows first so that the flies can easily find an escape route.

                              Apple cider vinegar. It must be poured into a jar and covered with a lid, in which holes should be made for flies with a diameter of 5-6 mm. The flies will crawl into the holes and die. In fact, this is also a trap.

                              Black pepper. You just need to spread it in places where flies accumulate - they do not like it. This method is very limited: flies will not land only next to black pepper, but nothing will prevent them from flying all over the apartment.

                              Plants. There are two kinds of plants that catch flies with their leaves. This is the Venus flytrap, whose leaves snap shut when a fly lands, and the butterfly. Zhiryanka still produces sugar, which attracts flies, and when they sit on the leaves, they stick to them.

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                              This is what a Venus flytrap looks like. Flies fly into the "mouth" of the plant - it slams shut, and the flower eats the fly. Source: Mihai-Bogdan Lazar / Shutterstock

                              Flies get used to the means of dealing with them

                              Lyudmila Semochkina

                              expert in sanitary and epidemiological well-being

                              I would add special stickers to the means against flies. They look more decent than ribbons: they are, for example, in the form of butterflies and are glued to windows. It is advisable to place stickers higher so that children and pets do not get them. The flies will land on the stickers, eat poison and die within a few days. The active ingredient in the stickers is the pesticide methomyl.

                              Dichlorvos, chlorpyrifos and similar solutions are indeed often used in country houses. They are very effective, but also very toxic.

                              To reduce the population of flies in a private house, you need to regularly clean the gutters and sewers - this is the main breeding ground for some types of flies. You can also get social spiders in the suburban area - this is a special kind of spiders that can live a "social" life. This method was used in hospitals in South Africa, because none of the available drugs worked on flies there.

                              All insects develop resistance to chemicals over time - in other words, they get used to them. Therefore, it is worth changing the drugs. When changing, look not at the name, but at the active substance: the chemical should change, not the trademark.

                              How to prevent flies

                              To prevent flies from appearing again and again, you need to follow these rules:

                              1. Keep clean, especially in the kitchen. Remove crumbs and leftover food from the table in time. Throw away spoiled food immediately.
                              2. The trash can must have a lid and not overflow.
                              3. Hang mosquito nets on windows.
                              4. If you do not live in an apartment, but in a private house, make sure that compost heaps and landfills, even temporary ones, are not near your home. If the doors are constantly open, you need a soft mesh like a mosquito net - with a cell through which even a mosquito will not crawl through. Tulle won't help here.

                              What to do? Readers ask - experts answer

                              Ask your question

                              How to get rid of flies: remedies, instructions

                              Flies in the house are not only an irritant, but also a source of potential danger to residents. RBC-Nedvizhimost explains how to kill flies indoors and prevent them from appearing in the future

                              Photo: Shutterstock

                              Flies live on average for about a month, but if they settle in a house, they manage to do a decent amount of harm to people during this time. These insects multiply rapidly and interfere with the tenants of the apartment. Together with an expert, we figure out why flies are dangerous, how to get rid of them using folk, industrial methods, and when it's time to resort to the help of professionals.

                              • Where do flies come from
                              • What are dangerous
                              • Fly repellent
                              • How to make a fly trap
                              • Expert comments

                              The material was commented by Petr Fisenko, Disinfector Specialist of Dez_Hunter Disinfection Service

                              adv.rbc.ru

                              Where do flies come from

                              Flies enter the apartment from the street from the entrance or through ventilation openings and multiply within it. Insect larvae often enter houses with spoiled vegetables and fruits.

                              The problem is especially urgent in summer, when it is hot outside and insects actively breed on organic garbage. By the way, in summer, flies can do without visiting human dwellings, but once inside, they often cannot fly out of the room: due to the peculiarities of the reticulum structure of their eyes, they do not distinguish glass.

                              The "invasion" of flies often happens in the fall, when the temperature outside drops - they instinctively look for a warmer place. For the winter, insects hibernate and may well remain in the secluded places of the apartment to wake up in the spring.

                              Why flies are dangerous

                              In addition to annoying buzzing, flies, like most insects, also cause more serious problems - they are carriers of infectious diseases, including tuberculosis, typhoid, cholera and helminthiasis.

                              Insects feed through a long proboscis, preferring liquid food. Getting into the kitchen, they will first of all fly to a mug of cold tea, spilled compote or a drop of honey left on the table. Bacteria spread quickly, getting from the paws of flies to food and garbage. If an insect lays eggs in food, it can be very poisonous. In particular, for this reason, doctors advise avoiding street snacks, especially during the hot season.

                              Photo: Shutterstock

                              Flies bite and can cause allergies, severe irritation and itching. Insect bites should be disinfected as soon as possible, for this any of the sanitizers that have become familiar in everyday life will do.

                              In most cases, the problem is easier to prevent than to solve. If the windows are open during the warm season, they need to install screens. Seal gaps, do not leave doors open for a long time. You can also install a couple of traps in the entrance or hang ribbons so that the flies that enter the house do not fly to the apartment. Food and drinks should not be left in the room, dirty dishes should not be left in the sink, surfaces should be wiped, and pet bowls and toilets should be clean. Organic trash attracts flies even if it's in a closed closet or bucket, so it needs to be taken out daily. Sink drains in kitchens and bathrooms must be kept clean.

                              How to get rid of flies: 9 products

                              1. Traps

                              Self-made fly traps should contain bait - pieces of fruit, syrups, jam. In parallel with the destruction of flies that are in the room, install screens on the windows so that new insects do not fly in, attracted by the smells from the trap. Instructions for making a trap are given below.

                              2. Tapes

                              There are many options for special insect tape. It is hung on a ceiling or a chandelier, flies sit on a trap, stick and die. You can make the tape yourself: cut the paper into strips, grease it with rosin or resin, in which castor or linseed oil, glycerin and sugar are dissolved. The mixture must be prepared in a water bath.

                              3. Fumigators

                              These are best used in closed areas where people and pets should leave for a while. Close windows and doors, plug the fumigator into a socket and wait for the required time, which is indicated in the instructions for the product. Then the room needs to be ventilated, and nets on the windows are desirable so that the insects do not fly into the treated apartment again.

                              4. Aerosol sprays

                              It is essential to use insecticidal products away from food and personal hygiene items. Make sure that pets do not enter the treated area for a couple of hours - chemical sprays can be dangerous for them. After use, ventilate the room and wipe the surfaces on which the sprayed substance has settled with a damp cloth.

                              5. Essential oils

                              Like many insects, flies are sensitive to odors. Try lighting citronella candles or an aroma lamp with lavender, basil, eucalyptus, or mint essential oils. You can also add them to water and spray doorframes and window sills with a spray bottle.

                              6. Plants

                              Some herbs have a strong, specific odor that repels flies. You can arrange in vases or spread out branches of wormwood, bird cherry, elderberry or nettle in a room with flies. Both fresh and dried plants are suitable - for some time they also spread a bright aroma around.

                              7. Darkness

                              Light attracts flies. Therefore, if you darken the room, leaving only the window open, there is a chance that the insects will fly out. But this method is relevant only if there is nothing in the room that could interest them - drinks, food, dirt and garbage. Otherwise, the flies will continue to feed and breed without trying to leave the apartment.

                              8. Fly Swatters and Vacuum Cleaner

                              The old tried and true way to kill some insects is physical impact, rolled up newspaper or commercially available fly swatters will do. Flies can be collected with a vacuum cleaner, but then the contents of the garbage bag should be thrown away immediately. But such methods are good if there are one or two insects in the apartment or the owners want to relieve nervous tension.

                              Photo: Shutterstock

                              9. Professional disinfection

                              If there are too many insects, and the available methods have been tried and do not help, it makes sense to turn to exterminators. Specialists will treat the premises.

                              How to make a fly trap

                              A plastic bottle with a cut-off neck is useful for this. There should be bait inside, preferably something sweet. Then the paper sheet folded into a cone is placed inside the bottle with a sharp edge, so that the tip does not touch the liquid. Flies will climb inside, but they will not be able to fly back through a narrow opening.

                              Another version of the trap is with soap suds. At the bottom of the jar, table vinegar and a few drops of dishwashing detergent are poured. The top of the jar is covered with cling film and a hole is made through which the flies can get inside.

                              Petr Fisenko, Disinfector Specialist of the Dez_Hunter Disinfection Service:

                              — Is it possible to use folk remedies like wormwood and essential oils if there are pets in the apartment?

                              - Plant repellents and some essential oils have a strong odor that irritates and disorientates insects. The phytoncides they secrete can kill flies. Insects cannot be nearby and quickly leave the room. But you need to use them with caution, pets can be allergic to these smells, so it is better to isolate them while using the products.

                              - Is it worth additional treatment of surfaces that have had flies?

                              — Flies can spread dangerous infections and diseases. That is why, first of all, you need to make sure that food does not get into the food, on which insects could leave eggs. It is necessary to regularly wipe the surfaces of dining tables with soda solution, wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating, and do not leave ready meals in the public domain. Clothing and textiles of these insects attract little.

                              — When is the situation critical and you need to call professionals?

                              - If two or three flies flew into the apartment through the window - this is not a disaster, you can deal with them yourself (for example, using Velcro or aerosol) and they will not cause much harm. The situation becomes critical when, in the absence of an obvious source of flies, it becomes more and more. If you do not have dampness in your apartment, mosquito nets are installed on the windows, the garbage chamber in the entrance is in proper sanitary condition, and flies appear regularly and in large numbers - this is a reason to turn to specialists. As practice shows, fly nests in an apartment are often found in the most inaccessible places: in cracks and crevices under window sills, in ventilation, in closets. Only a disinfectant with sufficient experience will be able to determine the source of insects and competently eliminate it.

                              — How do professionals treat a room?

                              — The extermination of flies in the apartment is carried out using a cold fog generator. This is a method of spraying an insecticide with air, in the form of an aerosol, with particles no larger than 100 microns. In the process of processing, a haze or a cloud with a fine dispersion of a substance spreads throughout the room, enveloping it and penetrating into various cracks and hard-to-reach places. Processing time depends on the area of ​​​​the apartment, on average it is 30-40 minutes. After at least three hours, you can return to the apartment and ventilate it thoroughly for an hour. Subject to all the recommendations of the disinfector, the treatment does not pose any danger to people and pets.


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