5 Ways to Get Rid of Flies in the House

Summer time means long lazy evenings, jet-setting holidays on the horizon and, wait… what’s that buzzing noise?

Flies really are the fly in the ointment of an otherwise lovely summer’s day. They’re unhygienic, irritating and just plain stupid. When they manage to find their way into the house through open windows or doors, their incessant buzzing against the glass is enough to drive anyone mad. They can be especially irritating in a conservatory, where they might buzz out of reach of fly swatters or rolled up newspapers for hours on end.

So how can you keep the flies out during the summer months, without having to compromise on fresh air?

Fly screens

If you’re spending time out in the garden during the summer, it’s nice to be able to leave the back door open and allow the breeze to air the house. But flies, wasps, mosquitos and other pesky insects do find their way inside through open doors. Invest in a fly screen, curtain or net to hang over the open doorway. They come in a wide variety of styles, colours and materials, from chains to clear plastic. You and your family will be able to part them easily to enter and leave the house, but they create a barrier which buzzing insects can’t get past.

Fly-catching plants

A collection of fly catching plants arranged on windowsills work wonders at keeping down the number of flies in your home. Carracenia and Venus flytraps attract flies with a sweet sap, then trap them and devour them. The plants are attractive to look at, and flies will find their way towards them when looking for an escape through the window. Children especially love to watch carnivorous plants in action.

Bug zappers

Available in a variety of shapes and sizes, bug zappers attract insects with ultra-violet light, and efficiently eliminate them with a high-voltage electric current. Portable bug zappers can be taken outside if you’re enjoying the light evenings, placed close to food preparation areas in the kitchen or during barbeques to prevent food contamination, and even hung high up in your conservatory to get rid of pesky flies.

Citronella candles

If you’re staying outside into the dusk or later into the night, citronella candles will help to prevent biting insects and flies like mosquitos and midges from attacking. Flies don’t like the distinctive smell of citronella, and will avoid the smoke that the candles give off. These fly repellents also help to illuminate your garden and create a pleasant atmosphere if you’re having friends or family to visit.

Let the spiders roam

Although many people aren’t keen on house spiders, they do a fantastic job of keeping fly numbers down. There are no venomous or otherwise dangerous spiders found in Britain, and our native spiders are harmless, if a little creepy to look at. If you find spiders making webs in your conservatory or close to windows, why not let them get on with it and reduce the number of flies buzzing around the home?

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