It’s Summer, you open the windows to get some air, and before you know it, there’s a bluebottle doing laps around your kitchen. Every year it’s the same story. If you’ve been asking, ‘How do I keep flies out of the house?’ you’re definitely not the only one. Searches for that exact question have jumped by hundreds of per cent lately. Clearly, everyone’s had enough.
Flies are small, but they’ve been around for over 200 million years, so they’ve mastered being annoying. What they lack in brains, they make up for in persistence.
Why Flies Love Your Home
Flies don’t simply pick any house to invade. They have smells they are attracted to, and they can be found in most homes. The No. 1 source is food waste, particularly anything rotting. Flies can smell rotting meat from impossibly far off.
If your bin has not been emptied in a couple of days, they need no further invitation. Fruit flies, for one, are crazy about overripe bananas, squishy tomatoes, and anything that’s beginning to go soft. Houseflies and bluebottles are attracted to the meat scraps or other leftovers.
An overlooked apple at the back of the fruit bowl or a dirty chopping board can be sufficient to set them off. Then there’s pet waste. If you have dogs or cats, then their litter boxes or grassy patches in your garden can become fly magnets. They’re attracted to whatever organic thing is decaying. The golden rule is this: the sooner you clean, the fewer flies you’ll have.
The Bin Situation
Let’s be honest—bins are the biggest problem. A warm kitchen and a full bin are basically a fly buffet. If your bin starts smelling, that scent travels fast.
Here’s what genuinely helps: don’t let meat waste hang around indoors. Bag it separately and take it outside straight away. Even a used napkin with meat juice can attract flies. The same goes for paper towels, bones, or greasy sponges. Anything that’s touched raw meat should go straight into a sealed bag.
For outdoor bins, pour boiling water over any maggots you spot. Then clean with a mix of bleach and water to get rid of residue. Try to keep the bin shaded, too. Heat speeds up decay and makes smells stronger, which draws even more flies.
How To Keep Flies Out Of Your House When The Door Is Open
This one’s the hardest part. You want airflow, but you don’t want every fly in the neighbourhood joining you. Unfortunately, there’s no perfect solution, but a few things genuinely help.
Start with fly screens. They’re simple, affordable, and actually work. If you rent or can’t install them permanently, buy magnetic screens that stick to your doorframe. They’re not flawless, but much better than nothing.
How to stop flies coming in the house in summer really comes down to timing. Open windows early morning or late evening when fewer flies are around. Keep lights off near open windows because flies are drawn to light. If you must have the lights on, close your curtains so the light doesn’t spill outside.
Natural Deterrents That Work
If you want to steer clear of chemicals, there are also natural ways to make your home less inviting. So, how do I get rid of flies in my house naturally? Start with plants.
Basil works surprisingly well. Flies can’t stand the smell. Place a small pot on your kitchen windowsill or counter. You can also add a drop or two of essential oils, such as peppermint, lemongrass, lavender or eucalyptus.
Dilute a few drops with water in a spray bottle, then spritz the mixture around windows and doors each day. You could also try citronella in either candle or potted plant form. The only downside is that it is useful only in confined places. To cover an open area, you’d need several candles or plants — and that can get expensive.
How Do I Keep Flies Out of the House Easily
If they’ve already made their way in, the simplest solution might surprise you—a hoover. Seriously. Just vacuum them up when they land. It’s faster, cleaner, and saves you from leaving marks on the wall.
If you’ve got lots flying around, try this trick: turn off all the lights, open a window, and leave the room for a while.
Flies naturally move toward light. When the sun comes up or when the room brightens, they’ll head out on their own. It’s low-effort and works more often than you’d think.
How To Get Rid Of House Flies Naturally
Apple cider vinegar traps are inexpensive and simple. Pour some of it cautiously in a jar, roll a piece of paper up for a funnel and fit it in the top. The odour draws them in, but they cannot figure out where to go. When you’ve caught a few, release them far from your home.
You’ve likely heard of folks hanging bags of water containing coins by windows. The theory is that such reflections disorient the flies. Some are die-hards, but frankly, results are all over the place. It only operates in bright light and not in the shade, so it’s kind of hit or miss.
How To Keep Flies Out Of Your House Naturally Long-Term
The trick to keeping flies away isn’t a one-time fix — it’s more about creating habits you do each and every day. Cover food; clean off surfaces after preparing food, and don’t leave out dirty dishes. Even the smallest of spills can lure fruit flies.
How to get rid of flies in the house UK-style involves taking notice of little things. Look under refrigerators, behind trash cans and in cupboards.
An infestation can begin with a leaking fruit juice bottle or a forgotten onion. Clean out the pantry every few weeks and toss anything past its prime.
The Cluster Fly Problem
If you ever go into your attic during cold weather and find hundreds of flies huddled together, these are probably cluster flies. They’re 8 mm long, dark grey with gold flecks, and they clump together to hibernate.
The good news is they’re not going for your food. They do lay eggs in earthworms, so they’re more a nuisance than a threat to your health. Even so, plug any holes around windows, roof edges and door frames before next winter to keep them out.
What Doesn’t Work
Sticky traps and fly papers might seem like an easy win, but they often attract more flies to the area before catching any. You might end up with even more buzzing around.
Chemical sprays are also overkill for small problems. They fill the room with fumes and don’t solve the root cause. Focus on cleaning and prevention instead.
The Winter 2024/25 Effect
This year could feel worse than usual. The UK’s mild, wet winter meant more flies survived the cold months. So if it seems like they’ve doubled this summer, you’re probably right.
When To Call Someone
If you’re experiencing more than an occasional few, it could be time to seek help. A female fly can deposit up to 500 eggs in her brief life, and those will hatch within a day.
And that’s how you have a little problem suddenly turn into a full-blown infestation.
Final Thoughts
In the end, how do I keep flies out of the house isn’t about fancy tricks. It’s about making your space unappealing to them. Keep bins sealed, clean surfaces, cover food, and use plants or oils to make the area smell unpleasant to flies.
A few are bound to sneak in—it’s just nature—but if you stay on top of cleaning and know what attracts them, you’ll win most of the battle. When one does get in, don’t panic. You’ve got your hoover, your vinegar trap, and now, all the right tricks to send them packing.
