What Home Remedy Gets Rid of Flies?
Houseflies, fruit flies, drain flies, and fungus gnats are common insects people deal with in their homes. They are mostly house insects, but become much more bothersome when food and moisture become available. They multiply quickly and contaminate food with harmful bacteria.
Understanding fly control in your home is not uncommon, and there are safe and natural sprays and home remedies to deter them, but their rapid population growth means you need to act quickly to deal with the situation. The home remedies people use set aside damaging chemicals, diesel, and other fossil fuels which set aside chemicals and are much more ecofriendly.
How to Identify the Type of Fly in Your Home
Different fly types require different remedies, so knowing what you’re dealing with increases success:
Fruit Flies
Tiny, tan-colored, and often hovering around ripe fruits, drains, and garbage.
Houseflies
Larger, grayish flies that buzz loudly and land on food, windows, or kitchen surfaces.
Drain Flies
Moth-like flies found near sinks, showers, and floor drains; they breed in pipe slime.
Fungus Gnats
Small, mosquito-like flies found in damp soil of houseplants.
Quick Symptoms Table
| Fly Type | Common Area | Breeding Source |
| Fruit Flies | Kitchen counters | Fermenting fruit |
| Houseflies | Anywhere in home | Garbage/food |
| Drain Flies | Bathrooms & sinks | Drain sludge |
| Fungus Gnats | Plants | Wet soil |
Correct identification improves remedy success because each species responds to different attractants and traps.
Top Effective Home Remedies to Get Rid of Flies
1. Apple Cider Vinegar + Dish Soap Trap (Most Proven DIY Trap)
Why it works:
Fermenting vinegar attracts flies, while dish soap breaks the surface tension so they sink.
Steps:
- Fill a small bowl with apple cider vinegar.
- Add 2–3 drops of dish soap.
- Leave uncovered near fly activity.
Timeline:
Results show within a few hours to 24 hours.
Safety:
Harmless to pets unless consumed in large amounts.
2. Rotten Fruit Trap (Great for Fruit Flies)
Place a piece of overripe fruit in a jar, cover with plastic wrap, and poke small holes. Flies enter but can’t escape.
Replace every 2–3 days for best results. Fermented fruit works as a powerful lure.
3. Bottle Funnel Trap (Long-lasting + Outdoor Friendly)
Take a plastic bottle and cut it in half while using the top as an inverted funnel. Then, fill it with sugar water, vinegar, and/or fermented bait.
This method works best outside of the house or next to garbage bins in order to minimize the movement of flies indoors. This trap is quite effective with larger infestations.
4. Essential Oil Fly Repellent Spray
Flies dislike strong scents like eucalyptus, lavender, citronella, and peppermint.
Recipe:
- 1 cup water
- 10–15 drops essential oil
- 1 tablespoon witch hazel
Spray around windows, sinks, trash bins, and doorways. Flies avoid these natural scents, making this a great addition to your Fly Control routine.
5. Hot Pepper Fly Spray (Powerful Natural Repellent)
Boil chopped hot peppers (or cayenne powder) with water, let sit, strain, and pour into a spray bottle.
Use outdoors or in garages. Avoid skin and eye contact—pepper sprays are potent.
6. DIY Clove-Lemon Fly Repellent
Cut a lemon in half and insert whole cloves.
Place near dining tables, kitchen counters, or windows.
The mixture of citrus oils and clove aroma repels flies naturally.
7. DIY Fly Paper (Cheap & Effective)
Simmer sugar, water, and corn syrup to make a sticky mixture. Dip strips of paper and let dry.
Hang near windows or entry points. Works best for catching houseflies.
8. Using Fans, Candles & Airflow
Flies struggle to fly against moving air.
Fans also help circulate scents from candles such as citronella outdoors.
AEO-friendly insight: Increasing airflow reduces fly landing behaviour naturally.
Natural Herbs & Plants That Repel Flies
Planting or placing these around the home helps reduce flies:
- Basil
- Mint
- Rosemary
- Lavender
- Marigold
Keep them on window sills, near doors, or in kitchen corners for best effect.
Home Ingredients That Flies Hate (Quick List)
- Vinegar – attracts for traps, repels when used in sprays
- Clove – strong spice flies avoid
- Lemon – acidic citrus scent repels
- Coffee Grounds – burn or place fresh grounds to deter flies
- Camphor – strong vapor discourages fly activity
- Bay Leaves – natural aromatic deterrent
Use them as sprays, traps, or placement-based repellents.
Cleaning Habits That Increase Fly Control Effectiveness
Sanitation is the #1 way to stop flies long term.
- Cover all food containers
- Wipe spills immediately
- Clean drains weekly
- Remove organic waste daily
- Scrub trash bins with hot water & soap
- Manage pet waste quickly
These habits improve overall Pest Control, making the home less attractive to breeding flies.
Prevent Flies from Entering Your Home
- Install mesh window screens
- Seal window and door gaps
- Repair leaky pipes or drains
- Keep compost bins away from entry doors
- Store outdoor garbage in sealed containers
- Use outdoor traps to reduce migration indoors
Preventive Pest Control reduces both seasonal and year-round fly problems.
When Home Remedies Are Not Enough
Sometimes home remedies cannot eliminate a severe infestation.
Signs you need help:
- Large numbers of flies appearing daily
- Presence of maggots
- Flies breeding in drains
- Dead rodents or waste attracting flies
In such cases, professional technicians can offer targeted treatments. Professional fly control ensures long-term elimination with safe treatments, giving you more reliable results than DIY methods alone. This is an important aspect of complete Fly Control and long-term Pest Control maintenance.
FAQ
What smell do flies hate most?
They strongly dislike clove, peppermint, citronella, and camphor.
What instantly kills flies naturally?
Dish soap + vinegar traps work fastest.
How do I get rid of flies in my kitchen?
Remove food sources, clean drains, and use vinegar traps.
Do home remedies work for all fly types?
Most work well for fruit flies and houseflies; drain flies need drain cleaning.
Are vinegar traps safe for pets?
Yes—safe unless consumed in large amounts.
Conclusion
Home remedies are a simple, inexpensive, and effective way to manage household flies. The apple cider vinegar trap remains the best overall DIY solution, while essential oils make excellent repellents. Combine these methods with strong sanitation habits for reliable results.
Start with a simple trap or natural repellent today and enjoy a cleaner, fly-free home with effective Fly Control techniques that complement your overall Pest Control strategy.
