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Flies are controlled by removing breeding sources, blocking entry, and trapping remaining adults.

How to Get Rid of Flies: Proven Methods That Actually Work

How to Get Rid of Flies

Sign or symptom	Likely cause	Risk level	What to do next
Fresh activity related to How to Get Rid of Flies	flies are active nearby or recently passed through the area.	High if signs repeat or appear in multiple rooms.	Inspect the surrounding cracks, seams, food sources, and travel paths.
Old or isolated evidence	A past problem, accidental introduction, or inactive nesting site.	Moderate until you confirm whether activity is current.	Clean and mark the area, then recheck in 24 to 48 hours.
Multiple signs together	A developing infestation rather than a one-off sighting.	High because populations can spread before they are obvious.	Start control steps immediately and consider professional inspection.

Dealing with flies in your home is frustrating, but with the right approach you can eliminate them quickly and prevent them from returning. The key is to combine multiple strategies rather than relying on a single method. This guide walks you through every effective option available, from quick fixes to long-term solutions.

Before you start swatting, take a moment to identify what type of fly you are dealing with. Different species require different approaches. Check our complete guide to flies for identification help.

Step 1: Identify the Source

Every fly problem has a source, and finding it is the most important step. Flies breed in organic matter, so look for:

Overripe or rotting fruit and vegetables
Uncovered garbage cans or compost bins
Pet waste in the yard
Dirty drains with organic buildup
Dead animals in wall voids or crawl spaces

Without eliminating the breeding source, you will be fighting an endless battle against new generations of flies.

Step 2: Sanitation and Exclusion

Once you have identified the source, clean it up thoroughly. Wash garbage cans with hot soapy water. Clean drains with an enzymatic cleaner or a stiff brush. Store all food in sealed containers and wipe down counters after every meal.

Next, seal entry points. Install or repair fly screens on windows and doors. Check for gaps around pipes, vents, and utility lines. Even small openings can allow flies to enter.

Step 3: Deploy Traps

Fly traps are your most effective tool for reducing the adult fly population while you work on eliminating breeding sites. Options include:

Commercial Traps

UV light traps are excellent for indoor use, especially in kitchens and commercial spaces. They attract flies with ultraviolet light and capture them on glue boards, keeping the process discreet and sanitary.

DIY Traps

You can make highly effective traps at home. An apple cider vinegar trap works wonders for fruit flies. Simply fill a jar with apple cider vinegar, add a drop of dish soap to break the surface tension, and cover the jar with plastic wrap punctured with small holes.

For house flies, a simple sugar water trap or a DIY fly trap made from a cut plastic bottle can catch dozens of flies per day.

Fly Paper

Old-fashioned fly paper strips hung in problem areas remain surprisingly effective. They are inexpensive, non-toxic, and work around the clock without any electricity or maintenance.

Step 4: Use Sprays and Repellents

Fly spray containing pyrethrins or pyrethroids provides quick knockdown of adult flies. Use it as a supplemental measure, not your primary strategy. Always follow label directions and ventilate treated areas.

For a chemical-free approach, natural fly repellents offer a safer alternative. Essential oils like peppermint, eucalyptus, and lemongrass can deter flies when diffused or applied to entry points.

Step 5: Consider Mechanical Controls

An electric fly swatter is a satisfying and effective way to deal with individual flies that make it past your other defenses. Bug zappers can help in outdoor spaces like patios and garages, though they should be positioned away from seating areas to avoid attracting flies toward people.

Step 6: Address Specific Locations

The best approach depends on where the flies are concentrated:

Kitchen flies: Focus on food storage, garbage management, and drain cleaning
Bathroom flies: Clean drains and check for moisture problems
Garage flies: Secure garbage bins and remove organic debris
Restaurant flies: Implement a comprehensive integrated pest management program

When to Call a Professional

If you have tried these steps and the problem persists, or if you are dealing with a large-scale infestation, it is time to contact a professional fly control service. Professionals can identify hidden breeding sites, apply targeted treatments, and set up monitoring programs to prevent future infestations.

Prevention Going Forward

The best fly control is prevention. Maintain strict sanitation, keep doors and windows screened, and address moisture issues promptly. Consider planting fly-repelling plants near entry points and keep your yard free of pet waste and fallen fruit.

With consistent effort, you can keep your home virtually fly-free throughout the year.

Professional Insight

If there is one lesson my 15 years as a board-certified entomologist has taught me about fly control, it is that finding and eliminating the breeding source is worth more than every trap, spray, and gadget combined. I have walked into homes with ten different fly control products deployed and still found the problem persisting because a forgotten potato had rolled under the refrigerator three weeks earlier. Source elimination is step one, always. Everything else is supplemental. I recommend this same systematic approach to every client: identify the species, find the source, clean it up, and then deploy traps and barriers to manage any remaining adult flies.

Sources and References

EPA - Integrated Pest Management for Homeowners - EPA guidance on implementing IPM principles for effective residential pest control.
University of Florida Entomology - Residential Fly Management - UF comprehensive guide to identifying and managing common household fly species.
NPMA - Fly Prevention and Control - National Pest Management Association recommendations for preventing and controlling flies in homes.
Penn State Extension - Getting Rid of Flies - Penn State's evidence-based approach to residential fly elimination.
CDC - Preventing Fly-Related Illness - CDC guidance on reducing fly-related disease transmission in residential settings.

Main Causes

Indoor flies activity is driven by accessible breeding material and warmth. House flies and blow flies breed in garbage, pet waste, compost, and dead animals; fruit flies breed in overripe produce, drain biofilm, fermenting liquids, and unrinsed recycling; drain flies breed in the gelatinous film inside infrequently used drains; phorid flies breed in broken sewer lines and decomposing material under slabs. Adults find their way inside through torn screens, gaps around doors, vents, and any opening to the outside. Warm weather accelerates the entire life cycle, and a sustained population always points to an unaddressed source either inside the structure or close enough that adults keep arriving in volume.

How to Identify

Identify the species before treating, because effective control depends on locating the correct breeding site. House flies are gray with four dark thoracic stripes and feed on garbage and feces. Fruit flies are tiny, tan or yellow with red eyes, and breed in fermenting produce or drain biofilm. Drain flies are fuzzy, moth-like, and emerge in small slow flights from drains. Blow flies are large and metallic blue or green and indicate a dead animal nearby. Phorid flies hover in jerky paths and breed in broken sewer lines under slabs. Cluster flies are slow and dark and overwinter in attics. Sticky cards placed near suspected sources for 24 to 48 hours both confirm the species and pinpoint the breeding zone.

Risk and Severity

Flies are mechanical disease vectors, picking up pathogens from feces, decomposing material, and garbage on their bodies and depositing them on food and surfaces. House flies in particular regurgitate digestive fluids when feeding, contaminating any surface they land on. Documented transmissible pathogens include Salmonella, E. coli, Shigella, and Campylobacter. Blow flies in homes signal a dead animal in or near the structure — a secondary health concern from decomposition gases and additional pest activity around the carcass. Biting flies (horse flies, stable flies, black flies) deliver painful bites and can trigger allergic reactions; in some regions they transmit parasites or bacterial infections. Children, elderly, and immunocompromised individuals face elevated risk.

Solutions and Actions

Effective fly control requires locating and eliminating the breeding source — adult-only treatments produce only temporary relief. For house flies: remove and seal garbage, clean pet waste daily, manage compost properly, and check for dead animals in wall voids or attics if blow flies are present. For fruit flies: discard overripe produce, clean drains with enzymatic cleaner weekly, rinse recycling, and empty kitchen compost containers daily. For drain flies: brush drain walls thoroughly and treat with enzymatic drain cleaner weekly for at least three weeks. For phorid flies: investigate for broken sewer lines or moisture intrusion under slabs. Adult control through sticky cards, UV light traps, and targeted residual sprays supplements but never substitutes for source elimination.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fastest way to get rid of flies in my house?

The fastest approach combines immediate source elimination with aggressive trapping. Remove all exposed food waste, take out garbage, and clean drains. Simultaneously deploy species-appropriate traps: vinegar traps for fruit flies, UV glue board traps for house flies. For immediate knockdown of visible flies, an electric fly swatter or short burst of pyrethrin spray provides quick relief while your longer-term measures take effect.

Why do flies keep coming back after I get rid of them?

Recurring fly problems typically indicate either an ongoing breeding source that was not fully eliminated, new organic material accumulating where flies can breed, or flies entering from an external source like a neighbor's property. Review your sanitation practices, check for hidden organic debris under and behind appliances, verify all screens are intact, and consider whether the breeding source might be outside your home.

When should I call a professional exterminator for flies?

Consider professional help if DIY methods have not resolved the problem after two to three weeks of consistent effort, if you cannot locate the breeding source, if you suspect structural issues like a dead animal in walls or broken plumbing, or if the infestation is in a commercial food service setting requiring regulatory compliance. Professional pest control providers have specialized tools and expertise for finding hidden breeding sites.

Do ultrasonic pest repellers work on flies?

No. Scientific research has consistently found that ultrasonic pest repellers are ineffective against flies and most other pests. The Federal Trade Commission has taken enforcement action against companies making unsupported claims about ultrasonic device effectiveness. Invest your resources in proven methods like sanitation, exclusion, trapping, and when necessary, targeted chemical treatments.