Why are there so many flies everywhere? Four ways to get rid of flies fast
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If your kitchen, living room or conservatory suddenly seems full of flies this summer, plenty of people are asking the same thing: why are there so many flies everywhere?
Google searches linked to flies have surged across the UK over the past month, with interest in “why do flies keep coming in my house” up 4,200% and searches for “how to get rid of fruit flies fast” up 2,450%.
Warm weather can speed up the fly life cycle, while open windows, food waste, ripe fruit, bins and pet food can all give flies a reason to head indoors and, in some cases, breed.
The good news is that you do not need to spend the rest of summer chasing them around with a tea towel. A layered approach can be much more effective, tackling flies outside, trapping those that make it indoors and dealing quickly with the stubborn survivors.
Here is the four-step plan.
Why are there so many flies in my house?
Flies are attracted by food, waste, moisture and warmth, which means summer homes can offer plenty of reasons for them to come inside.
Open doors and windows make access easy, while fruit bowls, kitchen bins, recycling, pet food and food spills can all provide the smells they are looking for.
If flies keep appearing even after you kill the ones you can see, it is worth checking whether something in or around the home is continually attracting them.
That is why the most effective approach is usually not one single gadget, but several different lines of defence working together.
Step 1: Stop flies getting close to your home
The first job is to reduce the number of flies gathering around the house in the first place.
Outdoor bait traps can be useful around wheelie bins, compost areas and the far end of the garden, helping draw flies away from doors and windows before they make it inside.
The Buzz Baited RTU Outdoor Fly Trap costs £6.99 and is designed for exactly that job.
Simply add water and hang it outdoors away from seating areas and open doors. The bait attracts flies into the trap, where they cannot escape.
According to the manufacturer, a single trap can catch up to 20,000 flies without poisons, making it suitable for gardens, patios, campsites and areas around bins.
Step 2: Get rid of flies already inside
Even if you reduce the number outside, some flies are still going to get through an open door or window.
A plug-in trap can help tackle those without you having to constantly chase them around.
The Zevo Flying Insect Trap uses blue and UV light to attract house flies, fruit flies and midges before trapping them on a concealed adhesive cartridge.
The £38.03 pack includes two plug-in devices and two cartridges, so you can place them in different rooms.
That could be particularly useful in kitchens, utility rooms, conservatories and areas near frequently opened doors.
The sticky cartridge is hidden inside the unit, so you do not have to look at trapped insects while it is in use.
At the time of writing, the Zevo had a 4.4-star Amazon rating from more than 26,000 ratings.
Step 3: Get rid of stubborn flies fast
No trap will catch every fly straight away.
There always seems to be one stubborn survivor circling the television, landing on the ceiling or disappearing the second you pick up a rolled-up newspaper.
The GeckoMan Electric Fly Swatter costs £24.99 and gives you a quicker way to deal with those stragglers.
It combines a rechargeable electric zapper with a rotating head and telescopic extension pole, making it easier to reach flies on ceilings, skylights and high windows.
The electrified mesh kills flying insects on contact and can also be used against mosquitoes, moths and other flying bugs.
The model was marked Amazon's Choice when we checked, with more than 3,500 ratings and more than 4,000 reportedly bought in the previous month.
Step 4: Do not dismiss good old-fashioned fly paper
Fly paper may feel old-fashioned, but it can still be surprisingly effective.
Sticky strips work without electricity, batteries or charging and can be particularly useful in garages, sheds, utility rooms and greenhouses where appearance matters less.
The Haimist pesticide-free fly paper 16-pack currently costs £7.64, which works out at around 48p per strip.
The strips are designed to catch flies and other flying insects without poisons, vapours or electrical power.
Amazon showed more than 15,000 ratings for the product when we checked, while more than 7,000 packs were reportedly bought during the previous month.
For less than £8 for 16 strips, it is also one of the cheapest options for keeping on hand during peak fly season.
How to get rid of fruit flies fast
Fruit flies need slightly different treatment because killing the adults will not solve the problem if they are still breeding nearby.
Start by checking fruit bowls for anything overripe or damaged and remove it straight away. Wipe up sticky spills, clean food-preparation areas and empty food-waste bins regularly.
It is also worth checking drains and recycling containers, as small amounts of organic residue can give fruit flies somewhere to feed and breed.
A Zevo Flying Insect Trap can help catch adult fruit flies, but removing the source is the most important part of stopping them coming back.
If the problem keeps returning, work through the kitchen methodically rather than simply killing the flies you can see.
How to stop flies coming back
If flies keep coming into your house, there is usually still something attracting them.
A few simple habits can make a significant difference:
- Empty kitchen and food-waste bins frequently in hot weather.
- Keep food covered and clear away leftovers quickly.
- Rinse tins, jars and food containers before putting them into recycling.
- Do not leave wet pet food sitting out for long periods.
- Wipe kitchen worktops and spills promptly.
- Keep compost bins and wheelie-bin lids closed.
- Check fruit bowls regularly and remove overripe fruit.
- Clean around bins, drains and recycling areas where food residue can collect.
The aim is to make your home less attractive to flies while using traps to deal with the ones that still get through.
Used together, those measures give you a much better chance of breaking the cycle rather than simply killing individual flies as they appear.