How to Get Rid of Flies Outside: 8 Effective Methods!

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Do you have a fly problem? Flies can relentlessly enter your backyard and ruin your outdoor experience. We’ll cover a few tips to show how to get rid of flies outside!

Why Are There So Many Flies Outside my House?

The flies outside your house could be there for various reasons, but the most common reason adult flies will linger around is that they are looking for areas where they can feed and breed outdoors.

Outdoor flies are attracted to food, waste, carcasses, and other decaying organic matter. You’ll likely find them near garbage cans, compost piles, and animal waste areas.

You’ll see house flies linger in the same kinds of places indoors as well: kitchen, trash cans, spoiling food, etc. Although getting rid of flies outdoors is usually a bit more difficult.

Why Should I Get Rid of Flies?

Flies can be flat-out annoying. Buzzing around your backyard and home like they own the place. They can also make your home look dirty and unmaintained.

Most importantly, flies can be dangerous. More than 120,000 species of flies worldwide and some of these species can make their way into your home and cause diseases like typhoid, stomach flu, diarrhea, etc. This includes the common housefly that’s flying around your living room right now!

It’s important to get rid of those pesky flies outside to protect your friends and family. In general, the longer you wait to deal with the fly invasion, the more time there is for flies to reproduce- creating a spiral of difficulty.

So let’s talk about how to get rid of flies outside!

How to Get Rid of Flies Outside

Getting rid of those flies outside will take a combination of 1) removing them from your yard and 2) preventing them from coming back.

You’ll need to attack the infestation from the source to be most effective. Your backyard should be an enjoyable place for outdoor activities with no disturbance from flies!

Here are some great steps that will help you get rid of the flies outside and keep your backyard clean and green.

1. Start Control in the Spring
2. Use A Swatter
3. Light A Candle
4. Use Fly Traps
5. Use A Fly Zapper
6. Eliminate Food Sources
7. Try Some Natural Home Remedies
8. Additional Tips to Get Rid of Flies Outside

1) Start Control in the Spring

A fly’s life cycle has four stages, but on average, it takes approximately 35 days for eggs to transform into flies. Flies will reach their peak activity level in the summer, and by that time, it’s too late.

If you know you get flies during the summer, start your control measures in the spring. The earlier in the season you gain control, the less time they have to reproduce.

A fly’s reproduction rate is very high. They can produce up to 500 eggs per day, so you want to keep them from multiplying further if at all possible.

2) Use A Swatter

If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to take care of flies, then grab your trusty flyswatter.

The best time to use the swatter is when the flies are resting on a hard surface; this will help prevent them from flying away after being hit.

If you’re looking for something a little more modern, they now make electric fly swatters that zap flies as you swat them. Helping you to ensure those buggers don’t get away. Check it out on Amazon below!

3) Light A Candle

You can prevent flies with a candle as well. Unfortunately, your standard candle or incense won’t work.

You’ll need to buy a special candle, such as ‘Citronella Oil Candle,’ specially prepared for repelling flies and mosquitoes. Flies hate the scent!

Citronella oil candles are highly aromatic. Their strong scent serves as a ‘Not Welcome’ sign for flies and mosquitoes. We often see them in the backyard and small gardens.

Though Citronella Oil Candles are fly-repellent, they are completely safe for humans. Once you burn these candles, you may find yourself falling in love with the tantalizing notes of lemongrass.

You can burn them inside your home also since the manufacturers use premium soft-lead cotton candle wicks that keep the room air fresh and relax your mind.

Remember, you’ll need to buy multiple Citronella Oil Candles for them to work effectively.

This isn’t a permanent solution to get rid of flies, but it’s certainly helpful to keep flies away for a few hours. Also keep in mind that this won’t reduce fly populations, it will just keep them away.

These are perfect if you’re planning to have a nice dinner outside and don’t want a fly in your soup.

4) Use Fly Traps

Using fly traps is a proven and effective method to get your outdoor fly infestation under control.

These fly traps will help you attract flies and kill them quickly. You’ll have to get a few fly traps and distribute them throughout your yard for the most significant impact.

We love to use two types of methods to trap flies and get rid of the flies in our yard – bag fly traps and sticky traps.

Bag Fly Traps

Bags fly traps are a great tool to help you deal with your fly problem. These types of traps are simple, inexpensive, and, most importantly, effective.

A single trap can catch dozens of flies in just hours, so get one of these up in your backyard ASAP!

We love bagged fly traps, such as ‘Big Bag Fly Trap.’ One bag can kill up to 40,000 flies. It is a powerful fly control solution.

All you need is to add water to activate it and hang the bag outside, 20 feet away from the living spaces. Once the bag is packed with flies, dispose of it.

This fly trap is perfect for hanging near your patio and letting it trap and kill flies all summer long.

Sticky Traps

Sticky fly traps are another great option. These traps are usually some kind of paper or ribbon coated with a sticky agent that attracts and kills flies.

Sticky fly traps allow you to eliminate flies in an instant without any of the hassles of using sprays or other products that can take much longer to work.

These traps can be used in both indoor and outdoor spaces. Plus, these stickies trap many different types of insects!

You just place these traps near areas where flies tend to congregate (like garbage cans) and let them do all the work for you.

These fly traps contain no harmful chemicals and can be used around people or pets. However, we recommend keeping these a few feet out of the way of people or pets, as they can stick to your skin and clothes.

5) Use A Fly Zapper

Using a fly zapper is one of the most effective ways to get rid of flies outside.

Fly zappers are electronic insect killers that use high voltage electricity to kill flies without touching or even seeing them! The device works great for getting rid of fruit flies, houseflies, and other flying insects around your home or business.

It’s safe for people and pets because there are no chemicals involved in the process – just direct current electricity!

We love the Bug Zapper Light Trap, which lures flies and insects in your backyard with a special 15W bulb and kills them without any sound. This light trap coverage area is 1500 square feet, which is great for your backyard space. You can also hang it on a tree or the wall bracket of your home.

Not to mention it’s great for other types of bugs, like mosquitoes and gnats, as well.

6) Eliminate Food Sources

Ensure there isn’t any organic or decaying material in your backyard as it attracts flies and makes your backyard a breeding place.

We aren’t only talking about leftover or inedible remains like bones. Even plant or animal-based matter can become a food source for flies if combined with a small amount of moisture.

That’s why farms are havens for flies as they have animal droppings. But backyards with pet droppings or compost piles can face a similar situation too.

So, for long-term flies control, identify and eliminate sources of food and moisture.

Otherwise, no strategy will work, as flies will keep on feeding and laying eggs in your backyard. And their larvae will quickly mature into more flies.

Look for a small swarm of flies also as it indicates where they are breeding or feeding. In addition, it is important to pick the garbage twice a week to break their breeding cycle.

7) Try Some Natural Home Remedies

Apple Cider Vinegar and Dish Soap

Apple cider vinegar and dish soap is an excellent homemade fly control remedy you can make yourself to deter flies. These two home items are natural fly repellants.

Mix one part apple cider vinegar with ten parts water. Then, add a few drops of dish soap to help break the surface tension on the liquid’s surface, making it more difficult for flies to escape when landing on it. Pour this mixture into an open container or spray.

Plants and Herbs

There are many plants and herbs that have insect repellent properties. These plants usually emit a smell that will repel flies. For example, there’s rosemary, lemongrass, peppermint, eucalyptus, lavender, chives, dill, and many more.

While using plants and herbs won’t eliminate an infestation on their own, it can be an extra added measure that provides some help.

Additional Tips to Get Rid of Flies Outside

Below are a few additional tips to get rid of and prevent flies:

• Keep your yard clean!
• Insect repellents containing DEET are not effective against houseflies because they don’t have receptors in their antennae that detect these substances.
• Keep your lawn mowed. In the summer months, flies will often lay eggs in tall grass.
• Make sure your trash and recycling bins lids are always closed.
• Make sure your garbage can has a tight-fitting lid.
• Install screens on doors and windows if you want to prevent flies from entering your home.

Conclusion: How to Get Rid of Flies Outside

Getting rid of flies can be challenging. You’ll have to use many of the methods listed in this blog post in tandem to most effectively fight your fly problem.

If you start early, are persistent, and continue to prevent breeding areas actively, you’ll most likely have success keeping the bugs away.

If you’ve exhausted all your options, don’t be afraid to call pest control. They are experts and maybe just the relief you need.