Flies are unwelcome guests in and about any home. The term “fly” describes a number of winged pests, including the housefly, fruit fly, white fly, fungus gnat and much more. While chemical insecticides might be effective in controlling flies, they are usually unnecessary. It is possible to manage annoying fly infestations with complete home maintenance and a simple homemade trap.
Wash It
Maintaining the exterior and interior of your house clean and well preserved will make it less attractive to flies of all sorts. Pick up and dispose of animal waste and stays in the lawn. Odors from trash attract flies, and the waste products provide a breeding ground for much more. Put waste in a sealed plastic bag before putting it in a trash receptacle. Indoors, toss out or put away any food you’ve from the open. Put empty food containers which contain trace quantities of leftovers in a sealed plastic bag before tossing them out, and clean spills immediately. Wash and disinfect garbage cans and dumpsters often to eliminate larvae growing there.
Dry It
Flies of all sorts are attracted to water. Outdoors, use compost around plants (and alter it out every few months) to permit the area to drain correctly. Avoid standing water inside and outside. A frequent kind of fly, the fungus gnat, thrives in moist soil but can’t survive if you permit the soil to dry between waterings. Slow-moving drains hold water and slime and attract flies. Wash inside drains thoroughly with a stiff brush to eliminate slime that accumulates, prevents pipes and drains from drying correctly and pulls pesky flies. If you can’t bathe a drain, then carefully pour boiling water down it to sterilize the pipes and drain.
Seal It
Make sure bags and bins which contain garbage are shut tightly. Dumpsters should have tight-fitting lids that prevent odors from getting out and flies out of becoming in. To keep flies out from getting in your house, close windows and doors tightly. Should you prefer to open windows in mild weather to allow in fresh air, cover your windows with screens, and check them regularly for holes and tears.
Trap It
A hanging trap is an effective means of eliminating small populations of bows — especially white flies. Paint a 6-by-12-inch strip of cardboard with yellow paint, and coat both sides with petroleum jelly. Hang several of these traps in places where flies are a problem. Wash dead bugs and dust as required, and apply a fresh coat of petroleum jelly.