Everyone has to deal with houseflies now and then. They are an annoying part of life, and having solutions for fly control is a must. Taking care of existing flies is only part of the solution though. Preventative steps can be more helpful since it keeps the flies away to begin with.
Cover the Garbage
This is the biggest way to prevent flies in the house. All your garbage (particularly food waste in the kitchen) should be stored in tightly closed containers. But even a lidded trash can be a fly magnet if it’s constantly opened and closed through the day. In that case, you can help reduce fly access by emptying the bin into a larger garbage can with a lid that is stored in the garage or outside.
On a similar note, keep the cat litter box scooped and clean (if you have one).
Screens
All open windows should be protected by a secure and snugly fitting screen. Any vents should also be covered even if it doesn’t seem like flies could get in. Leaving your doors open to catch a little extra breeze in the summer is just as big a problem. Installing a screen door will make a big difference.
Even with screens, you can end up with flies in the house just due to the door being opened as people come and go. If there are a lot of flies outside, you might want to focus your attention there to keep them out. Flies traps or baits outside your doors may help keep them from making their way inside through the doors.
Quick Action
While not strictly prevention, you can take care of a fly problem much easier and faster if you deal with them immediately. Leaving a few annoying flies because you don’t want to deal with them just leads to breeding and a future population explosion. Keep fly swatters handy, along with a can of insect spray. A few sticky traps left in windows can help control flies even if you’re not around.
For more serious problems, you can get electronic “bug-zappers” that are designed to work indoors, or even try a house-wide exterminator treatment.
If you are wondering why you should bother, remember that house flies are a health hazard as much as a buzzing nuisance. As they flit around from place to place (including any garbage or rotting food they can find), they spread a large number of germs between surfaces. So take any fly problems seriously, even if it seems a little trivial at first.
Fruit Flies
We’ve been talking about the usual house fly so far, but you may have to deal with fruit flies in your home as well. The main tip that will help prevent fruit flies is to keep garbage tightly covered, and don’t allow fruit to sit out exposed on the counters.
If you do have a problem with them, they can be tougher than house flies to eradicate because they are so small. A handy DIY trap with apple cider vinegar can work if you only have a few, but if they are a persistent problem, you should check out this fruit fly trap from Gardeners Supply.