Flies in my HOUSE!

[MickeyMomOfThree]

Never had this happen before. We have lived in our house for almost 14 years. We usually get ants, this year I could count on one had how many of those we have had, but this year it is flies! It is crazy, is anyone else having trouble with them? I never thought I'd have fly strips in my house, but I do. And they are gross! Anyone have a better and hopefully affordable way of getting rid of them? We put in new storm doors this year so this seems so backwards, but somehow they are getting in and they are so irritating.

Thanks for the suggestions...

 

[Teacher03]

I agree, the flies are terrible. We have been swattin them, but for everyone I swat, two more show up! I hate it! I wish I had advice, but I just wanted to share in your misery!

 

[imsayin]

Me too, strange...

 

[tinkarooni]

OK I have a solution for you but you have to promise not to laugh.

I have chickens and go to a chat board www.backyardchickens.com, I haven't tried this but a bunch of them swear to the fact that those little tree air fresheners you hang in your car, vanilla scented will keep away the flies. They have them in chicken coops, barns, their front porch and back decks and swear that they have reduced the flies. Less flies at the doors, less flies in the house.

I keep meaning to stop at the auto parts store to look for them....we have flies bad this year too...I figure I would try it, what's a couple of dollars to try it.....honestly they are posting their results about the reduction in the flies. I guess flies don't like vanilla?

 

[tinker&belle]

We had them a little last summer, but it was more of the fruitfly variety. This year we have a TON of regular flies.

We have the fly trap hung up too which is SO gross. I have started trying to look by the screen door several times a day where they seem to like to be and shooing them out...

Would love more suggestions.

 

[QVCshopper]

I don't know how to get rid of them, but I did see a news report about a month ago on TV about this year being terrible for flies. They went to one town (I think it was in NY) and they were having a fly epidemic of sorts. Maybe try googling it; I'm pretty sure it's not just you.

 

[badblackpug]

Mint is a natural fly repellent.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

Wow, you all have made me feel soooo much better. And I am not laughing at any advise. I love the smell of vanilla and mint so tomorrow I will get some vanilla car fresheners and some mint. Thanks guys, it is awful to say but I feel better knowing I am not alone!

 

[SeansMom]

I've had flies as well. I'm adding vanilla flavored car thingys and mint to my list. I do know to plant mint in containers...it spreads fast!

 

[csharpwv]

OK - they are horribly tacky - BUT - they work - sticky fly strips - you know, the type that you hang from the ceiling. The flies, gnats, etc stick to them and then you trow them away!

Another thing is the electronic fly swatters - they have batteries - they look like you're going out to play tennis - but it will give a big zap - and kill any bug that you hit with it.

Another thing is that sometime they can lay eggs in drains that aren't used very often - so if you have a bathroom in the house that is rarely used, but sure to run water in them, put a little bleach in sink drains, just enough to fill the trap - the same thing for your bath tub or shower drain.

Other than that - I'm at a loss!

 

[badblackpug]

Wow, you all have made me feel soooo much better. And I am not laughing at any advise. I love the smell of vanilla and mint so tomorrow I will get some vanilla car fresheners and some mint. Thanks guys, it is awful to say but I feel better knowing I am not alone!

Don't be embarrassed. We have ants! BTW...cinnamon is a natural ant repellent. We are very green here. If you would like I can also tell you how to make a natural bug repellent to spray on plants.

 

[LilyWDW]

It's not just you. I know many people having issues with both normal flies as well as fruit flies. We have had on and off issues with fruit flies. We keep a very clean house, but they got in somehow and once they were here.... it was really hard to get rid of them. We did though!

I don't really have any advice, but good luck!

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

OK - they are horribly tacky - BUT - they work - sticky fly strips - you know, the type that you hang from the ceiling. The flies, gnats, etc stick to them and then you trow them away!

Another thing is the electronic fly swatters - they have batteries - they look like you're going out to play tennis - but it will give a big zap - and kill any bug that you hit with it.

Another thing is that sometime they can lay eggs in drains that aren't used very often - so if you have a bathroom in the house that is rarely used, but sure to run water in them, put a little bleach in sink drains, just enough to fill the trap - the same thing for your bath tub or shower drain.

Other than that - I'm at a loss!

That is what we are using right now, and they are working but they are just so gross! And unfortunately we only have one bathroom so it gets used non-stop!

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

Don't be embarrassed. We have ants! BTW...cinnamon is a natural ant repellent. We are very green here. If you would like I can also tell you how to make a natural bug repellent to spray on plants.

Now that I have pleanty of on hand. I will put some out just in case! Thanks!

 

[badblackpug]

Now that I have pleanty of on hand. I will put some out just in case! Thanks!

just sprinkle a nice line of it across the areas where the ants enter.

 

[actnkidz]

I just came home to about 50 flys on my kitchen window and french doors. Our bug guy told me that something may have died in our attic then fallen in the walls or our cats may have brought something in . There is no smell but this happened last year once and we had about 200 flys in our house for about 2 days then nothing. These type of flys are pretty stupid too my 5 year old DD can just walk up and smoosh them on the glass with a paper towel.

I am definitely going to try the vanilla air freshner. Thanks for the advice.

 

[katiebelle21]

Don't be embarrassed. We have ants! BTW...cinnamon is a natural ant repellent. We are very green here. If you would like I can also tell you how to make a natural bug repellent to spray on plants.

Not the OP, but I would like to know what you spray on plants. Bugs are completely eating through some of my plants.

 

[mandi1590]

you can also try a ziplock bag of water with a penny in it and hang it out side your door to try to keep them out.

 

[marmalade]

The flies where we are are insane. My DH went to the garage last week and said the garage windows were covered in flies and when he opend the doors hundreds of flies started flying out of the garage. We searched the garage and couldn't find anything that they would have came from.

For fruit flies if you put a glass of wine out they will go to it but they can't get out once they are in the liquid. A very humane way to go I would think.

For ants, I read they will not cross a line of salt.

 

[badblackpug]

Not the OP, but I would like to know what you spray on plants. Bugs are completely eating through some of my plants.

Sooo easy. Peel and quarter 3 large onions. Peel 3 heads of garlic. Quarter 3 hot peppers (don't remove the seeds) drop into a large pot of water. Boil until everything is mushy. Strain and cool. Put the liquid in a spray bottle and mist plants as needed. It will repel squirrels, too.​