How To Get A Fly Out Of A Room Easily And Quickly

If you're curious as to how to get a fly out of a room, you've come to the right place. I'm sure you've tried the age-old method of chasing it wildly, cat in hands, in the hopes that your fluffy friend is a better hunter than you. Yet, for seemingly obvious reasons, that likely didn't work. And while you may think it's no major concern, houseflies spread disease due to how they operate - a major problem in a world amidst a pandemic.

To get a fly out of a room, the best options are various DIY mixtures, Venus Flytrap plants, and certain herbs and flowers. You can also use ready-made traps and lures such as sticky traps or lights.

There's a lot to break down there, so let's get cracking, shall we?

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How To Get a Fly Out of a Room: The Basics

Like I said above, there are a lot of ways you can approach this. While a flyswatter is technically a solution , it's not really the most effective one available. So what can you do to quickly get rid of flies in your home? Let's start with homemade traps.

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Cayenne & Water

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Flies don't like cayenne pepper or really anything with capsaicin in it (the compound that makes most peppers spicy). This mixture is rather similar to others that we'll detail below, so don't worry too much about amounts. Generally, a teaspoon of cayenne pepper for every 1.5-2 litres of water will act as a great repellant, especially if sprayed around potential entry points. Just be careful not to spray it in your eyes.

Vinegar & Dish Soap

This works great as a DIY trap for flies. Combine a teaspoon apple cider vinegar, several drops of dish soap, and half to one litre of water in a small container. I've found that plastic bottles with the tops cut off and inverted (so the opening is facing down, creating an angled escape) works very well here. You can also do it in a glass covered with plastic wrap, and poke a few holes in the wrap to let flies in.

This works rather simply - the vinegar attracts flies (especially fruit flies) due to its sweetness. The soap makes the water harder for flies to land on as it changes its density, and the cover prevents them from escaping. It will eventually drown any flies that make it in and stop them from getting out.

You can also use just about anything that would normally attract flies, including:

• Sugar or sugar water
• Wine or beer
• Meat
• Honey
• Molasses
• Fruit juices, and more. You get the idea.

Venus Flytraps

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The reason they work is kind of in the name, isn't it? If you've got a green thumb, consider buying a few venus flytraps to place around your home. These plants are carnivorous and, as the name implies, eat flies and other insects. If you choose to plant them outside, they'll just do their thing and naturally eat flies. If they're inside, though, you may need to actively feed them with a fly here and there.

These guys are cool because they trap flies and then digest them, eventually spitting out the now-digested insect's exoskeleton in a week or two.

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Commercial Repellants and Traps

There are a lot of anti-fly traps and repellants on the market. Many work great, though they can potentially be toxic to other animals or children, so choose carefully. If you choose to use an insecticide specifically for indoor use, it's best to open all windows and take a day trip with the family to prevent anyone from getting sick.

You can also opt for sticky traps (which essentially use sugar to draw flies to a sticky trap they can't escape) or even light traps. These use light to lure bugs in before electrocuting them. You can also choose a non-lethal option if you want - it's up to you. If you do opt for a light trap, place it away from entry points to your home. You don't want to accidentally draw flies into your home with the large light screaming, "come in right here!"

Deterrant Plants

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Most animals and insects have plants that they enjoy, and others that they don't. For flies, the nice thing is that a lot of these plants and herbs can be eaten by you, so growing them gives two benefits! Try growing:

• Catnip- You'll be fly-free and loaded with intoxicated cats in no time
• Lavender- this works great for a lot of bugs, including spiders!
• Citronella -these guys also repel mosquitos, so that's an added bonus
• Or if you want an expensive herb to grow, you could go with bay leaves
• Marigolds
• Basil
• Tansy
• Mint
• Sweet Woodruff
• Rosemary

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How to Prevent Flies From Getting Into Your Home

Flies like dirty environments, so the best way to keep them out is to simply keep your home clean. If you have pets, remove any animal waste (cat litter included) regularly, clean up food so it's not left to decay, and cover garbage cans well. It will also help to close all doors and windows when possible to prevent access. Some other good tips include:

• Store food in airtight containers
• Don't leave plant matter like lawn or tree clippings near your house to decay
• Turn off outdoor lights at night if possible, as flies are drawn to light
• If dealing with rodents, don't use poison. You don't want a dead rat hiding somewhere, attracting flies from all over
• Garbage cans that are airtight (or close to it) are best here
• Take out trash before it builds up

This may seem like common sense, but flies like dirty stuff. Keeping your home clean is the best way to get flies out of a room.

Final Thoughts

To rid yourself of flies, there are a lot of things you can try. Consider starting with a DIY flytrap made with vinegar and dish soap before moving onto commercial ones, as they work surprisingly well. Additionally, planting particular plants such as Venus Flytraps and deterring plants will help with any fly problems.

Finally, and most importantly, keep your home clean. This is the absolute best way that you can prevent flies from showing up in the first place.

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