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How to keep flies away from the porch
How to get rid of flies
Okay, so you've checked your windows, you’ve checked all the little nooks and crannies, you always close the door after you enter your home, and you keep everything clean as a whistle. Yet, for some strange reason, you still spot it: The sudden irritating noise of a fly whizzing around your home. Sometimes, it feels like no matter what you do, you can’t seem to stop flies from entering your home, particularly during the warmer months. However, although we associate these pests with the summer months, flies actually reproduce all year round! However, they tend to be way more active during the warmest parts of the year, so a housefly infestation is much more likely.
It’s time to add "get rid of houseflies" to your summer to-do list!
For some, many people take it as a given that flies or gnats will be an inevitable visitor during the warmer period, but that simply isn’t the case. A housefly infestation doesn’t appear to be a major concern for some people, they just tend to live around the nuisance. However, the presence of these unwanted guests can lead to the spread of disease and even further infestation.
Worrying about flies also means worrying about maggots, the larval form of the fly. A typical female housefly generally lays more than 100 eggs after mating, and these eggs hatch fast. Maggots spawn in less than eight hours if the weather is warm enough, so get to work!
The worst thing you can do with regards to a fly infestation is let time pass by without taking action! You must act quickly to stop them in their tracks. Luckily, we’re here to guide you.
Let’s cover the basics on how to keep flies away from your porch, and away from your home too.
Natural ways to prevent flies from swarming your porch
It’s possible, and often preferable for many, to get rid of houseflies naturally, without the need for pesticides or other chemical options. If we’re being honest, we agree with them. There are plenty of natural remedies at your disposal to ensure these flies don’t make summer one to remember…for all the wrong reasons. So why choose nasty chemicals that could harm you and your family too?
Herbs and flowers
Herbs and flowers can be incredibly effective to keep flies away from your house. Herbs and flowers that can repel flies include basil, lavender, bay leaves, and catnip. As a bonus, some can be used for cooking and garden decoration too! These are also rather cheap when you consider their range of benefits, so they won’t break the bank as other repellents may.
Vinegar and dish soap
Through the mixture of a couple of home-based products, you’ll have a DIY trap in no time. For this method, we suggest you mix about an inch of apple cider vinegar and a few drops of dish soap in a tall-shaped glass. Then, cover the glass with plastic wrap. Finally, secure the plastic wrap with a rubber band and poke small holes in the top.
Why is this effective? Well, the flies are attracted to the vinegar in the glass and will fly through the holes. However, the addition of dish soap causes the flies to sink instead of being able to land on the vinegar. This stops them in their tracks and means they won’t be bothering you again.
Cayenne pepper and water
Cayenne pepper can help repel your unwanted flies. The most effective use of the spice is to mix it with water and spray it around the house. Try to spray it in areas where the flies would usually enter. This then acts as a strong deterrent and keeps your house a no-fly zone!
Venus flytrap
We’ve all heard of the Venus flytrap, right? Well, the clue is in the name. Venus flytraps are carnivorous plants that eat insects. If you plant them outside in your garden, they’ll naturally eat flies. This becomes a strong ally in your quest to defeat your flies in areas around your house where they tend to operate.
When a fly gets in the plant’s trap, it closes around the fly. It then uses digestive fluid to dissolve the insect’s soft insides. It then breaks down the insect over the next few days, before spitting out the remains. It sounds nasty, but the ecosystem will take care of any unwanted mess. Trust us, you won’t notice a thing.
Natural trap bait
When considering readily available homely items, food or drinks will entice flies into the traps too. This will be particularly effective for common visitors like fruit flies. For these, try to use sugar, fruit, meat, wine, and soda.
If you’re looking to protect your patio, swimming pool, and other outdoor places of interest, citronella candles and oil will do just the trick. This is the kind of outdoor fly control most people envision when they think of keeping mosquitoes at bay. But it works equally well with flies too.
Place a citronella candle on each table, on your patio, and around your swimming pool or BBQ etc. You can also line them along the perimeter of your flower bed, the driveway, and along the fence too. The odor from the citronella is very strong as far as bug repellents go. This will provide you with protection for as long as the citronella is burning, so remember to top up if necessary.
DIY
If none of these methods work effectively, then it might be time to get creative. There is a range of DIY trap ideas available to you. Let’s cover some of them…
1. Try dissolving a quarter cup of sugar in one cup of water in a jar. Then, roll a piece of paper into a cone long enough to reach from the top of the jar to just above the level of the liquid you’ve included, then snip off the tip. Following that, tape the cone inside the jar with the wide end filling the jar’s mouth and the cone’s tip right above the sugar water. This paper cone will then act as a gateway for flies, funneling all the curious guests right into the jar, making removal almost impossible.
2. The use of vodka is also effective. Flies hate the smell of this, so fill a few small plastic bags halfway with the cheaper variety, zip the bags most of the way shut, and then hang these bags around your property. You may think we sound crazy, but this can really help.
3. Try using fly strips too. Many buy commercial scented fly strips to deter the flies, but why not try making your own? Combine them with some essential oils and the flies will hate it. It's super easy too. Simply cut a piece of cloth into strips, then moisten each strip with several drops of clove, lavender, lemongrass, citronella, or eucalyptus. Finally, tie the strips on branches and the railings around your patio. The scent of the oil will get rid of the flies in no time at all. Although the smell deters flies, us humans love it! Think of it as an air freshener as well as a fly trap - WIN-WIN!
4. Making use of your soda bottles is another great way. Start off with an empty plastic two-liter soda bottle, any of your favorites will do. Then, cut off the top third and set aside. Following that, pour something sweet into the bottom of the bottle to lure in the flies. You could even use the leftover soda if there’s some in the bottom of the bottle. However, sugar water, soda, or juice can also work too. Next, invert the top of the bottle, rest it inside the bottom portion and wait. Remember, it’s important to be patient, this will work in time. This is effective as the flies will be able to get into the trap, but never out. This trap will particularly work for fruit flies, as they are extremely attracted to sweet and sticky materials.
Finally, if you’re looking for a less labor-intensive option, simply fill a shallow bowl with some apple cider vinegar, a tablespoon of sugar, and a drop of dish soap. I know we mentioned this earlier, but you can also add some meaty scraps in there too for extra effect. The flies will investigate the smell, then drown in the mixture. Very simply, but equally effective.
Want to learn some more homemade fly trap methods? Give this article a read.
Fly repellent
We always like to stress that the best way to deal with a housefly infestation is to prevent it from happening in the first place. Prevention is always easier than removal. Take it from our experience. If you make sure they don’t have areas to lay eggs, and remove all the things that attract them, then you’re onto a winner this summer.
Make sure your windows, doors, and house vents are sealed properly and free from any damage. Flies will use these as entrances into your home, so be sure to cover them thoroughly. It’s also important to use a garbage can with a tight-fitting lid and take the bag out as soon as it’s full. Flies love rotting garbage, so remove ASAP.
Try to store food in airtight containers and never leave dirty dishes or glasses out on the counter. The same goes for grass clippings and leaves as this is where flies like to lay eggs.
In the evenings, be sure to turn off outdoor lights when possible. As we all know, flies are attracted to light, so don’t be a beacon for entry.
Finally, clean up your animal poop! Flies love feces, so try to clean up after your animals as quickly as you can.
Keep flies away for good
Hopefully, you’ve found what you’re looking for and you can now put some methods into practice to keep those pesky flies away from your porch and home. As we stated in the previous paragraph, it’s so important to be proactive during the warmer periods of the year. Fly season goes into overdrive and these insects can really influence the enjoyment of your summer.
For some, they may just be a nuisance, but for others they become a huge problem. In cases where the necessary precautions haven’t been taken, professional pest services have to be called upon. Nobody wants a pest team bombarding your home with horrible chemicals, so take the necessary steps early to avoid this from happening.
With a few small methods and a clever attitude, there’s no reason why flies should ever ruin your summer. It’s up to you what methods you choose, but here's a few more to nail down on this summer. Do your own research and see what works best. Let’s face it, we’ve covered more than enough in this blog alone. That should help you build the foundation of a solid fly prevention strategy.
The Ranch Fly Trap
If creating your own fly traps isn’t your thing and you’d prefer a tried and tested method to capture flies, then look no further than us. The Ranch Fly Trap has been trusted by farms and homeowners all over the US and beyond.
We offer a number of fly trap options, giving you the convenience of capturing flies at all different levels. From nuisance flies, to full infestation, our traps are suitable for a multitude of problems. Better yet, we provide a bait solution, proven to attract flies at scale.
Set up in a matter of seconds and incredibly easy to use, the Ranch Fly Trap can be used all summer. Thanks to patented screw-top technology, our barrel traps can be emptied and used again and again.
So, if candles and fly swatters aren’t your thing, then the Ranch Fly Trap has you covered all summer long. Simply click the button below to shop our Fly Trap & Bait systems today.