How to Get Rid of Flies Outside

When the weather gets warm enough, families and friends often want to socialize outside. However, flies can interrupt picnics, barbeques, and other outside activities. As soon as a fly lands on your food, you’re going to wonder where it’s been and how to get rid of it quickly. Many methods exist to help you get rid of flies outside. Other methods to reduce these pests may take some time. Try using different methods, and take preventative measures to rid the number of flies around your porch. Let’s take a look at how to get rid of flies outside.

Clean Up

There’s an old saying that goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Meaning it’s better to prevent a problem from happening than to have to fix it after it has started. First, think about removing the things that are attracting them to your home. Getting rid of their reason for invading your outside yard and being a pest could solve the problem first. If you can conquer this quickly you can prevent fewer flies in the house.

So, why do flies come into your porch area? Because they’re hungry. Flies are attracted to food, sweet drinks, feces, and decaying foods.

To get rid of flies outside you should:

• Remove any standing water.
• Move the trash cans away from the porch.
• Remove any decomposing matter to a corner spot further away.
• Place bird feeders further away.
• Clean up pet feces daily.

By doing these tasks you can give flies fewer reasons to stay around and invade your home.

Eco-friendly Insect Trap

Ecological insect and fly traps in the garden can help reduce the number of flies. By using an eco-friendly insect trap you can prevent foods from becoming contaminated by insecticides. These traps collect the flies and prevent them from flying around causing sicknesses and they also collect the dead bodies. They are also beneficial because they can be placed up high away from children and pets.

Sticky Fly Traps

Occasionally sticky fly traps let off an unpleasant smell and look terrible. Yet, few things attract the flies in your yard to one area faster than these. Once they smell these sticky traps, the flies will get stuck to them, resulting in their death. While unpleasant, these traps can clear a porch area very quickly. Allowing you to enjoy your family BBQ fly-free.

How To Get Rid of Flies Outside With Flying Insect Spray

If you have a great deal of flies that are particularly interested in your outdoor trashcan, you can always spray them with flying insect killers . Most varieties of flying insect killers typically affect the fly’s body. Once sprayed, the fly’s muscles are affected and they will not be able to move and then pass away. This can happen in seconds.

Insect Foggers

Another option to get rid of flies outside is a fogger . Outdoor foggers for flying insects use the same principle as indoor foggers. The difference is that a person applies these via a spray, and they can only be used on calm days and not when it’s windy otherwise the mist will blow away. According to some brands, once you spray an area with the fogger, flies will stay away for hours, days, or weeks. The spray should immediately kill or chase away any flies in the area. Do this the day before you have your family gathering. That way you can enjoy a peaceful fly-free meal outdoors by the poolside with your guests.

Light-Based Fly Traps

Flies love bright lights. So, if you are having a nighttime family BBQ on your porch, using a light-based fly trap can be a great way to clear the yard. Additionally, these light traps will not instantly kill hundreds of flies. However, they will leave you and your guests alone to enjoy the evening and even play a game of who can guess how many flies got trapped. Once they strike the trap, they’re shocked by electricity and die. Furthermore, you can leave the light on after you go inside and have a good night’s rest while the trap does its work; that way, you’ll wake up to fewer flies in the morning.

Pine Oil

Flies don’t like the smell of pine oil. Naturally, it is smart to use the scents they don’t against them to make them leave your backyard. However, it is not a good idea to spray undiluted pine oil around your backyard, you can use a diluted mixture in affected areas. Try mixing a cleaner such as dish soap or apple cider vinegar with pine oil. Additionally, you could try a 50/50 mixture with water. Then wipe down tables and chairs or spray in areas where flies gather. They should dispear after smelling the scent.

Fly Bait

Fly bait can be used to get rid of severe fly infestations. However, fly bait is harmful to humans and pets if consumed. Having said that, you should only use this in places where you have problems with flies that children and pets cannot access. Once you put the bait down, the flies will consume it thinking that they have stumbled across a tasty meal. However, the fly’s life will come to an end after eating it, and then quickly begin to die. It is best to use this as a last resort.

Natural Options

If you wish to use natural methods to prevent flies from hanging around outside your home, there are various scents you can use in plant form or essential oils.

• Peppermint/Spearmint
• Lavender
• Lemongrass
• Cayenne Pepper
• Eucalyptus
• Cinnamon

Finally, most of these methods will also help get rid of fruit flies .

The image featured at the top of this post is ©iStock.com/reto_s.

Up Next:

• How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies Overnight
• Money Saving Tips for the Great Outdoors
• The Ultimate Summer Bucket List: Your Family’s Guide to the Best Summer Ever

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