How to prevent flies

Are flies making your life a misery? If so, you’re certainly not alone. Flies can quickly infest homes and businesses during the summer months. They can cause a real nuisance and even spreading harmful diseases such as E. coli and Salmonella. Fortunately, there are things you can do to stop them wreaking havoc. Read on to find out how to prevent flies.

6 tips for preventing flies in your property

Flies are most commonly seen in the UK during the warmer months, becoming abundant from late spring through summer. During this time, they are very active due to the increased temperatures and longer daylight hours which provide the optimal conditions for flies to multiply. Flies are also drawn to food sources which are much more abundant during the warmer months. Keep reading to learn how to prevent flies on your property.

Maintain cleanliness

One of the best ways to stop flies from infesting your home is to keep your surroundings clean and free from food debris, spills and organic matter. This includes your kitchen and dining areas and the places where you store your rubbish and recycling bins. Regularly clean down worktops, floors, and other surfaces in order to remove any potential food sources for flies.

Cover and store food properly 

Covering food such as fruits, vegetables and leftovers can help to keep flies away. Store it in airtight containers or in the fridge to prevent flies from accessing and contaminating it. Flies are attracted to the smell of food and can quickly land on uncovered food. This can potentially contaminate it with bacteria or other pathogens. 

Dispose of rubbish properly 

Disposing of your rubbish in the correct manner is vital if you want to keep flies away from your property. Seal your waste tightly in bins that have lids, and make sure you empty them regularly. Allowing rubbish to build up can attract flies due to it providing plentiful food sources for them to feast on, not to mention the strong odours that they find particularly appealing. We also recommend making sure outdoor rubbish bins are located away from the main living areas to minimise fly attraction.

If you have a pet, it’s important to clean their living space regularly. Flies are attracted to pet food and pet waste, making these areas hotspots for fly activity. By maintaining cleanliness, you can minimise fly attraction and reduce the risk of infestations occurring. Not only should you clean your pet’s food and water bowls often in order to remove any leftover food and debris but you should make sure you dispose of pet waste from litter boxes and trays or outdoor areas. Since flies are strongly attracted to animal waste, regular removal and disposal are essential for preventing flies on your property.

Install fly screens

Installing fly screens can be a good idea if you want to keep flies out of your living space whilst still allowing fresh air to circulate. Fly screens can be installed on windows, doors and vents, with the tightly woven mesh acting as a barrier to prevent flies from accessing the interior of your property. The tiny gaps in the screen are too narrow for flies to pass through, effectively keeping them outside. If your screens become damaged, it’s important to repair or replace them as soon as possible, particularly during the summer months.

Use fly traps or repellents

Fly traps and repellents can help to prevent flies. Fly traps are designed to attract and capture flies, with various types available, including sticky traps, baited traps, and electronic traps. These traps can be placed strategically in those areas where flies are commonly found, such as near bins or windows. 

Fly repellents work by repelling flies and deterring them from entering certain areas. They come in different forms, including sprays, lotions and candles and often contain ingredients that flies find unpleasant such as essential oils and citronella. 

There are many measures you can use to prevent flies on your property. By implementing them effectively, you can significantly reduce the number of them, helping to stop an infestation. However, if you already have a fly problem, you may need to hire a local pest control company to deal with it using effective methods such as insecticide sprays, fly traps, fly baiting, UV light traps and larvicide treatments.

Fly control in Doncaster 

Even if you know how to prevent flies and have taken all the steps mentioned in this article, an infestation is still possible. At Topline, we provide fly control in Doncaster, with our team using a range of methods to remove flies effectively, safely and with minimal fuss. We can deal with many common species of flies, including house flies, fruit flies, drain flies, and cluster flies.

Don’t simply put up with an influx of flies on your property. Once inside, flies can quickly reproduce and establish an infestation if conditions are suitable. Not only do they cause annoyance due to their constant buzzing and flying around but they can also contaminate food and surfaces, transferring bacteria and other pathogens that can lead to illnesses. If you run a restaurant, café or other food business and there’s a fly infestation, it can quickly result in damage to your reputation. 

Contact us

At Topline, we not only know how to prevent flies but also get rid of them effectively if they do find their way into your property. For fly control in Doncaster or the surrounding areas, get in touch with our team. Call us on 01302 969049 or send us a message via our website – we’ll get back to you as soon as we can to arrange an on-site survey and provide a free no-obligation quotation.