How to Get Rid of House Flys???

this is going to sound silly, but fill a ziplock baggie half way with water and hang it outside under the patio. For whatever reason they stay away. My Brother in law told me about this, oh, 6 yrs ago. I have a bag hanging above my front door and flies do not enter when the door is open. Some friends down the street hung some on their porch, but they put the water in walmart bags. That does look ghetto though. You might have to put more than 1 ziplock bag since it is outside. Try it and see. What do you have to lose? Good luck....

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Actually, it IS bags of water, not vinegar....this originated in old ice houses...isnt it sad I know that information!!! haha

M. :)

P.S. Also, the water has to be clear...you have to change them out when they get mucky.

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I know this sounds crazy, and it won't cost you a dime. Fill up 3 - 5 plastic bags with water, (depending on how long your new patio is). Nail them to the porch overhang, assuming your porch is covered, on the outer rim. I promise you NO more flies.

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I saw many people post about the clear plastic bags filled with clear water...IT WORKS. My parents do this in thier barn instead of using pesticides and they have no flies.

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I don't know about using vinegar, it could work too. I assume any clear liquid would work. But, we use ziplocks of water. Hang them around the perimeter. It's a very old trick. I have been told it works because when light shines on the water, directly or indirectly, it creates a reflection that the flies eyes cannot handle, therefore keeping them away. You do have to change the bags out periodically.

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There is something around your patio that is attracting the flies. Check for a plant, dead bird or mouse. You can try hanging bags of water around the patio they say that helps. There is also a fly bait. It's yellow little tiny pebbles. It draws them in and kills them.

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This is going to sound ridiculous but try handing baggies of water around the perimeter of the patio. Having once visited quite a few outdoor pubs, they use this all the time and it actually works!

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Re: Susan Qs response.... They aren't bags of water- altho they look like it. Hang bags of VINEGAR around the patio. There must be a small hole or two so that the vinegar smell escapes. That is what they do in Mexico at all of the outdoor restaurants. You could probably even find some pretty hanging glass votive holders and just pour vinegar into them and hang them. The vinegar repels the flies. Don't use apple cider vinegar though, or it will attract them with the fruit smell. A spray bottle of vinegar water also can be used to spray down the table and around the door. (To help keep them from settling and/or coming in...) Also mint and basil plants both help repel flies- and would be pretty on your patio. GOOD LUCK!

well, the good ole reliable fly strips always wked for us. Yes, they're not necessarily the most attractive things, sticky tapes w/dead flies all over them & yes, they can hang down in the way but they do work. Bug zappers can wk too. You may want to consider a screened-in patio or at least a portable one that can be put up in a short time as well as taken down. Also, try to make sure nothing is around that may attract flies like garbage, sticky cans. Always rinse soda/other cans out twice at least before discarding them & place raw meat 'trays' & it's plastic wrap in a plastic bag/sack (like a walmart sack) after rinsing to keep them closed up & try to keep those types of things away from the patio in a garbage can & even keep the garbage can away from the patio or anywhere else you don't want flies, yellow jackets, etc or if you have a dog(s) consider picking up after it or letting it 'go' somewhere else if that is a consideration. Good luck!

I was told by a good friend, who works in a meat market, that if you put bags of water up around the area it will keep the flies away. Just take bags, feel them with water, tie them and hang them up.

I would suggest getting a fan. Flies and mosquitoes can't fly in strong wind. It works or me! and keeps me cool in this heat..

I am going to go out and buy one. My SIL recommended a fly trap found at Walmart. I don't know what it's called, but it is a glass jar of some type that the flies fly down in and get trapped inside and die. There is a solution you mix in it with water and can buy refills. She said it works wonders.

I heard that plain listerine helps just spray it around the places on your deck and they keep away. It may be worth the try.

H.

M.,

I've see an incredible method used in Mexico and locally at a restaurant with an outdoor patio. You take large, clear plastic bags (like ZipLoc), fill 3/4 full of water and hang about 6 - 8 feet apart around your patio. For some reason, this scares the flies and they go away. No chemicals, & cheap. YEAH!!!

BonnieW

I learned a technique from the boy scouts where you hang clear plastic bags filled with water around the area and that will keep them away. Give it a try!

They are a few things you can do to help limit them. I have the same problem right about now. I buy a spray that limits the mosquitoes and cuts down on the flies. It's made by Terro and I get it at the feed store. My second suggestion would be to buy an industrial sized fan for outdoor use. That really helps. They sell them at Sam's Club, Home Depot, and Lowes.

Bad flies originate from somewhere...I dont think I have to tell anyone how flies re-produce. Do you have animals and the yard is not cleaned-or possibly a neighbors? We have 13 horses and we have very little fly problem. We keep stalls clean of manure and manure pile at back of property. Look for the source of the breeding ground and that will help get rid of the nasty things!!!

The bags of clear fluid will do the trick...using vinegar will help them stay clear longer.

There is also a fly bait called Golden Malrin. It has to be used with care, so it is certainly a last resort, but IT WORKS. You can get it at farm and feed stores. I bet I on'y used a couple of tablespoons out of my can. I had something crawl under my house and die...want to talk about a fly problem?

Don't just repel them, keep the little suckers from reproducing. Yes, I do understand that flies are an important part of our ecosystem. But if I learned anything from my entomology courses is that, despite our best efforts, insects will always rule the earth!

I have somewhat of an old school remedy that seems to work well, but I warn you... people will think it is odd. I even laughed when someone told me but it worked. Take several pennies (maybe 10) and put them in a zip lock bag 3/4 filled with water. Then hang the bad outside on your patio. I just use a thumb tack. It doesn't match my decor but the flies are gone!

M., do you have potted plants on your patio? When I get new plants for indoors, within a week I have a TON of new flies in my house. So, I figure the soil has a lot to do with it. A bag of diatomaceous earth (natural bug killers) is under $10 and lasts a while - you only use a little sprinkle on the soil. This may cut down the fly breeding grounds if you have many plants/ moist places around your patio.
I am going to try that bag-of-water(vinegar) idea too. Remember to clean up all the food and dump any standing water, fountains, etc., when you're done for the day.
Enjoy your new patio!

We have had this issue INSIDE our house....I got some sticky traps (they were the only thing available) and placed them strategically around the kitchen. It has helped A LOT, but not gotten rid of them.

Fly swatter?

another thing that helps is citronella candles...for some reason the scent of citronella deters most insects (especially the flying ones) you can set some nice votive or pillar holders strategically around the patio and light them whenever you want to be outside...Dusk is especially annoying time for the pests and would be a GREAT time for some gentle candle light... ;-)