No matter how hard you try, it’s pretty hard to keep all flies away from your house or yard. They’re generally a nuisance but can also spread disease so it’s a good idea to try to reduce they’re populations.
House flies are generally found in greatest numbers during the hotter summer months. House flies are less than three-eighths inch in length and have four dark stripes down the back of their thorax. Under optimal summertime conditions, house flies can complete their development from egg to adult in as little as seven days.
Prevent flies from getting inside with well-fitted screens and sealing cracks around windows and doors. Outdoors, remove kitchen waste, rotting fruit, and dog feces to reduce breeding sites. Place garbage in plastic bags into containers with tight-fitting lids where feasible.
One of the easiest and fastest ways to get rid of indoor flies is with the good old fly swatter. They are inexpensive and effective IF you’re fast. You can improve your swatting success using a bright flashlight – aim the light on the fly and move it around so the fly can’t focus on you, then swat it. If you’re after some more passive approaches, here’s information on how to make your own fly paper with things you have around the house and creating a trap from a clear plastic bottle. These are all effective methods that don’t use chemical pesticides!