It seems like flies are truly everywhere right now. It’s all anyone at Good Housekeeping HQ can talk about at the moment, that’s for sure. It seems the winged pests are plaguing all of our homes this summer.
With the record-breaking high temperatures we’ve been experiencing, it’s not necessarily surprising – keeping windows closed in this heat isn’t exactly an option. And heat does speed up decomposition and encourage smells that those buzzing bullies like so much.
But all is not lost; there are many things you can do to prevent flies from running amok in your home – or, rather, many things you can stop doing. That’s right, common household behaviour might actually be encouraging them. These are the lesser known bad habits you might be guilty of that could be attracting flies.
Throwing liquids in the bin
Often, we don’t even realise when we’re chucking liquids in the bin. I’m sure you’re not pouring whole cups of tea into your kitchen bin, but even the most subtle of liquids – such as residue from condiment bottles or juice cartons – can attract flies.
This is because sugary drinks, food juices, alcohol and sauces are quick to ferment and break down, releasing strong odours that flies can detect from a great distance. The added moisture also speeds up the decomposition of other food waste, creating the damp conditions flies look for when feeding and laying eggs. If liquids leak to the bottom of the bin, they can leave behind lingering residue and smells even after the rubbish has been taken out, meaning your bin continues to attract flies even after emptying.
Overwatering houseplants
It’s a natural instinct to want to water your houseplants more in high temperatures and throughout the summer. However, overwatering your plants could be rolling out the red carpet for flies.
Overwatering houseplants can unintentionally encourage flies, particularly fungus gnats, which thrive in consistently damp soil. These tiny flies are attracted to moist compost, where they lay their eggs, and the larvae feed on fungi and decaying organic matter beneath the surface. While they’re mostly a nuisance, rather than a health risk, an infestation can quickly spread to other plants in your home. Allowing the top few centimetres of soil to dry out between waterings, improving drainage and removing dead leaves can make your houseplants far less inviting.
Damp cloths, tea towels and sponges
Flies, it seems, aren’t overly picky – anything damp or with food residue will give them reason enough to enter your home, which unfortunately means your kitchen sink is prime real estate.
Leaving damp cloths, tea towels and kitchen sponges lying around can make your home more attractive to flies. Moist fabrics and sponges can quickly develop bacteria, mould and lingering food odours, especially in warm weather, creating an environment that some fly species are plenty drawn to. A damp sponge left by the sink may also naturally contain tiny food particles that provide an additional food source. To reduce the risk, wash tea towels and sponges regularly, allow them to dry completely between uses and avoid leaving wet laundry sitting in the washing machine or laundry basket for long periods, too.
Soaking washing-up
If you leave dirty dishes and cutlery to soak for hours or even overnight, expect to wake up to some flies. This creates a warm, damp environment full of food residue. As leftovers begin to break down in the water, they release odours that attract flies looking for an easy meal or a place to lay eggs. Standing water can also encourage bacteria to multiply more quickly, making the smell even stronger. If you need to soak stubborn cookware, it’s best to do so for as short a time as possible and wash it promptly.
Not rinsing recycling
Rinsing your recycling is something we should all be doing, flies or no flies, but it’s a shockingly overlooked habit. Not only does cleaning out recyclable containers make them much more likely to get properly recycled at plants, it also reduces the fly appeal.
Even small amounts of leftover juice, yogurt, sauces or sugary drinks continue to release odours as they break down, drawing flies to your recycling bin. Sticky residue also creates a food source, especially during warm weather, when smells become stronger. A quick rinse before recycling is usually enough to remove most of the residue and helps keep both your indoor and outdoor bins far less appealing to pests.
Raw meat residue
Raw meat residue is one of the strongest fly attractants you can have in your home. Meat juices left on chopping boards, worktops, packaging or in the bottom of your kitchen bin begin to break down quickly, releasing powerful odours that flies can detect from a considerable distance. Flies are also drawn to raw meat because it provides an ideal place to lay their eggs – disgusting! Cleaning surfaces thoroughly after preparing meat, wrapping meat packaging before binning it and taking food waste outside promptly can all help keep flies at bay.
Standing water
Standing water in and around your home can attract flies as well as a lot of other pests, including mosquitoes, particularly during the warmer months. Water left in buckets, watering cans, clogged drains, pet bowls or even plant saucers provides the damp conditions flies and other insects seek out.
While houseflies don’t breed directly in clean water, stagnant water often collects organic debris that can become a feeding or breeding ground for pests. Emptying standing water regularly, cleaning drains and changing pet water daily can help make your home less inviting to flies.
DIY fly trap kit
