How to keep flies away

Minimising fly infestation tips

• Deny flies access - keep windows and doors closed.
• Flyscreens - fit flyscreens to windows especially around kitchen and waste areas.
• Cover food - flies spread diseases by landing on food before we eat it.
• Clear away - clear food debris and liquid spillages from food consumption and preparation areas, under kitchen benches and appliances.
• Dustbins / Compost bins - ensure all waste containers have tightly sealed lids.
• Floormats - ensure that build-up of grease is thoroughly cleaned every month.
• Pets - clean up after pets. Not only are faeces a perfect breeding place for flies, they may land there before landing on your food.
• Clear up dead flies - they provide a tasty snack for other pests such as carpet beetles.
• Water storage - cover these with well fitted lids.
• Standing water - do not leave standing water (in watering cans and pot plants for example) as this offers mosquitoes opportunity to breed.
• Ponds - if you have a garden pond, introduce goldfish as they will eat mosquito larvae.
• Drains - ensure drains are kept clean and free of debris to reduce fly breeding sites.

FACT: Common house flies are attracted to decaying organic waste such as faeces and rotting meat, whereas fruit flies will look for sugary substances and feed more commonly on overripe fruit, spilled soft drinks and alcohol.

Need professional help to control a problem with flies?

If you are worried about flies, Rentokil Initial can offer more professional fly control solutions including our Insect Light Trap.