Keep flies out of your house in Florida with year-round prevention: clean spills and drains, seal screens and doors, manage garbage and compost, and use traps or fans wisely. Stop infestations before they start and protect your home from disease-spreading pests.
Flies are unsanitary, fast-breeding insects that thrive in Florida’s warm climate. Left unchecked, they contaminate food, spread bacteria, and turn your home into a breeding ground in less than a day. Fortunately, there are simple steps you can take right now to keep them out.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the most effective methods: sanitation practices, exclusion tactics, outdoor strategies, traps that actually work, and Florida-specific tips you won’t find in generic advice online.
Hoffer Pest Solutions has been protecting South Florida homes for over 40 years with family and pet-safe methods. If you’d rather not handle it alone, our Home Shield plans give you year-round coverage against flies and more than 20 other pests.
If you’re ready to take control, keep reading. We'll show you exactly how to keep flies out of your house step by step.
Step-by-Step Guide to Keeping Flies Out of Your House
Before we dive into specific tactics, it helps to think of fly prevention as a layered approach. No single trick works on its own. By combining sanitation, structural fixes, outdoor management, and smart use of repellents, you can break the cycle and keep your Florida home fly-free year-round.
Step 1: Sanitation, Your First Line of Defense
Sanitation is the foundation of every effective fly prevention strategy. Flies thrive on easy access to food and water, so your first goal is to cut off their buffet. Wipe down spills immediately, clean sticky residue around stoves and counters, and don’t leave dirty dishes out overnight. Kitchen drains deserve extra attention, scrub out the scum that forms along the edges, since it doubles as a breeding site and a lure. Pet waste inside and outside the home is another hotspot; scooping regularly denies flies a place to lay eggs.
Even garbage needs a routine beyond bagging: scrub both the interior and the exterior of bins, especially the rims and hinges, where sticky residue tends to linger. In Florida’s heat, that residue can produce powerful odors that attract flies from far away. If you’re dealing with especially smelly waste, like spoiled meat or seafood, double-bag it and freeze it until pickup day. This small adjustment can save you from maggots showing up in your bin between trash days. Consistent, thorough sanitation removes most of what draws flies inside.
Step 2: Block Their Way Inside
Even with excellent sanitation, flies will still try to get in. Your next move is exclusion. Well-maintained screens are the simplest defense, aim for at least a 20×20 mesh size for standard use, but in kitchens or service windows where smaller gnats sneak through, consider finer mesh (41–56 holes per square inch). Sliding screen doors can use 20×20 mesh to balance airflow and insect control.
Doors should be reinforced with both a tight-fitting sweep and silicone weatherstripping along the sides and top. This blocks the thin ribbon of air and odor that flies naturally follow. Pay attention to utility penetrations and brick weep holes; filling these with copper mesh or stainless steel wool, sealed in place with exterior-grade caulk, denies entry without trapping moisture. In the evenings, when indoor lighting is strongest, draw curtains or blinds to keep your home from becoming a glowing beacon for flies. Small upgrades here stop many of the problems before they start.
Step 3: Drain & Moisture Management
Kitchen and bathroom drains often get overlooked, yet they’re prime fly factories. While pouring bleach down the drain might seem like a quick fix, it usually misses the problem: the biofilm coating the pipes. Enzyme-based or biological cleaners do a better job of breaking down that buildup, cutting off the source flies breed in. A weekly routine with these products keeps your drains clear and odor-free.
Florida’s humidity also creates perfect conditions for flies in basements, laundry rooms, and mudrooms. If these areas smell musty or hold damp air, a dehumidifier can be a game-changer. Lowering humidity makes the space more comfortable for your family, and it also makes it harder for flies to survive indoors.
Step 4: Outdoor Strategies That Work in Florida
What happens outside your home often sets the stage for indoor fly problems. In our climate, yard work and exterior upkeep are equally significant as kitchen cleaning. Flies breed quickly in organic material, so piles of grass clippings, fallen fruit, or rotting vegetation should be removed right away. Compost bins should be tightly lidded and turned often to prevent them from becoming fly nurseries.
Think about the structure of your home too. Replacing heavy mulch beds near the foundation with a two-foot stone barrier helps reduce the damp, organic edges flies like to stage in. Trim back any shrubs or branches touching your siding, since they provide shaded resting zones and bridges that lead insects straight to windows and doors. Each of these outdoor measures cuts off breeding grounds before flies ever reach your home.
Step 5: Repellents & Traps
Traps and repellents are tools, not solutions on their own, but they can make a noticeable difference when used smartly. The tried-and-true apple cider vinegar and dish soap trap still works, especially for fruit flies. Stale wine or beer also makes a strong bait, thanks to the fermentation smells flies can’t resist. Sticky strips and flypaper can suppress hotspots if replaced regularly.
For larger flies, blue-light traps work best but must be placed carefully: mount them about five feet off the floor, away from doors and windows, and never right next to where people gather. Yellow bug lights can reduce attraction around entryways, while outdoor fans disrupt fly flight paths and spread repellent scents like citronella more effectively than candles alone. One common mistake is placing traps too close to seating areas, which can draw more flies into your space. Always position them one room away or outdoors so they intercept flies before the insects get near you.
Step 6: Natural & Plant-Based Helpers
For homeowners who prefer low-impact solutions, certain plants and natural options can discourage flies. Basil, lavender, mint, and marigolds release scents that flies dislike, making them excellent choices for pots near windows or patio doors. Indoors, citronella plants can offer localized help, provided they get enough direct sunlight. Citronella candles and diffusers can add another layer, but their range is limited, just a few feet from the source.
Carnivorous plants like the Venus flytrap are an interesting addition. While they won’t solve a whole-house problem, they can help in corners where flies tend to gather. These natural measures are best used as complements, not replacements, for sanitation and structural exclusion.
Step 7: Lighting Strategy at Night
Flies are heavily influenced by light. Bright indoor spaces can act like beacons when doors or windows are left open after dark. To reduce attraction, close entry points promptly once the sun goes down, draw blinds, and limit unnecessary exterior lighting. Swapping standard bulbs for yellow “bug lights” can make a dramatic difference, repelling flies instead of luring them in.
Step 8: Airflow as a Barrier
One of the simplest tricks is also one of the most effective: airflow. Flies are weak fliers and struggle in moving air. Positioning oscillating fans across patios, porches, or inside mudrooms creates turbulence that prevents them from hovering. Outdoors, fans keep flies away and also help spread scents from repellents like citronella farther than candles can on their own.
Step 9: Smarter Garbage & Compost Management
Beyond basic bin use, advanced garbage practices make a difference in Florida’s heat. Clean bin exteriors, including hinges and rims, after pickup. Freeze especially smelly waste until trash day to eliminate odor plumes that attract flies and maggots. Compost piles should be tightly covered and turned often to disrupt eggs before they hatch.
Step 10: When Landscaping Matters
Your landscaping can work for or against you. Mulch beds pressed against the foundation hold moisture and organic matter, prime staging grounds for flies. Replacing those areas with a two-foot stone buffer reduces both. Likewise, trimming shrubs and trees so they don’t touch the house denies flies shaded resting zones and “bridges” straight to doors and windows.
Why Flies Invade Florida Homes
Living in Florida means we get sunshine and warmth year-round, and unfortunately, so do flies. Unlike colder regions where fly problems die down in winter, our climate keeps fly activity constant. That means homeowners need to stay vigilant all year.
Entry points are everywhere, doors left ajar, torn window screens, gaps around utility lines, drains, and even garbage bins left too long without cleaning. Once they’re inside, they spread bacteria every time they land on food, counters, or hands.
Helpful Resource -> Yellow Flies in Florida: How to Identify and Avoid Them
When DIY Isn’t Enough
For many families, the do-it-yourself steps listed above will drastically reduce fly activity. But there are situations where DIY simply can’t keep up. Persistent drain fly problems are a red flag that biofilm is entrenched deep in pipes. Structural gaps too high or inaccessible to seal may continue to allow entry no matter how clean the home is. And in some cases, neighboring breeding sources outside your control can drive infestations back into your home repeatedly.
At this point, professional pest control becomes the safest and most effective option. For families concerned about chemical use, it’s necessary to know that Hoffer Pest Solutions uses EPA-approved products and integrates non-chemical solutions such as sanitation, monitoring, and exclusion wherever possible. This approach provides relief without compromising the health of children or pets. So feel free to contact us if you need help.
Why Choose Hoffer Pest Solutions
As a family-owned company rooted in South Florida for over 40 years, Hoffer Pest Solutions understands that keeping pests out is about protecting your home, your health, and your peace of mind. Because we live in the same communities we serve, we know how relentless Florida’s year-round pest pressure can be.
We offer same-day service when you call before noon, backed by Home Shield plans that provide ongoing protection against flies and more than 20 other common pests. If pests return between treatments, we’ll come back at no extra charge. Our culture of service, built over generations, means our customers are neighbors we’re committed to protecting.
Take Back Your Florida Home Today
Flies may be a fact of life in Florida, but they don’t have to take over your home. By combining strong sanitation habits, structural exclusion, outdoor management, and smart use of traps or natural helpers, you can cut down on infestations before they grow. And when DIY methods aren’t enough, you can rely on Hoffer Pest Solutions to provide safe, effective, year-round protection tailored to Florida living.
Don’t let flies or other pests turn your home into a hotspot. Call Hoffer Pest Solutions today for same-day service and the peace of mind that comes with knowing your home is protected by a team that cares about your family, your safety, and your community.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can flies spread diseases to pets as well as humans?
Absolutely. Flies can transfer bacteria like Salmonella or E. coli onto pet bowls, bedding, or toys. Keeping pet feeding areas clean and washing bowls daily helps protect your animals from these risks.
Are ultrasonic fly repellents effective?
Ultrasonic plug-in devices often claim to deter insects, but research shows they have little to no measurable effect on flies. Practical methods such as exclusion, sanitation, and targeted traps are far more reliable.
What’s the difference between houseflies and cluster flies?
Cluster flies are larger, slower, and often gather in groups around windows during cooler months. While less of a food-safety concern than houseflies, their presence indoors can still be a nuisance and may signal hidden entry points.
Can pressure washing the exterior of my home reduce flies?
Yes, in some cases. Pressure washing removes organic debris from siding, soffits, and patios that might attract flies. It’s especially helpful after lawn care, storm debris, or around garbage storage areas. Pairing this with exclusion and sanitation gives you the best results.