How to Kill a Fly

PDF download Download Article
Know what kills flies quickly and safely
PDF download Download Article

Flies can be annoying pests, especially inside your home. If you can’t remove the flies humanely, you may want to kill them. Use a flyswatter for an easy way to kill a few lone flies. Try using sprays to get rid of numerous flies. You can also kill flies with bait and traps, like fly tape, DIY traps, or Venus fly traps. Eliminating flies can be done quickly, easily, and cheaply, whether you have a single fly or dozens to remove.

Getting Rid of Flies

If you have flies in your room or house, you can spray the fly with a chemical spray or a household cleaner. Clean the sprayed area thoroughly and dispose of the fly. You can also use a fly swatter or fly traps.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Spraying the Fly

PDF download Download Article
  1. Chemical sprays kill flies instantly upon contact, though they contain harsh chemicals. You can also spray the flies with household cleaners, like Windex or Formula 409, or with an aerosol like hairspray. All of these sprays will help you kill a fly. [1]
    • Purchase chemical fly sprays at home supply stores. Look for brands like Hot Shot and Raid.
    • Use spray if you want to remove many flies very quickly. Chemical sprays will kill them the fastest, though they have harmful chemicals. Household cleaners are a cheaper alternative, and you likely have them at home already.
  2. Spray the fly while it is in the air or when the fly lands. Hold in the trigger to release the spray, and spray directly into the air around the fly. You want to saturate the fly in the spray. [2]
    • If you are using chemical sprays, the fly will die instantly.
    • If you are using household cleaners or hairspray, the spray will coat the fly's wings, making it impossible to fly. The fly will still die, just not as quickly as with chemicals.
    Advertisement
  3. The chemicals contained in most fly sprays are toxic and lethal. Household cleaners also use chemicals, though not quite as toxic. Avoid inhaling these chemicals by leaving the room immediately after you spray.
    • Leave the room for both chemical sprays and household cleaners.
    • If you have pets or children, they should also avoid the room until the chemicals have settled.
    • You can wait about an hour before reentering the room, so the chemicals can dissipate. This will depend on how ventilated your room is and how much chemical you spray. It is safe to come back into the room when you no longer smell the chemicals.
  4. Dispose of the dead fly and wash your hands . Scoop up the dead flies with a paper towel or tissue, and throw them in the trash can. Make sure you wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water!
    • If you killed multiple flies, throw them all away before you wash your hands.
    5. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Using a Flyswatter

PDF download Download Article
  1. Keep your eye on the fly until it lands, then get ready to make your move. Approach the fly silently and slowly so it doesn't fly away. [3]
    • If you don’t have a flyswatter, you can use other objects with a flat surface, like a newspaper, shoe, or book.
  2. Raise your flyswatter above your head, and bring it down over the fly in a single, strong move. You are crushing the fly between your flyswatter and a hard surface. [4]
    • If you miss the fly the first time, wait for it to land and swat again.
  3. Rinse the flyswatter in soap and water, and use a tissue or paper towel to wipe up the mess. Make sure to wash your hands!
    • You can also disinfect with a cleaning solution to prevent spreading any germs.
  4. Electric flyswatters are devices that lure in flies with a light and kill them upon contact. Stand near the fly with your electric flyswatter to kill it effortlessly and quickly.
    • Be sure to read over instructions carefully before use. Avoid touching the racket area, and always let the flyswatter fully cool down before storing it. [5]
    5. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Removing Flies with Traps

PDF download Download Article
  1. Fly papers, or fly ribbons, are strips of paper coated in a sticky attractant. Flies approach the paper because they are attracted to the smell, and they get stuck to the paper and die. [6]
    • You can hang fly paper near your entrances, above your windows, or next to your trash can, for example.
    • Fly paper can be hung up indoors or outdoors.
    • Replace your fly paper after you collect a handful of dead flies.
  2. Make your own trap for a cost effective solution. You can make your own trap with sugar water, a jar, and a paper cone. Cut a small hole around the point of the paper cone. Pour 1 part sugar and 2 parts water into the jar, and place the cone upside down inside the jar. The flies will be attracted to the sweet smell, and once they are inside, they will get stuck and drown in the liquid. [7]
    • You can add a piece of cut fruit to the jar to tempt the flies further. Try a piece of apple or banana for fruit flies, raw potato for fungus gnats, and anything stinky for house flies. [8]
    • You can also add a mix of sugar and water to a plastic bottle instead of a jar.
  3. Venus flytraps are carnivorous plants that feed on insects. The flytrap has a reddish, sweet-smelling interior, which insects mistake as a flower. A fly will land inside, and the flytrap will snap shut. The fly cannot escape, and the flytrap will consume the fly. [9]
    • Place your flytrap in popular fly areas, like your kitchen or near your door.
    • Purchase Venus flytraps at most home supply stores or garden centers.
    4. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    I have tried lavender and chamomile, but neither are deterring the flies. I can't have windows open because I'll have 15-20 in the house. What will actually get rid of these flies?
    Community Answer
    Put several drops of eucalyptus oil on ribbon or cloth strips and hang them near doors or windows. Also, place 20-25 cloves in lemon halves. These are the natural ways of getting rid of flies. I used to have a fly problem, and this took care of them.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 15 Helpful 37
  • Question
    I want to make a fly my pet. Does anyone know how to daze a fly and not just kill it?
    Community Answer
    Use a soda bottle with a funnel where it is easy for them to go in but hard for them to get out. This will make a trap for you to catch them. You can put food or something like that to attract them to the bottle.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 20 Helpful 28
  • Question
    How can I kill a fly without any purchases?
    Community Answer
    Use your hand to swat them, or you could use a spatula, a pan, silverware or a towel.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 7 Helpful 2
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      Tips from our Readers

      The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
      • If you want to catch and release the fly outside, put a cup over it and then slide a piece of paper underneath the cup.
      • Turn on lights to lure the fly. Blue lights don't usually, but they will fly toward dim lights, like a TV screen.
      • Keep the vacuum handy to suck up the flies and other bugs that get in your home.
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      Warnings

      • If you are using chemicals to kill your fly, make sure you read the warnings on the bottles. Do this for both household cleaners and chemical fly sprays.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      Get Rid of Fruit Flies & Houseflies with These Homemade Traps
      4 Simple Ways to Capture Flies
      How to
      Get Rid of Drain Flies
      8 Natural & Chemical Ways to Get Rid of Maggots
      11 Effective Ways to Kill Flies inside Your Home
      How to
      Get Rid of Fruit Flies in Your House
      How to
      Kill Gnats in Houseplants Fast
      How to
      Get Rid of a Maggot Infestation
      How to
      Make Natural Outdoor Fly Repellent with Essential Oils
      How to
      Keep Gnats Away from Your Face
      How to
      Get Rid of House Flies with Cloves
      How to
      Get Rid of Flies
      How to
      Use Raid Fly Ribbon
      How to
      Keep Flies Away From You and Your Room
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.medicinenet.com/what_scent_will_keep_flies_away/article.htm
      2. ↑ http://extensionpublications.unl.edu/assets/pdf/g958.pdf
      3. ↑ https://editorsean.com/articles/how-to-kill-pesky-flies-fly-swatter-zapper-spray/
      4. ↑ https://editorsean.com/articles/how-to-kill-pesky-flies-fly-swatter-zapper-spray/
      5. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4441306/
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/bgrfCD6JmH4?t=2m30s
      7. ↑ http://www.thebugsquad.com/fruit-flies/fruit-fly-trap/
      8. ↑ Joshua Bloom. Pest Control Specialist. Expert Interview. 22 April 2020.
      9. ↑ https://www.livescience.com/15910-venus-flytrap-carnivorous.html

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To kill a fly with a flyswatter, wait for the fly to land, then swat the fly with a quick, downward motion, then wipe up the fly and clean off your flyswatter. If you prefer to use a spray, choose between chemical sprays, household cleaners, or hairspray. You can spray the fly while it is in the air or after it has landed, but leave the room immediately afterwards if you use hazardous chemicals. You can also hang flypaper or keep a Venus flytrap in your home to trap and kill flies. If you want to learn how to make your own fly trap, keep reading the article!

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 321,877 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Carl Johnson

        Aug 14, 2016

        "The rubber band technique worked! I finished it off with a swat from the old paper."
      Share your story

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement