Effective Home Remedies to Deter Cluster Flies

 

Cluster flies can be an annoying problem, especially in cooler months when they gather in large numbers inside homes looking for warmth. To deter cluster flies without chemicals, you can use a combination of prevention, natural repellents, and home cleaning methods.

 

Seal Entry Points

 

The most important step is to stop cluster flies from getting inside in the first place. Cluster flies sneak in through tiny cracks and openings in your home's exterior. Pay close attention to:

• Windows and Doors: Make sure screens are intact and fit tightly. Repair or replace any that are torn or loose. Use draft stoppers on doors.
• Cracks and Gaps: Walk around your home’s outside and look for cracks in the siding, gaps around windows and doors, vents, and where wires/utility pipes enter the house. Seal these with weatherproof caulk or appropriate foam sealants.
• Attic and Roof Spaces: Cluster flies love to overwinter in attics. Check roof vents, soffits, and attic vents for tight screening and seal any openings you find.

 

Natural Repellents and Deterrents

 

There are a few scents and items cluster flies dislike, which can help keep them away:

• White Vinegar Spray: Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray around window frames, doorways, and areas where you’ve seen flies gather. Vinegar works as a mild repellent and cleans surfaces cluster flies are attracted to.
• Essential Oils: Cluster flies are often repelled by certain strong scents. Peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, lavender oil, and lemongrass oil work well. Add about 15–20 drops of oil to a spray bottle filled with water, then spritz around entry points, attics, and infested areas. For longer-lasting protection, soak cotton balls in one of these oils and leave them near affected windows and in attic spaces. Replace them every few days.
• Cloves and Citrus: Cluster flies dislike the scent of cloves. Stick several whole cloves into halves of a lemon or orange, then place them on windowsills or in corners where flies gather. Replace the fruit as it dries out.

 

Keep Your Home Clean and Unattractive to Flies

 

Cluster flies aren’t attracted to garbage or food like houseflies, but they still prefer to gather in quiet, undisturbed, dusty spaces.

• Vacuum Regularly: Vacuum along windows, door frames, and attic spaces to remove flies and any eggs they may have laid.
• Clear Window Ledges: Cluster flies often settle behind curtains or in window corners. Keep these areas free from dust and clutter.

 

Homemade Cluster Fly Traps

 

You can catch cluster flies that do get inside by using DIY traps:

• Dish Soap Trap: Fill a shallow dish with water and add a few drops of dishwashing liquid. The dish soap breaks the surface tension so flies will sink and drown. Place these dishes in attics or window sills where flies are most common.
• Sticky Traps: Buy sticky fly traps (clear or yellow sticky strips), or make your own by applying a thin layer of cooking oil to yellow index cards taped to window corners. Cluster flies are attracted to light, so place the traps near sunlit windows.

 

Maintain Outdoor Areas

 

Cluster flies lay eggs in soil, especially where there are earthworms (their natural host). While you can’t eliminate all earthworms (nor would you want to), keeping your yard tidy helps.

• Rake leaves and grass clippings away from your foundation.
• Make sure soil isn’t in direct contact with your siding or foundation if possible.

 

When to Expect Results

 

Home remedies for cluster flies prevent large numbers from coming in, but may not eliminate all flies immediately. You should see a significant reduction in their numbers within a week or two after sealing entry points and using repellents. Continuing these methods, especially starting before fall, offers the best protection.

 

Summary of Key Home Remedies

 

• Seal up cracks, window screens, and attic spaces tightly to stop flies from entering.
• Spray areas with vinegar or essential oils to repel cluster flies.
• Use cloves and citrus combinations as a natural deterrent on windowsills.
• Keep living spaces clean and vacuum often to remove flies and eggs.
• Set up soap water dishes and sticky traps to catch flies inside.
• Maintain your yard to reduce outdoor cluster fly breeding.

By following these steps, you can effectively and naturally deter cluster flies from invading your home.