Bloomin' compost bin has infested my house with flies - help!!

[HonorMatopoeia]

I was really pleased with myself when we started composting - reducing bin waste etc. However, the bin has suddenly begun giving birth to these annoying little flies which are coming in through our kitchen window and getting all over the house. Any suggestions on how to get rid of them? I don't want to get rid of the bin if I can at all avoid it.

[MaryBS]

We hang one of those sticky old-fashioned fly catchers over ours - the type you pull out, and it hangs down in a strip.

[Nymphadora]

I have had more flies than normal too.Its a PITA

[HonorMatopoeia]

Thanks MaryBS, we'll try that
Nymphadora - isn't it a nightmare? its also driving our cats mad, every now and then they launch at one and take half a shelving unit with them!

[Earthymama]

Betwee the flies in compostor and the slugs eating all the plants planted in the resultant compost......it makes you wonder if you can on being so green!!

I guess you have to accept a certain 'muckiness', but I do dispair.

I'm going to try thr flypaper tomorrow, good luck with yours.

[Earthymama]

despair

[HonorMatopoeia]

Fingers crossed earthymama! I'll let you know the results here

[Rhubarb]

We have the very same problem. They are fruit flies and if we top up the bin we have to make sure that our doors and windows are closed or else the little buggers get in the kitchen and attack my fruit bowl.

I was told that with every new load of fruit and veg, put a layer of newspaper on top and press it down. This'll help reduce that huge cloud of flies you get buzzing up. But unfortunately there is no way you can get rid of them completely, they are indestructible and the reason, I now realise, that most people have their compost bins at the end of the garden, away from the back door.

[HonorMatopoeia]

Thanks for the newspaper tip Rhubarb, we'll definitely be trying that one out!

[allmytimeonmumsnet]

Support for Rhubarb. I've started adding loads of card and paper into our caddy so it goes in the bin with the peelings etc and it certainly seems to have reduced the flies. If we end up with a big bag of rotting veg in there then we know there will be flies a few days later unless we top it up quickly. Saves on the carboard recycling too.

[Overrun]

We have same problem, and might try the cardboard trick as well as moving it down the garden. I suppose it is worth the sacrifice