The flies are taking over!

[Terriblethirtytwos]

On sunny days we open our back door and are in and out of the garden, which is so lovely. The downside is that flies get in but don’t seem to know how to leave. It’s disgusting. Does anyone have any tips about how to stop them getting in? Or what I can do to get them to leave? Is the only solution to kill them? I don’t really want to do that but ultimately they die anyway as they can’t get out. Obviously I waft them out wherever I can but I’m ludicrously outnumbered. Please help!

Lurking...

I don't know what kind of door you have, but we recently got this and it has been a life-change. It's not particularly pretty, but it is extremely effective:
Magnetic Screen Door

The kids run in and out and the magnets snap together so quickly and with a really satisfying series of clicks. I tried everything else and nothing worked. DH was very against any kind of screen door, but he is on board now. We have not had a fly in the kitchen for more than two weeks.

All doors always shut. Boring but necessary.

I was so sure that mumsnet would have a solution to my fly woes. Still hoping someone will come up with a genius idea!

I will look into screen doors, thanks @medb22

Don't know if it works as haven't tried it, but I did see on tiktok, that if you hang a bag of water on your window (think like a bag you would have a goldfish in at the fair,) it keeps them away. Hang it on the outside of an open window. Easy enough, could be worth a try.

Magnetic mesh doors are good. I also use clear dettol spray on any flies that come in. The lime & mint one smells lovely. Flies carry germs. Don't worry about killing those that come in.

A small bowl of white vinegar left on the windowsill really helps deter flies- obviously you get a vinegary whiff but it's preferable to a house full of flies! Change it every other day. Only need a small amount.

We've attached one of these to our back door today because of this exact problem. Not sure how effective it is yet but I do find it pleasingly retro to look at!

Slat Type Door Curtain,Bug Blind,Fly Blind,Strip Blind-Traditional Multi Colour amzn.eu/d/5dyIQXm

I keep the back door closed (but may invest in a screen in future) and have placed one of these traps several meters away from the back door (Fly Max disposable fly trap):
smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B004OJBGYC?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
Also making sure outdoor bins are clean as they’re outside the back door. Hardly had any flies in and when they do I have one of those zappy tennis racquet fly killers.

I've done this today as I was sick of them!
And it's actually worked 😂😂

Thanks everyone for the tips. I have put little glass ramekins above the door (in front of glass) and on the windowsill full of white vinegar. So possibly a combination of the vinegar and the water in a plastic bag trick but we definitely have fewer flies today.

I feel like it’s really gross to have a fly trap but maybe that’s the only way to deal with them.

@Terriblethirtytwos The fly trap is gross but the whole experience wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be (I threw my first one away last night for the bin men to take today)!
I just wanted to draw the flies away from the house and it seemed to have work.

The magnetic mesh screens do the job (not pretty but better than the old fashioned sticky fly paper that DH favours)

Fly Max traps are brilliant (you can get them from Amazon). They do stink though so make sure they are away from your house.