How to Get Rid of Flies in Garage? (15 Effective Ways!)

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How to Get Rid of Flies in Your Garage?

Flies are more likely to infest your garage than even your home. Garages do not get cleaned as often or as thoroughly as your home. You may also be storing items that attract flies in your garage. Flies are more than an irritation, they are disease carriers! So how to get rid of flies in your garage?

To get rid of flies in your garage, you must use a two-pronged strategy; extermination & prevention. In other words, kill those already there and stop others from entering.

In this post, I share 15 effective ways of dealing with flies in your garage. The infographic below puts them in a nutshell, but do read the entire post for details.

What Instantly Kills Flies?

You can use homemade or commercially available sticky traps. UV Light and chemical sprays are other ways to kill them.

You could use a fly swatter. It kills the fly instantly. The problem is that you are seldom dealing with a single fly sitting patiently and conveniently on your desk to be swatted. How do you swat a fly on your doughnut or a swarm of flies on the garage ceiling?

1. Homemade Sticky Traps

Making & using homemade fly traps is a cheap and easy way to get rid of flies from your garage.

Vinegar & Dish Soap Trap

Mix 2-3 spoons of apple cider vinegar with a few drops of dishwashing detergent in a glass. Cover with cellophane, securing it to the glass with a rubber band. Make a few holes in the cellophane, large enough for the flies to get in.

The flies will be attracted to the vinegar. Soap reduces the surface tension of the vinegar. The flies are not able to stay on top of the vinegar and will sink.

Make a Fly Trap from a PET Bottle

It’s so simple a kid could make one. Take an empty PET bottle and cut off the top quarter. Invert it and place it in the bottom part of the bottle. Seal the joint with an adhesive or tape. 

Pour in a bit of sweet liquid to lure the flies and your trap is ready. The flies will get in but will not know how to get out. Place a few, if you like, in different locations in your garage.

2. Commercial Sticky Traps

Sticky Fly Traps are essentially strips that will attract the flies and trap them using an adhesive. The fly will be attracted, land on the strip, get stuck, and will not be able to fly away.

I regularly use Scented Bug & Fly Ribbon by Catchmaster in my garage and it sure is effective!

3. UV Light Fly Traps

The traps use UV light bulbs to attract many types of flying insects including flies. Once the fly enters the trap, some models will zap them, others will trap them with a piece of sticky disposable paper.

Take your pick, but I prefer the silent version. Throw away the stick paper after enough flies have been trapped. 

I like the Faicuk WS108 Wall Sconce Fly Light Trap. Not only does it trap flies it looks beautiful too! 

UV light fly traps are equally effective in getting rid of other irritating pests such as gnats, mosquitoes, spiders, moths, etc. from your garage. 

4. Insect Killing Sprays

Most insect-killing sprays will kill a large range of insects, including flies. Check the label to make sure. There are two that are quite effective.

Check out Raid Multi Insect Killer, Kills Ants, Spiders, Roaches, and Flies, For Indoor and Outdoor use, Orange Breeze, 15 Oz at Amazon. It is very effective!

Please keep in mind that it is an insecticide and you must use it with caution and as advised on the product label.

However, if you are looking for an eco-friendly, pet-friendly alternative, Wondercide Natural Products – Indoor Pest Control Spray for Home and Kitchen – Fly, Ant, Spider, Roach, Flea, Bug Killer, and Insect Repellent – Eco-Friendly, Pet and Family Safe — 32 oz Lemongrass from Amazon will be the right choice.

How Do I Keep Flies Away from My Garage?

Flies love to lay their eggs in garbage bins, open or leaking sewer lines, pet waste, and rotting food, especially fruits.

Cleanliness and barriers to entry are the most effective ways to keep flies away from your garage.

5. Keep Your Garage Clean

You must treat your garage as a part of the living space of your home. Apply all the practices of good housekeeping to your garage as well. 

We are all guilty of using our garage as a dumping ground for anything that we do not need or can not find space for in our home. To prevent your garage from overflowing with stuff, declutter once or twice a year.

6. Clean Equipment Before Entry

Storage of unclean gardening equipment, outdoor activity or camping gear, and sports equipment such as hockey gear, golf bags & clubs can also be a source of food for flies in the garage.

Clean them properly before storage. Cleaning will also increase the life of the equipment.

7. Avoid Consuming Food & Beverages in your Garage

A garage is not just a place to park your cars. It is a living space. So you may have a workshop, gym, or home office in your garage. Naturally, you are tempted to consume sugary food & beverages there.

Avoid it if possible. If you must, consider investing in a small refrigerator in the garage. 

8. Use Airtight Storage Containers

What you store and how you store it in your garage will certainly have an impact on whether your garage is “fly-friendly” or not. Gardening supplies and dirty clothes can attract flies as they are a food source.

Store them in airtight storage containers so that the smell does not get out and flies can not get in.

9. Keep Trash Cans Out

It is quite common to keep trash cans in your garage till the garbage trucks come around. The food waste in the trash can is a magnet for the flies.

Explore the possibility of keeping the trash cans out of the garage. A lean-to-shed attached to the garage is a great option!

If there is no option and you have to keep the trash cans in the garage, invest in a high-quality model. I recommend using Rubbermaid Commercial FG614600BEIG HDPE Step-On Mobile Trash Can. 

In addition, use a Garbage Bin Deodorizer patch that absorbs and stops odors from emanating and attracting flies. The Stick-on Patch absorbs and eliminates odors for good.

10. Clean up Stagnant Water

Standing and stagnant water on the garage floor can be the breeding ground for flies. A garage floor can have water puddles from rainwater coming in with cars or leaks in the roof, plumbing, and drainage.

To get rid of flies in your garage, make sure to clean up any standing water. It is better to take corrective action so that the chance of stagnant water on your garage floor is eliminated.

11. Use Strong Smells to Mask Food Smells

Flies find food using their sense of smell. You can use strong smells to mask the smell of food in the garage.

Regularly spray scents such as eucalyptus, citronella, peppermint, lemongrass, or lavender to keep flies away from your garage.

Natural Fly Repellents are Effective

You can use essential oils and certain herbs & spices to keep flies away too! They are natural and chemical-free.

Essential Oils

Essential oils such as eucalyptus, lavender, and peppermint are effective natural fly repellents. These oils contain compounds that flies find unpleasant.

Mix a few drops of essential oil with water in a spray bottle and apply it around your garage. Alternatively, you can soak cotton balls in the oil and place them in areas where flies are a problem.

Herbs and Spices

Certain herbs and spices can also deter flies. Basil, mint, and bay leaves are particularly effective. Placing dried leaves, in strategic locations in your garage can help keep flies at bay.

The strong scents of these plants act as natural repellents, making your garage less attractive to flies. Regularly refreshing the herbs ensures continued protection.

12. Surround the Garage with Plants That Repel Flies

If you like gardening why not plant certain herbs in your garage or around it? Flies hate the smell of these herbs. 

• Basil
• Lavender
• Rosemary
• Mint
• Catnip
• Pennyroyal
• Tansy
• Bay leaf

Source: Gardening KnowHow

Fortunately, these are smells that humans like. Not only do you keep the flies away, but you get a fresh supply of aromatic herbs for your kitchen too!

Interested? Check out my post, Can You Grow Basil in a Garage? (A Quick Helpful Guide!)

13. Use Garage Door Screens

The size of an adult housefly is about ¼-inch. So screens can be used to block their entry. Keeping the doors & windows of the house shut is not that difficult. If you do like to open them on summer evenings to get a bit of fresh air, you should have the door and window screen in place.

All this is a little bit more difficult when it comes to the garage door. Nonetheless, you must use garage door screens whenever the door is open for long periods.

LIAMST Magnetic Garage Door Screen has some outstanding features:

14. Seal All Gaps & Leaks

Flies can also find their way into your garage through gaps and cracks in the garage walls, door & window joints, etc. Inspect your garage for these and seal them with caulk.

Not only will you stop the entry of flies, but you will also make your garage more energy efficient. You will lose less garage heat in winter.

15. Increase Air Circulation

Having a fan running in the garage unsettles the flies. They are unable to fly in a coordinated manner.

Further flies like high humidity. Air circulation reduces humidity and dampness in the garage. Flies will find your garage less welcome.

Seasonal Tips

Summer Strategies

During the summer months, flies are most active. Ensure your garage is clean and free of food scraps. Use airtight containers for storage and keep trash cans sealed.

Install garage door screens to prevent flies from entering while allowing ventilation. Regularly apply natural repellents like essential oils or herbs.

Consider using UV light traps to attract and eliminate flies. Maintaining a dry environment by fixing leaks and removing standing water will help.

Winter Precautions

In winter, flies seek shelter indoors. To prevent this, seal all gaps and cracks in your garage. Insulate doors and windows to keep the cold out and flies away.

Store food and waste in airtight containers and clean up any spills immediately. Regularly inspect and maintain your garage to ensure it remains a fly-free zone.

Using natural repellents and keeping the garage well-ventilated can also help deter flies during the colder months.

Bottom Line

The bottom line is that flies infesting your garage is more than just annoying. Flies are filthy, and unhygienic and can spread over 65 types of diseases including typhoid fever, dysentery, cholera, and tuberculosis.

Flies have a place in the ecosystem, just not in your home & garage. Exterminate them and take all possible steps to prevent them from entering your garage.

Thank you very much for reading the post. I do hope you found it informative and useful.