Quick answer: To get rid of flies in the house, find and remove what they breed in (bins, pet waste, wet drains, rotting food), seal gaps and fit screens so they cannot get in, then catch the adults with sticky or UV traps. Use spray only as a last step. If flies keep coming back after a week of cleaning, call a licensed pest controller.
That is the short version. Below you will find how to identify the fly in your home, 9 methods in the order that actually works, a verdict on popular home remedies, a 7-day plan, and the UAE-specific places flies hide in apartments and villas in Dubai and Sharjah.
Key facts at a glance
- A house fly (Musca domestica) is about 6 to 7 mm long, grey, with four dark stripes on its back. It does not bite.
- In warm conditions, a fly can go from egg to adult in as little as 7 to 10 days, and each female can lay up to 500 eggs .
- Adults usually live 15 to 25 days, so one missed breeding site can restart the problem within two weeks
- Flies pick up germs from garbage, drains and faeces, then land on your food. Cleaning the source beats swatting every time.
Why are there flies in my house? (And why Dubai homes are different)
Flies come in for food, moisture and warmth, and they breed where those three meet. In the UAE the warm season is long, so a fly life cycle that takes weeks in cooler countries can finish in about a week. A cool air-conditioned flat is also comfortable for them once they are inside.
The usual sources in Dubai and Sharjah homes are:
- Kitchen bins with loose lids, or bags left out overnight.
- Shared waste rooms and chutes on apartment floors, and open bins by villa gates.
- Pet waste and pet food bowls, especially on balconies and terraces. Pet faeces are a favoured egg-laying site.
- Overripe fruit and fermenting spills, including date bowls, juice and soft drinks.
- Wet drains and dirty floor traps in kitchens and bathrooms (these breed drain flies, a different pest; see our drain fly guide).
- Outdoor dining leftovers after barbecues and family gatherings.
- Open balcony doors at dusk with the lights on.
Which fly do you have? Identify it in 60 seconds
The wrong method on the wrong fly is the main reason treatments fail. Check this table first.
| Fly | Size and look | Where you see it | Main source | Go to |
| House fly | 6 to 7 mm, grey, four dark stripes, red eyes | Around food, windows, doors, bins | Garbage, pet waste, rotting food | This guide |
| Fruit fly | About 3 mm, tan, red eyes | Over fruit bowls, bins, drinks | Overripe fruit, sugary spills | Methods 1, 5, 7 |
| Drain fly | 2 to 5 mm, fuzzy, moth-like, hops on walls | Bathrooms, kitchen sinks | Slime inside drains and floor traps | Drain fly guide |
| Blow fly | 8 to 12 mm, shiny blue or green | Windows, near meat or bins | Dead animal, raw meat, rubbish | Method 9, call a professional |
If you see many large, shiny blow flies and cannot find the source, treat it seriously. A dead rodent or bird in a wall void or ceiling can be the cause, and that needs a professional inspection.
How fast do flies multiply?
A fly infestation grows quickly because the life cycle is short. Eggs need moisture and hatch in about 12 to 24 hours in warm weather. The maggots feed for 3 to 5 days, pupate for 3 to 6 days, and emerge as adults that can breed within 2 to 3 days. A female lays batches of roughly 100 eggs, and lifetime totals of 350 to 900 eggs are reported .
The practical lesson: killing the adults you can see removes only a small part of the population. The rest is eggs and maggots in your bin, drain or pet area.
9 methods to get rid of flies in the house (in the order that works)
Start at Method 1 and work down. Methods 1 to 4 stop new flies. Methods 5 to 7 catch the ones already inside. Methods 8 and 9 handle what is left.
Method 1: Remove the breeding source
This is the step most guides bury, and it is the one that solves the problem. Check these in order: kitchen bin and under-sink area, pet bowls and litter, fruit bowl and fridge drawer, floor drains, balcony corners, and the waste room outside your door.
- Take rubbish out daily in warm months and rinse the bin once a week.
- Wash pet bowls after every meal and scoop pet waste the same day.
- Refrigerate ripe fruit. Rinse empty cans, bottles and glasses before they go in the bin.
- Wipe grease and sticky spills behind the cooker, under the fridge and along skirting.
- Pour hot water and a drain cleaner suited to your pipes down kitchen and bathroom drains to remove slime.
Flies without food last only about 2 to 3 days, so a thorough clean-up shortens an outbreak fast .
Method 2: Seal and manage your waste
Use a bin with a tight-fitting lid, double-bag food waste and tie the bag before it leaves the kitchen. Wipe the lid rim and the bin base, because liquid pools there. In a villa, keep outdoor bins in shade, away from doors and windows, and rinse them with a hose every week. In an apartment, do not leave bags in the corridor or beside the door for later collection.
Method 3: Block entry with screens and seals
Fine mesh screens on windows and balcony doors keep flies out without chemicals. Repair any rips, fit door brushes or draught strips at the bottom of external doors, and seal gaps around pipes and AC sleeves. Magnetic mesh door screens are an easy option for renters who cannot drill into walls. Close the door behind you whenever you take rubbish out, because that is when many flies slip in.
Method 4: Use air, light and timing
Flies are weak fliers. A fan pointed across an open doorway or dining table makes landing difficult, and it works well for outdoor meals. Close balcony doors at dusk if indoor lights are on, and draw curtains so light does not pull flies toward the glass. Outdoors, switch off unneeded white lights near entrances in the evening.
Method 5: Catch adults with sticky traps
Sticky fly strips are cheap, work without chemicals and show you how bad the problem is. Hang them near windows, bin areas and kitchen corners, away from where food is prepared and out of reach of children and pets. Replace them when about two thirds of the surface is covered. If the number of flies caught does not fall after a week, the source is still active.
Method 6: Use a UV light trap
A UV fly trap draws flies to a light and holds them on a glue board. It suits kitchens, dining areas and small shops. Mount it away from doors and windows, so it does not pull flies in from outside, and keep it within about 1.5 m of the floor, where flies fly. Do not place it above food preparation surfaces. Replace the glue board when it is full and the tubes once a year, because UV output fades .
Method 7: Make a simple fly trap at home
This is the best-known home remedy for flies, and it works well on fruit flies and moderately on house flies.
- Pour about 120 ml (half a cup) of apple cider vinegar into a jar or glass.
- Add 2 to 3 drops of dish soap so flies sink instead of landing on the surface.
- For house flies, drop in a small piece of very ripe banana or strawberry as bait.
- Cover the jar with cling film, secure it, and poke 5 to 6 small holes.
- Place it near the problem area and replace it every 2 to 3 days.
A trap catches adults only. Use it together with Methods 1 and 2, not instead of them.
Method 8: Use fly sprays and baits safely
If flies are many and you need quick relief, a flying-insect spray gives a fast knockdown. Treat it as a short-term step, because insecticide use alone can lead to resistant fly populations and it does nothing to the eggs in your bin or drain.
- Read the label and follow the ventilation time.
- Cover food, remove pet bowls and cover fish tanks before spraying.
- Keep children and pets out of the room until it is aired.
- Products containing permethrin are highly toxic to cats, so check the ingredient list
- Never spray near open flames or on food surfaces.
Method 9: Call a licensed professional when DIY stalls
Call a professional if flies come back within a week of a full clean-up, if you see maggots in places you cannot reach, if you run a food business, or if you suspect a dead animal. A technician finds the source first, then treats the breeding areas, drains, bin zones and the resting spots near doors and windows, so the problem is fixed instead of hidden.
Home remedies for flies: what works and what does not
Most “natural” tips are cheap but weak. Here is an honest verdict so you do not waste a week.
| Home remedy | Verdict | Notes |
| Sealing bins and cleaning drains | Works very well | Removes the cause, not only the symptom |
| Screens and door seals | Works very well | Keeps flies out all year |
| Sticky strips | Works | Catches adults, shows activity level |
| Vinegar and dish soap trap | Works partly | Best on fruit flies, add ripe fruit for house flies |
| Fan across the doorway | Works partly | Flies struggle against moving air |
| Basil, mint and lavender pots | Weak | May reduce a few flies near the plant, will not stop a breeding source |
| Essential oils (peppermint, lemongrass) | Weak | Short-lived, and can irritate or poison cats and dogs, so ask your vet first |
| Water and coin bags | Unproven | Popular online, no solid evidence |
| Burnt coffee grounds | Unproven | Smoke and fire risk indoors |
| Lemon and clove, cucumber | Did not work | A UK home test by Woman & Home found no effect |
Your 7-day plan to get rid of flies
- Day 1: Identify the fly. Take out all rubbish, wash bins and pet bowls, clear fruit and spills.
- Day 2: Clean drains and floor traps. Wipe under the fridge and behind the cooker.
- Day 3: Fit or repair screens. Add door brushes. Hang sticky strips near windows and the bin area.
- Day 4: Set a vinegar trap or UV trap. Start closing balcony doors at dusk.
- Day 5: Check traps. Fewer flies means the source is under control. Same number means you missed a source.
- Day 6: Check the waste room, balcony corners, pet areas and garden bins again.
- Day 7: Still seeing flies? Book an inspection instead of repeating the same steps.
Are flies dangerous?
House flies do not bite, but they matter for health. They feed on garbage, faeces and decaying matter, then land on your food and surfaces, and can carry germs such as Salmonella, Shigella and Campylobacter For babies, older adults and anyone with a weak immune system, the risk of stomach illness is higher. Cover food, wash worktops before preparing meals and do not eat food a fly has walked on for long.
When to call a pest control professional in Dubai or Sharjah
Book a professional if any of these apply:
- Flies return within 7 days of a full clean-up.
- You see maggots, or a bad smell with many large flies.
- You manage a restaurant, cafe, shop, office or warehouse.
- The building waste room or a shared drain is the source and you cannot reach it.
- You have a baby, a pregnant family member or a pet and want a controlled treatment.
What Aura Pest Control does. We inspect first to find the breeding source, then treat drains, garbage areas and the resting spots near doors and windows, and advise you on sealing and sanitation. We follow up after 3 days and again after 2 weeks to check the activity has dropped, and treatments carry a 3-month warranty. See our fly and mosquito control service or our pest control pages for Dubai and Sharjah.
Before you hire anyone, check that the company is licensed. Our guide explains how to verify a Dubai Municipality approved pest control company [INTERNAL LINK: add URL of your DM-approved verification blog].
Frequently asked questions
How do I get rid of flies in the house fast?
The fastest safe route is to remove the source (rubbish, pet waste, wet drains), close gaps and hang sticky strips. A flying-insect spray gives quick relief, but flies return unless the breeding spot is gone. Expect a clear drop in 3 to 7 days.
Why do I suddenly have so many flies in my house?
A sudden rise usually means a new source nearby: a full bin, pet waste, a leaking drain or a dead animal. In the UAE’s warm weather, a fly can go from egg to adult in as little as 7 to 10 days, so a small source becomes a visible problem within a week or two.
What attracts flies in a Dubai apartment?
Food waste, overripe fruit, sugary spills, pet bowls and faeces, wet drains and open balcony doors at night. Shared waste rooms and corridor rubbish bags also draw flies to your door.
What smell keeps flies away?
Strong scents such as basil, mint, lemongrass and peppermint may put some flies off briefly, but they do not remove breeding sources. If you use essential oils, keep them away from cats and dogs.
Do house flies bite?
No. House flies have sponging mouthparts and do not bite. Biting flies are different species. The health risk is germs transferred to food, not bites.
How long do house flies live?
Adult house flies usually live 15 to 25 days, and the life cycle can finish in under two weeks in warm weather
Does a UV fly trap really work?
Yes, as part of a plan. A UV trap catches adults in kitchens and small commercial spaces, but it will not stop flies breeding in a bin or drain. Place it low, away from doors and windows.
What is the difference between a house fly and a drain fly?
House flies are larger, grey and found around food and bins. Drain flies are tiny, fuzzy and moth-like and breed in the slime inside drains. They need different treatments. See our drain fly guide.
Are fly sprays safe for pets and children?
Only when used exactly as labelled. Ventilate the room, keep children and pets out until it is dry or aired, and never use permethrin products around cats. A professional can choose lower-risk options for sensitive households.
How much does professional fly control cost in Dubai?
Price depends on the size of the property, the number of breeding sources and whether it is a home or a business. Aura Pest Control gives a quote after an inspection. Message us on WhatsApp with a few photos for a faster estimate.
Get rid of flies for good with Aura Pest Control
If you have done the clean-up and flies keep coming back, book a free inspection with our licensed team in Dubai and Sharjah. Same-day appointments and 24/7 emergency support are available.
- WhatsApp: +971 52 408 0230
- Call: +971 52 408 0230
- Email: info@aurapestcontrol.ae
- Contact us | Pest control contracts
