A handful of flies buzzing around the kitchen is annoying. A window full of them is something else entirely.

Flies aren't just irritating - house flies and bluebottles carry bacteria like Salmonella and E.coli on their feet and in their saliva, picked up from bins, drains and worse.

This guide walks you through the fast fixes and gives advice on when it's worth calling in a professional.

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Why do you suddenly have flies in the house?

Flies don't appear from nowhere. If you've gone from seeing the odd fly to counting dozens, there's almost always a breeding site or a food source somewhere close by.

A single house fly can lay several hundred eggs in her lifetime, and in warm weather the whole lifecycle from egg to adult can take under two weeks. That means a small problem can turn into a big one within days if the source isn't dealt with.

The usual culprits are:

• Bins that aren't emptied often enough, especially food waste

• Pet food left out, particularly wet food

• Overripe fruit or veg left on the side

• A build-up of grime inside drains

• A dead rodent or bird in a loft, chimney or wall cavity

• Doors and windows left open in warm weather with no screens

Types of house flies and how to identify them

Not all flies are the same, and knowing which one you've got makes it much easier to pick the right fix. Here's how to tell them apart:

Common house flies

Grey-bodied with four dark stripes and around 6-8mm long, house flies are drawn to decaying food, bins and pet waste. They're the most likely culprit if you're seeing flies mostly in the kitchen or near bins.

Fruit flies

Tiny (around 3mm) and tan or brown in colour, fruit flies cluster around ripe or rotting fruit, spilled juice and empty drinks bottles or wine glasses.

Bluebottles (blow flies)

Larger, with a distinctive metallic blue-green sheen, bluebottles are attracted to meat, fish and anything decaying - including, sometimes, a dead rodent or bird you haven't found yet.

Cluster flies

Similar in size to house flies but slightly larger and duller, with fine golden hairs. Cluster flies don't breed indoors - they're hunting for somewhere warm to hibernate over winter, usually arriving in lofts and roof spaces from late August onwards.

Drain flies (sewer flies)

Small, fuzzy-winged and moth-like, drain flies breed in the slimy biofilm inside drains, sinks and waste pipes rather than in food waste.

Thunder flies (thrips)

Tiny, fast-moving and usually black, white or green, thunder flies mainly target garden plants but can get inside in large numbers during warm, thundery weather, where they'll go for houseplants too.

Not sure if it's flies or something else moving in? Our expert advice guide about signs of pests tells you what to look out for.

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How to get rid of flies fast

If you just need flies gone today, these are the quickest options:

• Sticky fly paper - Not glamorous, but cheap and effective for passive control

• An electric UV bug zapper - Attracts flies with light and kills them on contact

• A knockdown insecticide spray - Works fast, but only use it in a well-ventilated room and keep it away from food, pets and anyone with breathing difficulties

• A fly swat - Flies take off forwards and slightly upwards, so approach from behind and above for the best chance of a hit

• Mesh screens or beaded curtains - A good option if you'd rather deter flies than kill them

• A vacuum cleaner - Genuinely one of the fastest ways to clear flies from a window or loft space; empty the bag outside straight afterwards

How to get rid of fruit flies

Fruit flies are more of a nuisance than a hygiene risk, but they multiply fast around ripe fruit. Keeping fruit in the fridge during summer helps prevent them in the first place.

You'll need:

• The rotten or overripe fruit attracting them

• A disposable container or jam jar

• Cling film

Steps:

1. Place the fruit (or a splash of vinegar and a drop of washing-up liquid) in the container

2. Cover with cling film and secure it

3. Pierce a few small holes in the film and leave the trap where the flies are gathering

4. Once flies are trapped inside, dispose of the container. Repeat until they're gone

How to get rid of drain flies (sewer flies)

Drain flies breed inside the pipe itself, so surface sprays won't touch the problem - you need to tackle the drain.

You'll need:

• A stiff, long-handled brush

• An enzyme-based drain cleaner (more effective on biofilm than bleach)

• An anti-bacterial spray and cleaning cloths

Steps:

• Scrub inside the drain with the brush to physically remove the biofilm flies are breeding in

• Pour an enzyme-based cleaner down the drain and leave it to work overnight

• Repeat daily for around a week, and clear any standing water or damp patches nearby

If flies keep coming back after a week of this, the breeding site may be further down the pipe than you can reach, which is when it's worth calling in a drainage or a pest control specialist.

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How to get rid of cluster flies

Cluster flies aren't a hygiene risk, but a loft full of them is unpleasant, and they tend to return to the same property year after year once they've found it.

Vacuuming is the quickest way to clear an active cluster in a loft or window space. For a longer-term fix, sealing gaps around eaves, soffits and roof vents makes it harder for them to get in the following autumn.

How to get rid of bluebottles in the house

If bluebottles have appeared out of nowhere, it's worth taking it seriously - they're often a sign that something has died nearby, such as a rodent in the loft or wall cavity, or a bird in a chimney.

Start by vacuuming visible flies and washing down surfaces with disinfectant to remove any eggs. But if the flies keep returning, finding and removing the source is the only real fix.

Depending on what's behind the problem, you might need more than one type of tradesperson:

• A pest control specialist can locate and remove a dead animal

• Persistent drain-related fly problems may need a drainage engineer

• A loft or roof void issue might call for both a pest controller and a builder to seal up entry points afterwards

If you're not sure who to call, our pest control near me directory can help, alongside specialists for fumigation services and general extermination if the infestation has spread further than flies alone.

How much does professional fly pest control cost?

Most people try DIY methods first, and for a small fly problem that's usually enough.

But if flies keep coming back despite your best efforts, professional treatment might be the quicker, cheaper option in the long run.

Fly infestations aren't always priced as a standalone job, since treatment often depends on the underlying cause (a dead animal, a drain issue, or a wider pest problem).

As a general guide, a pest control specialist typically costs around £230 per day, while individual treatments start from around £75 depending on the pest and severity.

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How to stop flies coming back

Getting rid of the flies you can see is only half the job. Stopping them coming back means removing what attracted them in the first place.

Here's what to do:

• Keep bins tightly closed and empty food waste regularly, especially in warm weather

• Store bins in shade where possible, since heat speeds up decomposition

• Wrap meat, fish and dairy waste before binning it

• Fit mesh screens on windows and doors you keep open in summer

• Seal gaps around pipes, vents, soffits and loft eaves

• Wipe up spills and keep fruit in the fridge rather than on the side

• Run hot water through drains regularly and clean them monthly with a brush

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When to call a pest control professional

DIY methods deal with most everyday fly problems, but it's worth calling in a professional if:

• Flies keep returning despite cleaning, trapping and sealing entry points

• You suspect a dead animal but can't locate it

• You're dealing with a large cluster fly infestation in a loft space

• Drain flies persist after a week or more of cleaning

• You've got young children, pets, or anyone in the household with breathing difficulties, making DIY sprays less suitable

A professional can identify the exact species, find breeding sites you might miss, and use treatments that aren't available over the counter. It's usually a faster route to a proper fix than repeated rounds of DIY spray.

Why use Checkatrade to find pest control services near you?

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Request a quote, search in the Checkatrade app, or enter your postcode below to find local pest controllers near you.

Fly control checklist

• Identify which type of fly you're dealing with

• Check bins, pet food and fruit bowls for attractants

• Look for a possible dead animal if you're seeing bluebottles

• Try vacuuming, traps or sprays for a few days first

• Seal obvious entry points around doors and windows

• Get quotes from a few checked local specialists if the problem persists

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