From rotting fruit to garbage bins, flies are drawn to your home for many reasons. Learn what attracts flies and how to stop them.

Updated: May 22, 2025

If you’ve noticed a sudden swarm of flies in your kitchen, near your trash bin, or around your drains, you’re not alone. Flies are some of the most common household pests, and once they’ve found a food source or a place to breed, they can multiply quickly. But what attracts flies to your house often comes down to overlooked sources like rotting food, standing water, or even a leaky pipe.

Beyond being annoying, flies are a hygiene concern. Many species can carry bacteria and contaminate surfaces, especially in kitchens or food prep areas. Knowing what attracts house flies, where flies come from, and what attracts fruit flies can help you take the right steps to stop them from settling in. 

Where do flies come from?

Flies often originate from outdoor breeding grounds, like compost piles, garbage bins, animal waste, or overripe produce. They’re excellent at detecting smells from a distance and will follow those cues right to your home. Once inside, they’ll look for warm, damp spaces and food sources to breed and feed.

Flies can enter through:

  • Open doors and windows
  • Gaps around screens or vents
  • Cracks in doors or foundations
  • Catching a ride on produce, packaging, or houseplants

Even the cleanest homes aren’t immune to fly activity. All it takes is a little moisture or food left out for these pests to invite themselves in.

What are flies attracted to?

Flies are drawn to specific smells, food sources, and environments that support breeding. Each fly species has slightly different preferences, but all are generally looking for food, moisture, and organic waste. Some of the things that attract flies include:

  • Other flies: Flies are drawn to the presence of other flies and even the smell of fly specks on walls. Cleaning walls with a borax and water solution can help reduce this attraction.
  • Garbage: House flies, blow flies, and gnats are attracted to organic material in your trash. Blow flies especially target meat and vegetable scraps for laying eggs.
  • Rotting produce:Fruit flies love overripe fruit and vegetables. Tossing or refrigerating old produce is key to keeping them away.
  • Sweet or fermented liquids: Syrup, liquor, soda, and vinegar attract flies with their sugar content. Spills should be wiped up quickly, and bottles should be rinsed before recycling.
  • Dirty or leaky drains: Drain flies and fruit flies breed in damp drains full of organic gunk. Clean and repair drains regularly to prevent this from happening.
  • Dead animals: A sudden wave of blow flies might indicate a dead animal inside your walls. These flies won’t stay long once the carcass is removed.
  • Pet waste: House and blow flies also lay eggs in animal manure, so picking up pet waste is essential.
  • Spilled animal feed: Uncovered pet or livestock feed can attract house flies. Make sure to clean up any spills to reduce this risk.
  • Light (UV): Like many insects, flies are attracted to light sources, especially at night.

The typical fly’s diet consists of rotting food, sugar, garbage, and other organic matter, so anything resembling that inside or around your home is a potential lure.

Why are flies attracted to people?

Flies are often seen buzzing around people, especially outdoors. That’s because they’re drawn to several natural human characteristics like:

  • Body heat and movement
  • Moisture from sweat
  • Carbon dioxide from breathing
  • Scent from lotions, perfumes, or deodorant

These factors can make you more appealing to flies, especially during warm months when flies are most active.

How to keep flies away

Once you know what attracts flies, you can take simple steps to keep them out. The best deterrents for house flies include maintaining a clean environment, sealing entry points, and using traps or repellents as needed.

  • Seal entry points: Repair or replace torn window screens, add door sweeps, and seal cracks in foundations.
  • Clean up food waste: Wipe counters, store food in airtight containers, and take the trash out regularly.
  • Fix leaks and reduce moisture: Eliminate standing water in drains, basements, or under sinks.
  • Use scents that repel flies: Peppermint, eucalyptus, basil, and lavender can naturally deter flies.
  • Install fly traps: Sticky strips, UV light traps, and vinegar traps are effective at catching adult flies.
  • Manage outdoor waste: Keep garbage bins sealed and away from frequently opened doors, and make sure compost piles are covered.

Pairing these habits with DIY methods like natural repellents and homemade traps can strengthen your defense.