Homemade Flypaper

• Twist a piece of card stock into a cone shape and staple it in place, and then tie a string to the top. Paint the cone thickly with a mixture made of sugar and corn syrup dissolved in boiling water. When it's mostly dry, -- it should remain slightly sticky. Hang it from the ceiling. Make several and use them throughout the house, especially near doors and windows. The sweetness of the sugars will attract the flies and the stickiness will hold them to the paper.
  
  

Plants

• Some plants and herbs are naturally repellent to house flies. Basil, either potted or fresh-cut, will discourage them, and so will mint or lavender. Plant these herbs in clusters around the house foundation to keep flies away from the house. Burning eucalyptus leaves outside will discourage flies and mosquitoes, as well. Aromatherapy oil works as well; spray diluted eucalyptus oil on them, or set out bowls of apple cider vinegar with a few drops of tea tree oil, lavender oil, and glycerin.
  
  

The Bottle Trap

• There are many versions of the bottle trap, but the basic idea is to lure the flies into a bottle or a jug; the narrow opening will be easy for them to enter, but they will be trapped inside. For bait you can put a few strips of the rind of a fragrant fruit such as a mango in the bottom of the bottle, or pour in a little corn syrup or apple cider vinegar. You may also dip the mouth of the bottle in apple cider vinegar, then into sugar; this will lure them down into the bottle. If you like, half-fill the bottle with water so that the flies will drown.
  
  

Alcohol

• Flies are attracted to wine, so take advantage of this fact by using it to entice them into traps. Use an empty but un-rinsed wine bottle to make a bottle trap, or fill a polystyrene plate half full of wine and add a little dish detergent. The flies will drink the mixture and the detergent will poison them. Fill a spray bottle with a mixture of water and rubbing alcohol and spritz it directly on the pests. Hair spray is another good insecticide. It gums up their wings and the alcohol kills them.